injection mold design services | Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc.

The Art of Determining the Cost of an Injection Mold

The world of plastic injection mold manufacturing can be a daunting one. From designing plastic injection molds to getting them made, there are many complex processes involved, and the cost can quickly add up. When starting out, one of the most important things you need to know is how to determine the cost of your injection mold. Today, we will review some useful tips and insights on calculating this cost accurately and without hassle.

The first thing you need to understand regarding the cost of injection molds is that it can vary greatly depending on the size, complexity, and material used. The size and complexity of the mold can make a big difference in the final cost. In general, larger, more complex molds take more time to make, which means more labor costs. They also require more material. The type of plastic that will be used in the product can also significantly affect the price, as different molds require different levels of expertise.

Next, it is essential to understand the pricing model of your injection mold manufacturer. Some may charge a flat fee for the entire process, while others charge per hour or square inch. It is crucial to have all the pricing details upfront to calculate your mold’s final cost accurately. You also need to account for the cost of any additional services you may need, such as design services, 3D rendering, and shipping.

After getting all the necessary pricing information, you can start to do some calculations to estimate the total cost. To begin, break down the price into three main categories—material costs, labor costs, and any additional costs. Material costs will depend on the type of material used, while labor costs will depend on the size, complexity, and hourly rates of the manufacturer. Additional costs can include anything from design fees to shipping.

Finally, remember to factor in any potential future costs when determining the cost of your injection mold. For example, if you plan to make more molds in the future, investing in a more expensive, higher-quality mold that will last longer may be more cost-effective. Long-term maintenance costs should also be considered to keep your mold working efficiently for years to come.

Resins Solutions for Plastic Injection Mold Makers

Plastic injection mold makers use many materials in the manufacturing process. They choose thermoplastic polymers based on their function and resistance to specific environmental exposure. Injection mold design services work closely with various industries, using appropriate materials for successful results. The most common ones are ABS, HDPE, LDPE, Nylon, PC, and PP.

Properties of Injection Molding Materials

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)— This is a tough and sturdy material capable of resisting substantial impacts and scratches. ABS is melted at a low temperature, making it easy to mold. Because it’s a good insulator, ABS is ideal for phone adaptors, keyboard keys, and other electronic parts.
Low-Density & High-Density Polyethylene (LDPE & HDPE)—As a soft and flexible material, LDPE is low-cost and ideal for fabricating lightweight components such as bottles and plastic bags. On the other hand, HDPE is resilient and stiff with higher strength. It’s an affordable material, which is excellent for manufacturing plastic bottles and recycling bins.
Polyamide (Nylon)—In tool design, nylon is popular due to its strength and waterproof capabilities. Its unique nature can produce components that resist high-moisture environments, such as pipe fittings and bearings. Nylon is also commonly used in automotive applications.
Polycarbonate (PC)—This material is solid, lightweight, and transparent. It is commonly used in engineering due to its optical properties. You can find PC in safety hamlets, bulletproof glass, and machinery guards.
Polypropylene (PP)— As a suitable thermoplastic polymer, PP is flexible, elastic, and rigid. It’s highly resistant to chemicals and moisture, making it an excellent choice for food storage in the packing industry. You can also find it molded into equipment housing and machinery components.

What It Takes to Be a Military Specification Injection Mold Supplier

Any company looking to extend their services into Department of Defense applications must comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Manufacturers do not take their registration with ITAR lightly because the requirements cover exports related to defense. In most cases, these regulations apply to military-grade applications.

A Reputation for Excellence

A military specification injection mold supplier must have an established reputation within the industry, with a proven history of exceptional standards. Manufacturing molds for military purposes require a skilled team that understands the scope of their work and the regulations that guide the parameters of client contracts.

[h2] ITAR Compliant Manufacturing Processes

An ITAR-registered injection mold builder supplies products to military vendors for use in aerospace, nautical, and tactical applications. Manufacturers of defense articles, defense services, or related technical data must be ITAR compliant to maintain their contracts.

