Injection molding is a very effective manufacturing method to get large quantities of high quality manufactured plastic products at a low unit cost. However there is a upfront cost of tooling that can be many thousands of dollars depending on part size and complexity of geometry.

Yes, there are ways to tool up for low quantities and reduce up front tooling cost and lead-time. The trade-off will usually be higher part cost due to low cavitation, lack of automation and increased secondary labor.

The strategy will be different for every product depending on the confidence of the market demand and consideration of utilization of capital investment. If you are fairly certain about the market demands and have the capital, you can proceed with production tooling. Take the time to weigh your options for automation in the tooling and cavitation. In some cases it may make sense to invest in a tool with multiple cavity inserts and give you the flexibility to add cavities or make changes easier.

Many factors influence this decision. It is best to research the various technologies once you have clearly defined what you need to learn from your prototype. Here are some considerations:

• Are you testing mechanical performance?
• Do you need it for pre-market sales and business development?
• What quantity will you require.
• What production process will I use for manufacturing.
• What Is The Best Production Process For My Project?
• What Material Do I Use?
• What are the mechanical requirements?
• Will it have high exposure to U.V. from the sun?
• Will it be exposed to any chemicals?

NOTE: The best place to start is from the commodity materials and work up. Ask yourself
questions; why not HDPE materials or PP materials.

In general, you have much better legal protection of your Intellectual Property and better success in managing conflicts with suppliers in the U.S. Tooling/mold building can be significantly cheaper in China, but the cost to modify and rework the mold can be frustrating, time consuming, and costly if required to be re-shipped. In addition, getting your mold out of China has become an existential issue. Instability in freight rates is emerging as an issue, making it difficult to honor quoted prices. However, at customer's direction, Steven Plastics offers offshore time tested tooling relationships in Portugal and China.

To provide an accurate quote, manufacturers need the following:

• 3D model of the part in a file format such as .stp or .igs.
• Part Volume and weight
• Critical dimensions, tolerances, material specifications, packaging specification and
  quantity.

There are many more details that are required include the look and feel of your finished product
if it is for consumers, but these are the basics to ensure you get accurate cost and get started
with an injection molded project.