For desktop use, it seems like mold-making combined with a lab heater for ABS/whatever you're going to use would make it cheaper-still. I used to do investment

For desktop use, it seems like mold-making combined with a lab heater for ABS/whatever you're going to use would make it cheaper-still. I used to do investment casting with silver, and that's mostly the way it worked. ABS is much lower-temp and cools faster, so some experimentation with the "crucible" would probably be in order. But that's home-brew for you.