Custom Injection Molds

Custom injection molds provide manufacturers with a way to utilize one of the quickest processes to mass produce a product. While most plastic injection molds are customized, it is possible to use existing designs to quickly create molds that are basically recycled instead of customized.

The reason that most plastic molds are customized is because of the requirements and standards that every part and product must meet. If you already have a mold for a 1.25” screw, but you need one that fits a 1” screw, you have to create a new mold to produce the different size. Seldom can a manufacturer work with existing mold designs without having a custom injection mold made to complete the project.

Custom plastic molds offer more than just a way to meet specifications though. If you aren’t sure what method of assembly a product will be best for, or if a tolerance can be met with a particular type of rib, a custom injection mold can be a way of testing different designs to see which product is best for the intended purposes.

Custom injection molds can also be used to test out different plastics to see which ones work best under various conditions. For example, if you have been working with a metal mold that now needs to be replaced, a custom injection mold can be made to see if a plastic mold will be able to tolerate the harsh conditions that the metal mold had undergone. If the custom injection mold can handle the temperatures and other harsh conditions, you can save a considerable amount of money by making the change.

Custom injection molds are sometimes compared to 3D printing as well. There are times when 3D is more cost effective, but on the whole, plastic molds tend to be better for longer term projects as the process tends to be much faster and the final product more durable. Custom plastic molds can typically produce much larger parts than 3D printing.

Experienced custom injection mold makers can help you determine what mold type is best for your current project by reviewing your specifications and the final requirements for the finished product.