| Metal
Casting Quick-Comparison Chart |
| |
Sand
Casting
|
Permanent
Molding
|
Die
Casting
|
Ceramic
& Investment Casting
|
Resin
Shell Molding CO2 Nobake Molding
|
|
Dimensional
Tolerances
|
±.010"
±.030"
|
±.010"
±.050"
|
±.001"
±.015"
|
±.010"
±.020"
|
±.005"
±.015"
|
|
Relative
Cost - High Part Quantity
|
Low
|
Low
|
Lowest
|
Highest
|
Med.
High
|
|
Relative
Cost - Low Part Quantity
|
Lowest
|
High
|
Highest
|
Medium
|
Med.
High
|
|
Casting
Weight Range
|
Unlimited
|
oz. - 100 lb
|
oz.
- 75 lb
|
Ceramic
-
3-350 lb.
Investment -
oz. - 100 lb
|
Shell (oz.-200 lb.)
CO2 & Nobake
(.5 lb-tons)
|
|
Minimum
Wall Thickness
|
1/10"
|
1/8"
|
1/32"
|
1/16"
|
1/10"
|
|
As
Cast Finish
(RMS)
|
150
- 350
|
150
- 200
|
63
- 90
|
60
- 125
|
125
- 200
|
Draft
Angle
(Degrees) |
1
- 5 |
2
- 4 |
1/2
- 2 |
1/4
- 1/2 |
1/4
- 1 |
|
Design
Complexity/Detail
|
Fair-good
|
Fair
|
Good
|
Best
|
Good
|
|
Relative
Ease of Design
Changes In Production
|
Best
|
Poor
|
Poorest
|
Fair
|
Fair
|
|
Castable
Alloys
|
Most
Ferrous / Non-ferrous Metals.
|
Al-base
& Cu-base Preferred
|
Al-base
Preferred
|
Most
Ferrous / Non-ferrous Metals.
|
Most
Ferrous / Non-ferrous Metals.
|
