Tips & Tricks - Small Batch Plastic Parts Manufacturing

Using our experience to share insights and advice on small batch plastic production, we are often asked by customers for information on small B-size plastic injection molded parts. However, before we dive into the coating process, we need to think about one key question: does your plastic product really need to be injection molded?

Having worked as a project manager for 6 years, I've always felt it's critical to understand the context of a project before providing a quote. Simply providing a drawing without understanding the specifics of the project is unprofessional. Doing in-depth research based on the information provided by the customer is key to making an informed recommendation.

When faced with a customer's request for a quote on 20 injection molded products, our sales engineers emphasized two opposing factors.

The cost factor. One of the major costs of injection molding is the creation of the mold. This is a more expensive expense, especially for small production runs. For smaller quantities, the relatively high cost of mold making can make injection molding impractical. In addition, raw material costs and operating expenses need to be considered to get a full picture of overall production costs.

The time factor is also a pain point. Injection molding involves mold adjustments, a process that takes some time, even if an aluminum mold is used for quick adjustments. It also takes about two weeks to get a T1 sample.

Everyone knows that injection molding is highly accurate, however, this also means that it requires more adjustment and monitoring of the mold. Experienced operators are needed to ensure that optimum production standards are maintained each production cycle.

Therefore, for small batch production, exploring alternative methods is worth considering. In the opinion of our sales engineers, for plastic products with quantities of less than 100, it is advisable to consider vacuum casting and 3D printing. Although 3D printing is cheaper, vacuum casting performs better in terms of performance and aesthetics. It is important to note that for quantities of less than five, vacuum casting may not be the recommended option because it also requires additional mold making costs.

Of course, when choosing between injection molding or an alternative, it's important to consider factors such as cost, time, accuracy and consistency to ensure that the final choice meets the needs and goals of the project.