Rapid Tooling

Small batch injection molding using rapid #tooling to obtain high-quality injection molded parts quickly and inexpensively with production-grade materials and technical processes, usually applied to #prototyping and small batch custom processing for the new product development process.

1、What is Rapid Tooling?

Rapid tooling is also commonly referred to as soft, hand, or transition tooling. Rapid tooling is a critical step on the path to #productions , involving the manufacture of a range of tooling for the production of products such as rapid injection molds, rapid die casting molds, sheet metal simple molds, rapid tooling fixtures and jigs, and other custom parts. Making rapid tooling for pilot production of hundreds or even thousands of parts before mass production is a very useful step for #design optimization, functional testing, or pre-production verification.

2、Why Choose Rapid Tooling Manufacturing?

The choice of Rapid Tooling Manufacturing will depend on three primary #factors : lead time, cost, and acceptable quality. These are the three main differences between rapid tooling and traditional tooling.

- Lead Time: Rapid tooling has a shorter production cycle because of the faster manufacturing speed. This is especially useful for small batch production needs that are lead time sensitive.

- Cost: Rapid tooling is more cost-effective than traditional tooling. Because it is a simplified process, it takes less time and requires less labor.

- Quality: Parts made by rapid tooling are typically less durable and have a shorter life than conventional tooling. However, the acceptability of minimum quality positively impacts your profits.

3、What is Small Batch Injection Molding?

Small batch injection molding is a production method of rapid mold-making applied to plastic injection #molding . This method not only provides hundreds of products for pilot production to simulate mass-produced parts for pre-production testing and validation but also allows for the production of end-use parts on demand for small batch runs.

4、Aluminum injection molds - receive plastic parts in 3 weeks or less

High-performance #aluminum alloys offer fast and efficient machinability and better thermal conductivity, helping to build molds faster and at a lower cost. More than just a bridge for prototyping or faster product launches, aluminum molds are a successful alternative to steel molds that will continue to drive and influence the future of the plastics industry.

5、How does small batch injection production work?

>>> Optimized Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

Design for Manufacturability (#dfm ) covers every aspect of the injection molding process, from part design, mold design, and #material selection to processing. There is no need to wait for production to identify design problems because by designing optimally for manufacturability, our engineers will ensure that your parts can be molded and injection molded with the lowest possible manufacturing cost.

>>> Choosing the right mold material

The right mold material will involve considerations such as usage, quantity, and budget, as well as design complexity, mold construction, etc. We will help you weigh each of these advantages to find the best solution for your product needs.

We can build rapid tooling from aluminum 7075, P20, and NAK80 semi-hardened steels as well as H13 fully hardened steel. We also offer standard SPI polishing, EDM texturing, and a range of etched textures, including Mold-Tech-MT Series, and VDI 3400 Series.

>>> Cost-effective mold-making process

In order to meet the need for quick production and #cost reduction, we usually use the MUD mold quick change #system method to save mold opening time and reduce costs. More importantly, the engineering change involves only the MUD core part and not the entire standard mold frame. You can also arrange several similar parts in one mold set to save even more money. In addition, manual or semi-automatic inserts are often used in rapid mold processing.

DTG's tooling engineers will work with you to begin the design review process. We believe that a good solution means full #communication while ensuring that you have access to the available resource options.