How does a mold work?

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A mold is a tool used in the injection molding process to shape molten plastic into the desired form. A mold contains cavities that replicate the exact shape of the product and can be customized for different designs. Learn more about molds on our mold development page!

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Making a mold is a complex and labor-intensive task. We have been working for years with the same Dutch and Asian toolmakers, allowing us to produce molds using various types of steel. Depending on the complexity and size of the final product, the toolmaker may need anywhere from a few days to several weeks to create the mold.

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The cost of a mold is influenced by several factors, including the complexity of the design and the type of steel used to make the mold. Additionally, the mold must withstand clamping forces that can reach thousands of tons. These pressures are released during injection, along with the heat from the molten plastic. Ideally, the mold should be able to endure this process more than 500,000 times! Due to these requirements, mold construction is expensive and complex. You should generally expect a cost of around €10,000.

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The lead time for manufacturing a mold depends on the product, its complexity, and any required revisions. On average, the process looks as follows:

After receiving the product models, it takes approximately 1 to 2 weeks to prepare a quotation. Once approved, the DFM and mold design phase starts, which takes around 2 to 3 weeks.

After design approval, it takes about 7 to 8 weeks to reach the First Out of Tool stage. The production samples are typically delivered about 1 week later.

The total delivery time then depends on the chosen shipping method. Air freight takes approximately 2 weeks, while sea freight takes around 55 days. In addition, about 1 week should be considered for preparing the shipment.

If revisions are required, each revision round typically takes around 3 weeks.

In total, the lead time usually ranges between 10 and 16 weeks, depending on complexity, shipping method, and the number of revisions.

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A mold is created based on the design of a plastic product. First, the product is analyzed to determine whether it is suitable for injection molding and what adjustments may be needed.

Next, the mold is digitally designed using CAD software. In this design, all components are defined, such as the cavity, cooling system, and ejection mechanism. The mold is then manufactured from high-quality steel and precisely machined.

Finally, the mold is tested through trial injections. Only once the product fully meets all requirements is the mold put into series production.

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