Just a suggestion from painful personal experience. Unless you (& your management) commit to significant ongoing support of your simulation software & models you run a high risk of being disappointed.
If the process or operation that you are modelling is small, it can be done effectively in...
The 'best' solution probably depends upon the quantity you want, the purpose and the source of the material.
If you are starting with sand (with or without other materials) and are melting a tiny quantity, you can start with a ceramic crucible that is available from many lab supply catalogs...
I have to agree with a prior post that it depends on what you intend to do.
If you plan to get into machining then you would need to be well versed in a CNC language. If you plan to get into simulation you need one to become an expert in the simulation packages.
You may want to rethink your...
