6 Key Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Your Plastic Injection Molds
There are a variety of factors that can affect the cost of injection molding project and knowing these factors is a key step to make sure that you run a profitable plastic mold manufacturing business. Let’s take a look at such factors!
1. Part Design & Size
Remember if a part is complicated its mold will be complicated too, as a result, higher tool costs. But by simplifying your design you can help reduce your budget. On the other hand, bigger parts mean bigger molds and more raw materials being used. Also, manufacturing time can be affected too.
2. The Intricacy Of Your Part
Keep in mind that making an injection mold is a manufacturing process and the more intricate your part is, the mold will take more time to create. Better accuracy is needed to make sure the integrity of your part and mold, and a good mold manufacturing company will work with you to optimize cooling time, flow rate and many other important features of the molding process. All of these phases are vital but they all need more effort and time, leading a higher production cost. If possible then keep your injection molded part designs simple.
3. Cavities & Volume
Keep in mind that creating higher volumes of parts demanding many cavities and this will involve higher production costs. The more cavities needed to form your part, the extended the press time, which will limit the ability to produce parts promptly and increasing costs.
4. Type Of Steel
In plastic injection mold manufacturing, the features of PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) are important. Mold life will affect the cost of material that is used in making the molding machine. If the steel is more durable than the higher the mold life will be and the higher the cost of steel. Cycle time, type of surface finish and the total number of parts are estimated in production are some other things to consider.
5. Different Types Of Steel Used
Plastic injection molding companies use different types of steel used. For example- H13, P20, .2311/1.2312, S136, 1.2344/1.2343, Alloy, Copper and Be-copper. If you choose poor steel, then you may have to face issues like a cracked cavity. So, go for better the quality of steel.
6. Location Of Mold Supplier
Every Plastic Molding Manufacturing company has a somewhat different overhead cost needed in producing Mold Machines. The costs can come in many different ways but will depend on the location of the company. Different provinces in countries like China have minimum wages, so this should be factored into the cost of creating the equipment. Actually, areas with higher minimum wages must pay their employees more while those countries with lower minimum wages will pay less.
Apart from this, transportation and local government regulations can also affect the cost of the machines. These companies must also account for the waste materials so have to pay environmental protection levies as well.
With keeping all these important things in mind, you are all prepared to ask the right questions and balance the cost of your plastic injection mold.