| Factor | Investment casting (lost wax) | Sand casting |
| Best for | Complex shapes, finer detail, cleaner surfaces | Larger parts, flexibility, cost-effective geometry |
| Typical surface finish | Smoother | Rougher |
| Typical variability | Lower (more consistent starting shape) | Higher (plan more machining stock) |
| Tooling feel | More “precision tooling” | Often simpler and easier to iterate |
| Machining allowance | Often lower | Often higher |
| Common buyer goal | Reduce finishing and CNC time | Make big/simple parts efficiently |
