Sand Casting vs. Investment Casting

Aspect	Sand Casting	Investment Casting
Process	Uses sand molds filled with molten metal	Uses wax patterns coated in ceramic shell
Complexity	Limited intricate designs	Complex designs and fine details achievable
Surface Finish	Rough surface finish	Smooth surface finish
Tolerance	Lower dimensional accuracy	Higher dimensional accuracy
Material Variety	Wide range of metals and alloys	Wide range of metals and alloys
Cost	Lower tooling and setup costs	Higher tooling and setup costs
Production Rate	Slower production rates	Faster production rates
Applications	Large parts and prototypes	Small to medium-sized, intricate parts
Waste	Higher material waste	Minimal material waste
Post-Processing	Requires more machining	Less machining required
Strength	Lower mechanical properties	Higher mechanical properties

Conclusion:

Sand casting is suitable for larger parts and simpler designs due to its lower cost and easier setup. It produces rougher finishes and is ideal for prototypes and low-volume production. Investment casting, while more expensive upfront, offers higher precision, smoother finishes, and better mechanical properties, making it suitable for intricate designs and high-performance applications where dimensional accuracy and surface quality are critical.