“How many days to make a mold?” — a question asked as often as the quote itself, because in most projects time comes before money. The short answer: an aluminum mold is typically days to a few weeks, while a steel production mold is 8-12+ weeks. But “mold lead time” and “time to hold the first part in your hand” are different; in this article we explain all the steps and what determines the timeline. ...
How much does a plastic injection mold cost? It is the most frequently asked question, yet one most mold makers do not answer clearly. The short answer: aluminum prototype/low-volume molds are typically 500-2,000 USD, while steel production molds start from tens of thousands of USD depending on geometry. But what really matters is knowing what determines the price — in this article we explain it transparently. The 6 Factors That Determine Mold Price The bulk of mold cost is machining (CNC) time. That is why everything that determines the price actually comes down to the question “how long does it take to machine the mold?”: ...
Plastic prototyping with an aluminum mold is a method for obtaining parts from real injection plastic at a much lower cost and in a shorter time than a steel production mold. The short answer: if your quantity is below ~10,000, your material is non-abrasive (PP, ABS, PE, POM) and speed matters — an aluminum mold + desktop injection molding is almost always the right choice. In this article, we explain the decision with numbers. ...
In low-volume plastic production (100-5,000 parts), the right method varies by quantity and material. The short answer: if you need a real thermoplastic part, production-grade surface quality and hundreds-to-thousands of parts, an aluminum mold + desktop injection molding is the most economical path; for very short runs, 3D printing or vacuum casting stand out. In this article, we compare the three methods with numbers. Three Methods, Side by Side Criterion 3D Printing (FDM/SLA) Vacuum Casting Aluminum Mold + Injection Ideal quantity 1-50 10-50 ~100-5,000+ Material Filament/resin Polyurethane (imitation) Real thermoplastic (ABS, PP, PA, POM) Mechanical strength Anisotropic; Z axis ~40-75% of injection* Medium, not real resin Isotropic, production-equivalent Tolerance ±0.1-0.5 mm* ~±0.3 mm ~±0.05 mm* Regulation (UL/FDA/CE) Generally not accepted Limited Valid Mold/setup cost None Low (silicone mold, short life) Medium (aluminum mold, typically 500-2,000 USD) Unit cost (as quantity increases) Constant-high Medium Decreases *Typical values based on industry data; they vary by geometry and material. ...