1.  Lost Foam Casting is most advantageous for complex components with extensive internal features and the potential for component integration. 

• The advantages of lost foam casting are best used when the component is designed for lost foam casting from the start with careful considerations of castability requirements, capabilities, and limitations. 

2.  Control of the pattern molding is a critical process parameter to ensure a sound casting that meets tolerance requirements. 

• 80 to 90 % of the final casting quality is determined during the "white side" steps of the lost foam casting process. 

 3.  3D computer aided design (finite element analysis and solidification modeling) is essential to rapidly optimize the design for mechanical performance and castability and to reduce the "first part" time.