Pros
- Offers many metal and alloy options
- More freedom in the design of the parts
- Relatively lower tooling cost
- High dimensional accuracy with tight tolerances
- Excellent as-cast surface finish with no parting lines
- Reduced additional machining
- Porosity is generally not a problem for investment casting
Cons
- Longer production cycle
- Higher manufacturing cost (due to die making, the use of specialised equipment and refractory material, and its labour-intensive nature)
- Not recommended for parts with holes smaller than 1⁄16 of an inch (1.6 mm) or deeper than 1.5 times the diameter
- Not a viable choice for small production runs (below 25 pieces)