| Parameters | Investment Casting | Sand Casting | Forging | Metal Injection Molding | Shell Molding | Pressure Die Casting | Gravity Die Casting | Sheet Metal | Machining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Soundness | High | Poor | Very High | High | Poor | Average | Poor | High | High |
| Metal Option | Most | Most | Average | Average | Average | Few | Few | Average | Most |
| Design Freedom | Most | Average | Least | Average | Average | Least | Least | Average | Most |
| Capability By Weight | Average | Very High | High | Very Low | Average | Average | Average | Average | Average |
| Capability By Tonnage | High | Very High | Very High | Low | High | Average | Average | Average | High |
| Tolerance Control | Average | Poor | Average | High | Poor | High | Poor | High | High |
| Size Range | Average | Large | Average | Small | Average | Average | Average | Average | Average |
| Surface Finish | Best | Poor | Average | Best | Average | Best | Average | Best | Best |
| Wall Minimum | Average | Large | Large | Small | Average | Small | Large | Small | Small |
| Development Time | Long | Long | Average | Very Long | Long | Very Long | Long | Long | Average |
| Delivery Time | Average | Short | Short | Short | Short | Short | Short | Short | Short |
| Draft Required | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tooling Cost | Average | Low | High | High | Average | High | High | Average | Average |
| Unit Cost | High* | Average | Average | High* | Average | Low | Low | Average | High* |
| *While intial costs can be higher but a lower overall cost can be achived | |||||||||
