Injection Molding Development Guide

Injection Molding Development Guide

Injection Molding Development Guide

Complete roadmap for plastic part buyers

1

Define Requirements

Establish clear specifications for your part’s function, environment, and performance needs.

  • Function & performance specs
  • Operating environment
  • Volume projections
  • Budget parameters
2

Design for Manufacturing

Optimize your design for injection molding while maintaining functionality.

  • Uniform wall thickness
  • Proper draft angles
  • Minimize undercuts
  • Consider parting line
3

Material Selection

Choose the optimal plastic material based on performance and cost requirements.

  • ABS for impact resistance
  • PC for strength & clarity
  • PP for chemical resistance
  • PA for precision parts
4

Prototyping Strategy

Validate design through 3D printing and soft tooling before full production.

  • 3D print for fit/form
  • Soft tooling for function
  • Material property testing
  • Design iteration
5

Supplier Selection

Choose qualified molders based on experience, capabilities, and quality systems.

  • Industry experience
  • Quality certifications
  • Equipment capabilities
  • Geographic considerations
6

Production Launch

Execute first article inspection and establish quality control processes.

  • First article inspection
  • Process optimization
  • Quality planning
  • Supply chain setup

Development Timeline

Design &
Prototype
2-4 wks
Supplier
Selection
2-4 wks
Tooling
Build
4-8 wks
First Article
& Validation
1-2 wks
Production
Ramp-up
2-4 wks

3D Prototyping

$50-500

Per prototype, 1-3 day turnaround

Soft Tooling

$2K-20K

Limited runs, 4-8 week lead time

Production Tooling

$10K-200K+

Based on complexity and cavity count

Success Tips

Design Smart

Uniform wall thickness and proper draft angles reduce tooling costs and improve part quality.

Prototype Early

Test fit, form, and function before committing to expensive production tooling.

Choose Partners Wisely

Select molders with relevant experience and proper quality certifications.

Plan for Success

Build realistic timelines and budgets – rushing leads to costly mistakes.

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