Calculating Injection Molding Costs: Tips and Facts You Need to Know
The injection molding cost is a common focus of plastic product manufacturers who use the process. It is an agglomeration of …
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The extremely high level of precision needed within the aerospace industry makes CNC machining a suitable manufacturing process for the sector.
This article provides you with a complete guide to aerospace machining and its importance.
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Different finishing options enhance part appearance and functionality.
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If you want to produce high-quality machined parts with a sleek appearance, it’s essential to consider some critical factors related to CNC machining.
Here, we’ve gathered some basic information and important considerations to help you achieve the desired results.
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Custom insert molding services for high-quality prototypes and on-demand parts. Get online quotes at a competitive price and short lead time.
Molding Machine
Surface Finishes
MOQ
Tolerances
Insert molding is an injection molding technique that involves injecting a plastic material around a plastic or metal insert placed in a mold cavity. The insert is pre-placed in the mold cavity, after which the plastic is injected. On cooling, this forms a solid part that is strong and durable. RapidDirect plastic insert molding services allow you to make a strong and permanent bond between the insert and molded plastic.
RapidDirect provides a AI-powered, hassle-free online quotation platform that can help simplify your ordering and manufacturing process. Stop wasting time in emails, get interactive quotes with DFM analysis within seconds, optimize your orders immediately, compare your multiple quotes side by side, manage your orders in one place.
Get in-bulk quotes, allowing you to make a pricing comparison between different specs, quantities, raw materials, and surface finishes, and helping you choose the solution that best suits your needs and budget.
Our online platform enables real-time visibility of the production flow that fosters more efficient operation monitoring and quicker response to negative changes.
Quickly check, search, and manage all your orders in one place. What's even better is that you get visibility into all stages of the production process and every aspect of the manufacturing operation.
Get easy design feedback and validation through superior quality prototype tooling. Create small batches of plastic molded parts with excellent injection molding prototypes. We excel at manufacturing prototype molds within days to ensure you perform functional tests and validate market interest.
We create high-quality production molds for high-volume plastic parts production. With high-strength, durable tool steel material, our production tooling is suitable for producing hundreds of thousands of parts. We can vary materials and construction methods according to your unique requirements.
RapidDirect insert molding solutions manufacture parts with different functional and aesthetical needs. These guidelines will help improve part manufacturability, reduce lead time, and improve the part aesthetics. You can check the following standard design considerations:
Standards | Metric Units | Imperial Units |
Maximum Part Size | 800×1000×400mm | 31.50×39.37×15.75in. |
Minimum Part Size | 2×2×2mm | 0.08×0.08×0.08in. |
Substrate Wall Thickness | From 0.5 to 3mm | From 0.20 to 0.12 in. |
Tolerance | +/- 0.025 mm | +/- 0.00098 in. |
Inserts | Inserts can be female and male. They both can improve a product’s appearance and utility. | |
Mold Validation | Provide T0, T1, T2 samples before mass production | |
Inspection and Certification Options | First Article Inspection, ISO 9001, ISO 13485 | |
Lead Time | From mold making to sample delivery: 15-45 business days |
We provide a wide range of materials for thermoplastic and inserts that can help you make insert molded parts of different industrial applications. Below are the materials used in custom plastic insert molding and common examples.
Before the insert molding process starts low or high-volume production, a high-tolerance CNC machined tooling is needed. Most commonly used materials include:
Tool Steel: P20, H13, S7, NAK80, S136, S136H, 718, 718H, 738
Stainless Steel:
420, NAK80, S136, 316L, 316, 301, 303, 304
Aluminum: 6061, 5052, 7075
Plastic injection molding service comes with a wide range of materials with different properties, including impact strength, rigidity, thermal resistance, chemical resistance, etc.
Standard plastic materials may not meet custom injection molding parts requirement. In this case, additives and fibers can be added to improve aesthetic and functional properties, providing additional features for your injection molded parts.
UV absorbers | Colorants |
Flame retardants | Glass fibers |
Plasticizers |
The introduction of inserts onto mold cores cast using the manual or automated process leads to the plasticization of plastic pellets after closing the mold halves. Ejection of the pieces from the mold takes place after the plastic’s hardening, followed by the encapsulation of the inserts in the parts.
Brass |
Stainless Steel |
Aluminum |
Note: You can learn more from our eBook on plastic materials.
