What is the cost compared to investment casting?
This is a more difficult question to answer in that two processes are geared to different types of parts and circumstances. Generally, the investment casting process is utilized for much smaller castings in much larger volumes. Since it is more geared to larger quantities, it is allowed to operate with much longer lead times both for initial samples and subsequent production. This long lead time situation (14 weeks) does not allow it to actually compete in quick turnaround prototyping situations. From a strictly cost type of comparison, the larger the part becomes, the more attractive our processes will be. On average, our air-set sand, green sand, and plaster mold processes should be more cost effective for castings larger than a cigarette pack. USING COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN (CAD): Can APC accept CAD data? Yes. We can work with any CAD system that will allow an IGES translation. We can work with either 2D or 3D data. In working with CAD, can you utilize data if the part is designed in s
