What’s the Difference Between Investment Casting and Sand Casting?

Sand casting and investment casting are methods of creating metal parts by pouring molten metal into three-dimensional molds. Although methods are thousands of years old, both have been refined over the years to minimize the amount of metal used and reduce any extensive machining and finishing required. But significant differences exist between these two methods of making metal parts. First let’s take a look at the basics behind each.

Sand-Casting Basics

Molten metal gets poured into the sand-based molds during sand casting.
In sand casting, molten metal, usually iron, steel, bronze, brass, aluminum, magnesium, and other non-ferrous alloys, is poured into a two-piece mold. The molds are created by compacting sand—most often mixed with clay as a bonding agent and moistened with water—around a pattern or model of the final product. The mold is split apart and the pattern removed. The two halves of the mold are put back together and the void is filled with molten metal. Once the metal cools sufficiently, the mold is opened, the sand removed, and the part taken out.

Several of the same parts can be cast at the same time, or a range of different parts can share a mold. Molds are destroyed in the process, but new ones are easy to make. The sand is often reclaimed and reused multiple times.

Molds for sand casting usually have two distinct halves that are tightly fastened together when being used.
Investment-Casting Basics

Investment casting, also called lost-wax casting, makes parts from molten metal, usually stainless-steel alloys, brass, aluminum, and carbon steel. The first step in the process is to build a wax version of the final product. This can be done in one of three ways:

1. Form a gelatin mold around a solid, 3D model of the final product.

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