Plastic injection molding, a popular manufacturing process, allows you to produce parts by injecting molten plastic resin into a mold, then letting it set to achieve the desired shape. This process is best used for large-volume productions of the same product. While plastic molding is a very effective method, it can become too costly if you don’t consider certain factors. Learn about the plastic injection molding cost and discover ways to save money on your upcoming project with the information provided below.
Factors That Impact the Cost of Plastic Injection Molding Service
1. Part Design
The type of part you are designing will heavily impact your plastic injection molding cost. A smaller, simpler design will not cost much as a larger, more complex model. Even when designing your parts, try to prioritize simplicity at every turn.
2. Injection Moulding Materials
The type of material you use for injection can impact overall costs. The most popular materials used include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate copolymer (ASA), acrylonitrile ethylene styrenes (AES), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc.
Polypropylene and polyethylene are more affordable since they are used to make most everyday materials.
3. Plastic Injection Machine
The type of equipment you need for injection molding will depend on your product design needs. Simpler, smaller parts can be made using smaller casting devices. On the other hand, larger complex parts may require full-sized injection molding equipment. The heavier your production needs, the more services expenses you may be quoted by your supplier, leaving you with a higher plastic injection molding cost.
4. Mold
The most important factor to consider is the actual mold. This is usually custom-made to fit your unique product design. The complexity of the design, the materials used, and the mold size can all impact its overall costs.
5. Volume and Cavities
The volume of products you are manufacturing needs to be factored in. Are you using a single mold to create the entire batch or a mold with multiple cavities to accommodate multiple parts simultaneously? Using a single mold with multiple cavities may reduce production time, but its mold may be more complex to manufacture, increasing your plastic injection molding cost.
6. Packaging
Finally, the packaging design of your final product must be considered. If you want your supplier to manufacture most of the consumer-facing packaging for an almost ready-to-use product, it will cost you more than the simple shipping packaging.
Tips to Help Reduce Injection Molding Price
To lower your plastic injection molding costs, consider implementing these helpful tips:
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Injection Mold Design Optimization
The more complex your design is, the more it will cost you. So, try to simplify your design as much as possible if you wish for a reduced cost. Reduce the use of additional cosmetics and features that require more time and effort. Keep your plastic design as simple as possible and carve away unnecessary bits.
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Mold Modification and Reuse
Whenever you need to create a new batch of products, you don’t have to create a new mold. Sometimes you can modify your mold and reuse it as often as needed.
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Production Efficiency
Streamline your production process as much as possible; steps from injecting materials to rounding corners or quality assurance testing all count. The more efficient your design process is, the less production time will consume, leaving you with lower plastic injection molding costs.
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Material and Finishing Reduction
Finally, consider the type of material used for finishing. Special resins and additives used to coat your products will cost you more down the road. Try to use simpler yet durable materials that suit your material design.
Get Cost-Effective Plastic Injection Molding Service From SEAL-RP
Finding a reliable and cost-effective plastic injection molding service can be difficult. But with SEAL-RP, you don’t have to worry about that. SEAL-RP, originally established in 2003, is one of China’s most trusted plastic injection molding manufacturers. We have been offering rapid prototyping services for 20 years and have extensive experience in injection molding for a wide range of industries. We offer a diverse selection of materials, can handle large and small-volume productions, and have a fully streamlined production process that helps reduce plastic injection molding costs considerably.
For more information about custom plastic injection molding, check out our website.