Comprehensive Capabilities

A plastic injection mold manufacturer can expect to create molds for various products, from weapons components to vehicle parts. A military specification injection mold supplier must operate with a current ITAR registration status, whether the contract calls for single-run prototypes or high-volume injection mold design.

If you’re a vendor that makes parts or components for military purposes, never settle for anything less than an ITAR-registered injection mold builder.

Benefits of Computerized Molding Manufacturing

Precision is essential to ensure that the parts you need function properly when it comes to mold manufacturing. A clean-cut finish means a streamlined production for clients, which is why companies like Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. have been one of many reliable businesses for molds. Several fields heavily rely on molding services, including consumer, appliance, automotive, medical, military, and defense industries. That’s why using the latest technology, such as the ATOS 5 and ATOS 5 Scan Box 6 with the high-speed scanner, is paramount for the best precision.

This tool allows the mold manufacturer to create 3D designs that follow the required dimensions that are requested. Once the design process is completed, the mold injection follows suit to create a precise mold. Using the Optical 3D Coordinate Measuring Machine, Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. is able to capture every angle and surface no matter how complex; this feeds into computerized cutting tools so clients can always expect a high-quality job. You can count on their customer service skills to discuss the project in more detail.

Contact them today to learn more about their products and services; they’ll be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Injection Molding Services — Tooling

When it comes to our business, we know the exact tools and equipment needed to ensure everything is running smoothly. Everything has its purpose for keeping production going, which is why when any of those essential tools break, it can make things a little complicated. That’s why companies like Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. is specialized in injection molding services for manufacturing precisely what you need using high-quality plastic materials.

The process where the mold is being made is called tooling. In other words, you can think of it as a tool design so that the right parts are sent to customers. The process requires some highly skilled technicians that understand how to create top-quality parts with tight dimensions. It requires suitable materials to ensure the manufactured pieces will last for many years. The beauty of injection mold services is that the tooling can be tailored to the needs of each customer, and in the case of more common machinery, it can be reused by anyone who needs it. This makes the process quick, precise, and seamless.

Contact Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. for more information about their injection mold services and tool design. They’ll be glad to answer any inquiries you may have.

The Reliability of Plastic Molding Services

The diversity of uses for plastic in today’s society makes plastic molding services an important cog in every industry. Melted and made with different materials and chemicals, plastic can truly be shaped into almost anything you see on the market today. Companies like Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. are dedicated to manufacturing precisely what you need using state-of-the-art technology.

What exactly do plastic molding services entail? Also known as plastic injection molding, this process consists of resin in a barrel that’s heated to a molten state before being shot into a mold to form a final production-grade thermoplastic part. These molds are usually designed for reuse with exact measurements and features to ensure customers continue to receive the best quality components. These services are essential to making sure various industries can quickly get high-quality parts and pieces without fear of scrambling to search for a part that might be very difficult to find pre-made.

The benefits of mold manufacturing are something Decatur Mold Tool &Engineering, Inc. can deliver. Contact them today to learn more about their services; they’ll be happy to discuss details about specific parts you need to have made.

Rely on an ITAR Registered Manufacturer for Injection Molding Services

Your Project Management Experts – From Design to Distribution

When most people envision injection molding, they imagine small appliances, consumer products, and even simple containers. But the world of injection molding is much broader and includes an impressive range of markets and industries. Professionals from the aerospace, medicine, and automotive industries all rely on high-quality precision parts from Decatur Mold. Additionally, we’re able to support military clients thanks to our sought-after ITAR certification, allowing us to provide products and services to the military.

What is ITAR-Registered Certification?

ITAR (The International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is a set of governmental regulations, policies, and provisions governing defense exports. Examples of these regulations include rules about the prohibition of exports, the import and sale of goods from certain countries, export exceptions, and much more. All brokers, exporters, and manufacturers of defense articles—including Decatur Mold—are required to register with ITAR.

What We Can Do For You

Our military clients appreciate that we take on their projects from conception through completion. Regardless of the part or tool you require, you can count on us to help you create it with comprehensive project management services. By taking the time to understand your requirements fully, we’re able to design, manufacture, and distribute the military-related product that you need.

