Injection mold tooling
Tooling decisions lock in part cost, cycle time and quality. The earlier they are reviewed, the cheaper the changes.
Tooling decisions that affect part cost
| Decision | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cavitation | More cavities lower part cost at volume, but raise tool cost and press requirements. |
| Gate location | Affects fill, weld lines, cosmetic marks and cycle time. |
| Cooling layout | Drives cycle time and warp; poor cooling is expensive to fix later. |
| Steel selection | Balances tool life, polishability and cost. |
| Tolerances | Tighter tolerances increase tooling and inspection cost. |
Bridge tool vs production tool
| Bridge tool | Production tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Pilots, trials, market test | Series production |
| Cavitation | 1–2 | 4–8 (typical) |
| Tool life | 50k–100k shots | 500k–1M shots |
| Lead time | 3–5 weeks | 5–8 weeks |
| Part cost | Higher per part | Lower at volume |
What to send
Part drawing or 3D file, material, quantity, cavitation preference, target date and assembly requirements. If the design is still developing, send what you have and mark the open questions.
FAQ
Can you review our existing tool design?
Yes. Send the design and the issue you want to solve; we will review feasibility and the likely change scope.
Do you provide mold flow analysis?
Yes. Mold flow analysis is available on request; send the part and the questions you need answered.
