input: [Foundry Process] Investment Casting (Lost Wax) [Process] Investment Casting is the process of completely investing a three-dimensional pattern in all of its dimensions to produce a one-piece destructible mold into which molten metal will be poured. A refractory slurry flows around the wax pattern, providing excellent detail. The wax patterns are assembled on a "tree" and invested with a ceramic slurry. The tree is then immersed into a fluidized bed of refractory particles to form the first layer of the ceramic shell.The mold is allowed to dry and the process repeated with coarser material until sufficient thickness has been built up to withstand the impact of hot metal. When the slurry hardens, the wax pattern is melted out and recovered and the mold or ceramic shell is oven cured prior to casting. Most materials can be cast by this process but the economics indicate that fairly high volume is necessary and the shape and complexity of the castings should be such that savings are made by eliminating machining. [Pros / Cons] 
output: Advantages Excellent accuracy and flexibility of design. Useful for casting alloys that are difficult to machine. Exceptionally fine finish. Suitable for large or small quantities of parts. Almost unlimited intricacy. Suitable for most ferrous / non-ferrous metals. No flash to be removed or parting line tolerances. Disadvantages Limitations on size of casting. Higher casting costs make it important to take full advantage of the process to eliminate all machining operations.