The real cost of making an injection mold
August 9, 2022 | Blog, Capabilities Blogs, Design Engineering Capabilities Blogs, Industries Blogs, Materials Blogs
When starting to produce a new product, it’s important to decide on the type of process you will use for the manufacturing process. While injection molding is a very cost-effective process, the initial startup cost of the mold is often a barrier of entry.
Injection molding is a manufacturing process that is very efficient for producing parts in large volume. It is typically used in the mass production process where the same part is being created in the thousands or even millions.
Upfront costs tend to be very high due to the design, testing, and tooling requirements. If you are going to produce parts in high volumes, you want to make sure you get the design correct the first time. So, what are the costs associated with producing an injection mold?
- Choice of Resin
One of the biggest factors that effect the price of the plastic injection molding process is the type of plastic resin used in manufacturing. The choice of material will change the price based on color, compounding, and additives. The most abrasive or corrosive the material, the most expensive the mold.
- Complexity
The more intricate the component, the more difficult it is to design the manufacturing process. Part complexity, tolerances, number of undercuts as well as surface finish all effect the cost.
- Size
The size of the component also drives the price. Larger parts require larger, more expensive molds, as well as more material to manufacture. Larger molds also take longer to make, which increases the costs.
- Mold Material
The material the mold is made from significantly impacts the price. Short production molds are usually made from less expensive materials such as aluminum. Long production molds require molds made from more durable and expensive materials like steel that will retain their features across several years.
- Cavities
The higher the number of cavities – the higher the production costs. Experienced mold designers can maximize cavitations to enhance productivity and lower costs even for the most intricate parts and components.
- Mold Base
The base of the mold is the case used for holding all the components, inserts and cavities of the mold. The price of the mold base depends on the type of steel and the size of the mold.
At Performance Plastics, we know how important it is to make the correct decisions when designing a mold. We have a team of process experts who work with our clients to design and assist in the mold process. We focus on the total cost of ownership of a mold, production capacity, longevity, functionality, as well as initial capital expense.
To learn more about how Performance Plastics can help you with your molding process, contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (513) 321-8404 or [email protected].
