Advantages
- Able to produce large and complex castings in one piece
- No need to use additional cores for hollow parts
- High dimensional accuracy
- Weight of casting parts can be reduced
- Excellent as-cast surface finish
- No draft required
- No parting lines, no flash is formed
- Reduced machining and cleaning
Disadvantages
- Relatively higher manufacturing cost due to specialised equipment, tooling, and labour
- Costs for pattern production can be high for low volume production, especially when a die is used to create the foam pattern
- Foam patterns are easily damaged or distorted