Rapid metal investment casting prototyping chart
This chart is to help inform you about investment casting as a rapid metal prototyping application based on the factors listed below. If plastic is the process you will want for your prototype please click here to see the
plastic rapid prototyping comparison chart.
|
Investment Casting |
| Materials |
Most metals (steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, etc.) |
| Lead Time |
3-7 days, depending on size and complexity of part |
| Quantity |
1 cast part for 1 pattern and ceramic mold |
| Tolerance |
+/- .005" inch |
| Cost |
low for small quantities |
| Pros |
Great for low volumes and smaller parts. Fast with low porosity issues. No upfront tooling. Good for checking the design early in development. |
| Cons |
Limited in larger sizes. For high quantities, tooling is required. |
