High Tooling Costs: Tooling cost for Injection plastic mold is determined by the number of pieces needed (how many cavities will be required), part complexity, and part size. While single cavity prototype tooling can be around $3,000-$10,000, in the automotive industry, injection molding tools can range anywhere from $10,000 - $100,000+.These are highly complex tools that are made from large blocks of hardened steel and are handcrafted to last.
Long Lead Times: Similar to the tooling costs, the lead times are impacted by the part complexity, size, and cavity requirements. Most companies also require prototypes before final approval of production pieces, which only adds to the final lead time. Typically, what you'll see is that a simple mold can be ready for use in 2-4 weeks, but a complex tool may take roughly 6-10 weeks.
Difficult to Modify: Since the tools are made from steel or aluminum, it can be fairly difficult to make changes. If you want to make a dimension of the part slightly bigger, you can always make the cavity bigger by cutting away from the metal. But, if you are wanting to make the part smaller, you have to decrease the tool cavity's size, which would require adding steel or aluminum to it. This is a complex process, and it will occasionally require you to start over and scrap the tool. This is why using a prototype mold first is highly important.
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