Contact Decatur Mold today to get started on your project.

Benefits of Injection Molding Services

Injection molding services have risen in popularity within the manufacturing sector. This is in large part due to advances in technology, the widening availability of materials, and improvements within the industry concerning training and quality control. In this post, we will go over a few of the benefits of plastic injection molding.

Plastic injection molding is a process that utilizes heat and pressure to make high-density moldings. This process is highly cost-effective and has made it easier for many manufacturers to increase production without making sacrifices in quality. Key advantages include:

Customization: Molding subjects the plastic medium to high pressures, which allows for a consistent production run. Due to the high pressure on the plastic, it allows for products that exhibit a high amount of detail.

Efficiency: After the mold has been designed and approved, it can be utilized for a high-yield production run. Since only one mold is required for production, this minimizes downtime lost through changing parts or similar processes.

Automation: Adding to the benefits gained from efficiency, plastic injection molding services are highly adaptive to automated processes. Once the CNC machinery has been configured, the processes require minimal intervention from technicians. This reduces labor requirements while keeping operating costs low.

CNC machinery has revolutionized injection molding processes. Contact your local CNC machining contractor to learn more about injection molding options.

Sampling and Low Volume Molding

We’ll spare you the noise so you can do your job. Producing the ideal part requires a blend of technical savviness and modern machinery — all buzzing behind the scenes. While we stay busy, you can move on to your other tasks free of worry or distraction.

As an injection mold design and manufacturing company, we provide molding services for many fields, including the consumer, appliance, automotive, medical, military, and defense industries.

Once we build your mold we can sample your part at our facility. We can make products with our nine Nissei injection molding machines, ranging in tonnage from 72 to 946 tons. We also operate optional RJG eDART process control systems, 13 dryers, and various inspection equipment. Our inspection and scanning capabilities are state of the art thanks to our ATOS 5 and ATOS 6 Scan Box that allow us to conduct accurate laser inspections and scans to capture 3D precision.

Tool Designs

With Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., you get mold and tool design services that bring a product to life. Our 3D design specialists use the latest technology, such as our new ATOS 5 with the ATOS Scan Box 6 with high-speed scanner, to create the molds you require.

We use CAD design services and optical coordinate measuring to provide the ideal tool design capability needed by your company. Once the piece you have in mind has been designed, our injection molding services keep the process moving forward by generating a precise mold. Our team can help ensure the volume and timeline of your production run meet your obligations to your customers.

Your satisfaction is vital to us, and it is why our molding design team meets your needs for superior designs with exceptional customer service. We use Siemens NX, PTC CREO, Solidworks, Catia v5, and Ideas files to generate detailed CAD drawings of your part with essential pieces of information.

CAD Services

Design is at the heart of all products, and it is a complex process with many factors to consider. First, we look at mold requirements, such as the product’s use, load, and whether it fits another piece. The part’s creation itself also plays a role in design. How material enters, fills, and cools in the cavity sets some parameters.

We use advanced 3D CAD design to create functional, virtual prototypes of objects. This software allows us to create and modify a model in real-time. This allows us to keep costs down when changes are required for the mold by saving on time and materials by perfecting the mold before production begins.

Injection Mold Tool Design Basics

Injection molding tools consider factors such as resin viscosity, material shrinkage, gate location, or specialty release mechanisms. Major considerations include:

Gate – The gate’s type, size, and location in a mold impact resin distribution, cycle time, and shrinkage.

The number of cavities - Depending on the expected production run, mold tool design specialists make molds with as many cavities as is safe and effective to improve production.

Draft - Included in a design for easy release of the part from the mold, the degree of the draft varies by part, surface finish, and other factors.

Tool material - Injection molding tools are generally machined from hardened or pre-hardened metals or alloys. The material chosen depends on cost and expected production volume. Steel tools are more costly but more durable; aluminum ones are less expensive but do not last as long.

Navigation

Search Results for: injection mold design services