Investment casting, also known as lost-wax casting, involves a multi-step manufacturing process that requires intensive manual labor, specialized equipment, and precise execution at every phase. Expenses accumulate from creating exact metal injection dies, producing single-use wax patterns, assembling ceramic slurry shell molds through repeated dipping cycles, and executing high-temperature dewaxing and burnout stages. Additionally, the process demands premium raw metal alloys, stringent non-destructive quality inspections, and meticulous cleanup, making it significantly more costly per unit than automated sand casting or stamping for high-volume, simple geometries.