Comparison Chart - Sterling Technocast

Process	Investment (Lost Wax)	Green Sand	Dry Sand (Chemical or Vapor Cure)	Permanent Mold (Gravity Die Casting)	Die Casting
Metals Cast	Nearly all ferrous and non-ferrous alloys	Wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys	Wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys	Nonferrous alloys (Al, Zn, Mg, certain Cu), some Fe	Nonferrous alloys only (Al, Zn, Cu, Mg, Sn, Pb)
Complexity of Shape	4 (Greatest)	3	3	2	1 (Least)
Casting Weight	Ounces to 250 lbs.	Ounces to Tons	Ounces to Tons	Ounces to 250 lbs.	Ounces to 40 lbs.
Min. Section Thickness	0.020″-0.080″	0.125″-0.250″	0.060″-0.250″	0.060″-0.250″	0.025″-0.080″
Linear Dimensional Tolerances	Under 1″: +/-0.005″. Over 1″ add +/- 0.003 in.in	+/- 0.015-0.250 in Add +/- 0.015″-0.250″ across parting plane	+/-0.020-0.060 in. Add +/- 0.020″-0.060″ across parting plane	Under 1″: +/- 0.010. Over 1″ add +/- 0.002 in/in. Add +/-0.015-0.060″ across parting plane	+/-0.0015-0.005 in Add +/-0.001″-0.005″ across parting plane
Surface Finish (Micro Inches)	63-125	150-500	150-250	150-350	32-63
Tooling Costs	Low-to-Moderate	Low	Low	Moderate	High
Optimum Lot Size	Small-to-Medium depending on degree of process mechanization	Small-to-large depending on degree of process mechanization	Small-to-medium depending on degree of process mechanization	Medium	Large
Draft Required	None	1-5 degrees	1-3 degrees	2-5 degrees	1/2 to 2 degrees
Advantages	No Parting Plane. Accommodates nearly all metals. Near-net-shape castings require minimal machining.	High production rates possible through mechanization	Moisture-free mold	Mold life of 15,000 cycles or more depending upon pouring temperature of metal and upon casting specs. Both metal and sand cores are used.	Mold life from 15,000 cycles depending upon pouring temperature of metal and upon casting specs. Near-net-shape castings require minimal machining.
Disadvantages	Mold is not reusable. Mold materials not reusable. Process is labor and energy intensive	Mold is not reusable.	Mold is not reusable.	Some shapes cannot be cast.	Sealing may be required to achieve pressure or leak tight castings. Metal cores only. Sand cores cannot be used.