Investment casting, also known as lost-wax casting, involves creating a mold from a wax pattern. The wax is melted and drained out, leaving a hollow mold, which is then filled with molten metal. This process is ideal for producing complex shapes with excellent surface finishes.

Applications: Aerospace components, medical devices, and jewelry.

Advantages:

• High precision and complex shapes.
• Good surface finish and fine details.
• Suitable for small to medium production runs.

Disadvantages:

• Expensive mold production.
• Limited to smaller parts and lower-volume production.