Injection molding is a vital step in the process of getting a variety of products to market. Not only is it an important step, but it can also be a very costly one. In order to cut the cost of injection molding, you have to understand what affects the cost, to begin with. There are three main factors that can influence the cost of injection molding.
Physical and Cosmetic Design
The first factor is likely the most obvious – design. Larger parts require higher machine rates than their smaller counterparts which can quickly drive the price up. Very large molds may require extra set-up time before the production can begin. That extra set-up requires extra labor, which comes with a higher price tag. Of course, larger designs also require more materials to create the part. Another factor of your design that could be affecting the price tag is the chosen surface finish type. High-quality and optically clear finishes require more labor during the manufacturing process, bringing a higher cost along with it. the lower-quality the surface type you choose the cheaper the design will be to produce.
Material Costs
We mentioned material costs when discussing design, but there’s more to consider than just the amount of materials used. The type of resin your produce requires can cause a large price variation. For instance, products using more complex resins will be vastly more expensive than those using commodity resins. The filled resins require specialized equipment during the manufacturing process which is largely what leads to the higher price tag.
Manufacturing Costs
The cost to actually manufacture the product at hand will, of course, impact the final cost. More specifically, the tooling cost is an important variable to consider. We already mentioned that larger parts require a larger mold which takes more time and manpower to create, but size isn’t the only factor that impacts tooling costs. If your product requires a high number of cavities, tooling costs will be higher. Your tooling cost could see an increase of over 50% if you choose to double the number of cavities required. However, by increasing the number of cavities you’re also increasing the speed that your product can be produced. In this scenario, it’s important to speak with your manufacturer to learn how all of those factors are impacting the final cost. If you find that your design is out of your desired budget, there are plenty of small changes you can make to lower the final cost.