Side-by-side summary.
Die Casting
Molten metal injected into reusable steel mold at high pressure. Aluminum, zinc, magnesium. Production volumes 10,000+. Very high production rate. Low per-part cost.
Investment Casting
Lost-wax process. Fresh ceramic mold each part. Works with steel, stainless, superalloys, bronze, aluminum. Volumes 100-100,000. Moderate per-part cost. Complex geometry.
Feature-by-feature breakdown.
| Attribute | Die casting | Investment casting |
|---|---|---|
| Metals | Al, Zn, Mg (not steel) | Steel, stainless, Ni alloys, Al |
| Production volume | 10,000+ economical | 100-100,000 |
| Surface finish (Ra) | 1.6-3.2 µm | 1.6-3.2 µm |
| Dimensional tolerance | ±0.2% typical | ±0.3-0.5% |
| Minimum wall thickness | 0.5-1.0 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Geometry complexity | Complex (limited undercuts) | Very complex |
| Tooling cost | $20,000-100,000 | $3,000-30,000 |
| Cycle time | 30-90 seconds | Hours to days |
| Tool life | 500,000-2M parts | Pattern only (wax) |
| Cost per part (high vol) | Very low | Moderate |
| Lead time for tooling | 8-16 weeks | 3-6 weeks |
| Typical applications | Auto, consumer elec, motor housings | Turbine blades, aerospace, gun parts |
When to choose each.
Choose Die Casting when:
Choose Investment Casting when:
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