Sand Casting vs Die Casting — Which Process Fits Your Part?

Choose sand casting when

• The part is ferrous (cast iron or cast steel) or relatively heavy
• Tooling cost must stay low and tolerances are moderate
• Volume is low to medium (tens to a few thousand pieces per pattern)
• Machining after cast is acceptable on critical surfaces

Choose die casting when

• The part is aluminium or zinc and needs thin, repeatable walls
• Annual volume justifies die investment (typically hundreds to hundreds of thousands)
• You need faster cycle times and tighter as-cast dimensions
• Weight reduction matters for housings, brackets, and covers

Investment casting — the third option

For smaller complex parts in steel or stainless, investment casting often sits between sand and die casting on detail and tolerance. Ask for a dual-route quote if your drawing allows more than one process.

How to get an accurate quote

Send a PDF or STEP file with material grade, quantity, tolerance call-outs, and destination (New Zealand or Australia). Partform will confirm the most economical process with Qingdao partners and return an English quote.