Sand

3 - 6 Depending upon metal

4.5 - 6

6.25 - 25

1, 5 - 4, 2 mm Depending upon metal & casting size. Tolerance of + 0.25 mm possible on some parts.

Shell Mould

1, 5 for most material

6 - Mar

Some what better than sand

+0, 003 mm/mm 0.075 total possible on some dimensions.

Permanent Mould

2.38 Most Materials

4.5 - 6

2.5 - 6.25

+0.015 mm/mm for first 25mm 0.025 mm to 0.05 mm for each additional 25 mm

Die Casting

 0.76 - 4.5 Depending upon metal

 1 - 2.5

+0.025 - 0.125 mm depending upon material 

Plaster Moulding

0.75

12.5

0.75 - 1.25

+0.005 - 0.010 mm/mm or Less

Investment Casting

 0.75

0.50 - 0.750  

 0.25 - 2.12

+0.005 mm / mm

Centrifugal Casting

0.75

4.3 - 6

2.25 - 6.25 or as in sand

Same as permanent mould.

Sand

Low

Wide range much hand labour required.

Wide range, high to low depends upon cleaning, snagging and machine req.

Singular and batch production of medium & large components of cast iron, cast steel not precision.

Shell Mould

Moderate

Low, often only a minimum required.

Batch & mass production of cast iron, steel components to reduce the cost of machining. 

Permanent Mould

Medium

Moderate

Low to Moderate

Batch Production

Die Casting

High

Low to medium

Low, little more than trimming necessary

Mass Production of small components of Aluminium, Zinc magnesium  copper alloys to reduce the cost of machining.

Plaster Moulding

Medium

High skilled operators necessary

Low little machining necessary

Batch Production

Investment Casting

High

High many hand operators req.

Low machining usually not necessary

Steel alloyed, Steel, Small Batch small size to reduce the expansive machining.

Centrifugal Casting

Medium

Moderate

Low to Moderate

Singular batch production bearing sleeves of bearing alloys cast iron tubes.