Lost wax casting is a high-precision molding process, and the range of alloys used is the same as that of traditional powder metallurgy, injection molding, and powder forging.
The use of lost-wax casting may be appropriate when the shape of the part cannot be formed using powder metallurgy or when a large number of cutting operations are required using powder metallurgy.
Parts with simple shapes can use traditional powder metallurgy. For small, complex-shaped parts, metal injection molding is often an economical forming process that can replace the lost wax casting process.
Although the tool cost of the lost wax casting process is lower than the traditional powder metallurgy process, metal injection molding process or powder forging process, the production cost is high.