Insert molding solutions do not end after cooling and ejection of parts. We also provide a range of surface finishing and post-processing options for the insert molded parts for functional and aesthetic purposes. Common surface finishing options available at RapidDirect for insert molded parts include:
Name | Description | Link |
Glossy | A grade finishes are made using a diamond buffing process and yield shiny and glossy surfaces on injection molded parts. | Learn More>> | |
Semi-glossy |
B grade finishes use grit sandpaper to produce parts with a slightly rougher finish than grade A parts. Custom molded plastic parts that undergo B grade finishing have a matte surface texture. | ||
Matte | C grade finishes use grit sanding stones to produce a rough, uneven surface. Injection plastic parts that undergo C grade finishing have a matte surface texture. | Learn More>> | |
Textured | D grade finishes use grit and dry glass beads or oxide to produce a very rough textured finish. Depending on the type of material used, products can have a satin or dull finish. |
Plastic insert molding is applicable in making prototypes and full products in several industries. Key industrial applications of insert molding include:
The custom plastic insert molding is suitable for making consumers good due to its functional and aesthetic benefits.
Ensure the plastic is biocompatible before you choose insert molding to make devices and products such as medical implants.
Applicable in making handheld devices such as screwdrivers, scissors, dials, and knobs.
Applicable in the aerospace and automotive industry due to the strength and durability of molded parts.
RapidDirect aims to provide custom insert molding solutions to clients from design to production. With our experience and facilities, we deliver quality parts at a competitive price and short lead time.
No minimum order requirement helps move plastic molded parts from design to production in a fast turnaround and supports your on-demand molding manufacturing needs with reduced injection molding cost.
With certified domestic factories and a strong supply chain system, we accelerate the product development cycle and bridge the production of your injection molded parts as fast as possible.
Owing certified factories, conducting in-process inspections and dimensional verification after production, guarantee the custom molded parts are consistent in quality regardless of the complex shape with high precision.
Working with our experts having 10+ years of experience in the injection molding industry, efficiently complete a turnaround from prototyping to production.
A customer’s words have a more substantial impact than a company’s claims – and see what our satisfied customers have said regarding how we fulfilled their requirements.
We have been working with RapidDirect for years. They have helped us overcome many mold design issues and have enabled us to meet our quality goals. Their quality systems are really up to par and the production parts have exceeded our expectations.
Keith Laurie
-Tooling Design Engineer
RapidDirect has been our molding partner for over 2 years. Since then, RapidDirect has regularly provided us with top-notch molded parts. In addition, RapidDirect has offered assembly services for various models of our multi-bit screwdrivers up until the final finished product. I am pleased to recommend RapidDirect to anyone looking for top-notch molded products.
Harri Rossi
– Engineer
The staff at RapidDirect has assisted us in turning our ideas into finished parts for several years now. The process from conception to manufacturing has been smooth, thanks to their knowledge, skills, and “can-do” attitude. This is one of our most fruitful business partnerships because of RapidDirect’s emphasis on customer satisfaction.
Jimmy Kowalski
– Lead Mechanical Engineer
RapidDirect has consistently proved to be a top supplier of injection molded parts for our company. They have constantly impressed us with their professionalism, fairness, and reasonable prices. We’ve hired RapidDirect to create molds for us, fix and adapt existing molds to suit our demands, and deliver items that consistently meet or surpass our strict specifications.
Marcel Ransom
– Designer
RapidDirect has been a wonderful and strategic partner for us right from the beginning. They listen to customers and respond with a high level of technical expertise in materials, part design, and process options. This has been and will continue to be a crucial component of our success.
Danny Smajic
– Director of Product Development
While there are various similarities between overmolding and insert molding, there are also certain differences you must note. Here’s a video to explain the vital differences between these valuable processes.
RapidDirect works with leading manufacturers from different industries to support growing demands and streamline their supply chain. The digitalization of our custom injection molding services helps more and more manufacturers bring their idea to products.
Our mold-making process includes 6 steps:
Step 1: Production arrangement: Determine all of the requirements and arrange the production.
Step 2: DFM report analysis: Provide free but detailed production DFM report for further feasibility analysis.
Step 3: Production the mold: Put the mold into production and provide the Tooling Schedule form for the whole cycle for clients to check the process at any time.
Step 4: Free sample to test: Put the mold into production and provide the Tooling Schedule form for the whole cycle for clients to check the process at any time.
Step 5: Mass production:Client confirms the samples are qualified, then officially proceed with the subsequent production.
Step 6: Mold saving: Production is completed and delivered after quality inspection. Mold will be cleaned and properly stored for the next round of parts production.
Tolerance is very important, and if not correctly specified and controlled, assembling will fail. RapidDirect uses ISO 2068-c standard for injection molding tolerances unless tighter tolerance required.
No minimum order quantity, but the oder pricing will be more competitive if qty is higher.
After you place order, it takes about 35 days for mold designing and making, and more 3-5 days for molded parts production.
Generally, we generate the quote after our platform must have considered several factors, including the size of the component, mold complexity, number of injection cavities, materials, post-processing needs, etc.
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