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Injection mold making, 25–45 days from design freeze
2-plate, 3-plate and hot runner tools in P20, 718H, S136 and H13 — with the steel certificate, CMM report and tryout sheet filed against your order number.
Tool specifications
These are the ranges we quote most often. Anything outside them is a conversation, not a refusal.
| Tool types | 2-plate, 3-plate, hot runner, insert mold, unscrewing mold |
|---|---|
| Max mold size | 1,200 × 900 × 900 mm |
| Max part size | 800 × 600 × 400 mm |
| Cavitation | 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, up to 64 |
| Tool tolerance | ±0.01 mm on critical features |
| Surface finish | SPI A1 to C3, EDM texture, bead blast |
| Lead time | 25–45 days from design freeze |
| Tool life | 300k–1M+ shots depending on steel grade |
| Trial press | 80–650 tonne available |
Steel grades and when we recommend each
| Grade | Hardness | Use it for | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|
| P20 | 28–32 HRC | General production, flat commodity parts | Glass-filled resin, high polish |
| 718H | 33–36 HRC | Higher polish, longer runs | Aggressive abrasive fillers |
| S136 | 48–52 HRC | Optical, transparent, corrosive resin | Very large blocks, tight budget |
| H13 | 48–52 HRC | High-temperature engineering resin | Simple commodity parts |
Every plate, insert and hot runner component arrives with a mill certificate. The certificate number is written into the tool history file you receive at handover.
Build stages with day ranges
- DFM reviewDay 1–3
Wall thickness, draft angle, gate position, tolerance stack and ejection path. We send a marked-up report, not a verbal opinion.
- Mold designDay 3–8
3D mold layout, cooling circuit, gate and runner design. You approve the layout before steel is ordered.
- Steel order and prepDay 6–12
Blocks ordered to size, certificates filed, rough machining starts as soon as material lands.
- Rough and finish machiningDay 12–26
CNC, EDM and wire cut. Critical windows measured after each operation, not at the end.
- Fitting and polishingDay 26–34
Spotting, water-line pressure test, ejector timing, polish to the agreed SPI grade.
- TryoutDay 35–40
Press trial with your resin. Sample parts photographed, measured and shipped for your sign-off.
Records you get at handover
- Steel certificates for every plate, insert and hot runner manifold
- CMM dimensional report on the tool and on the first sample parts
- Tryout sheet with press tonnage, temperatures, cycle time and observed defects
- Process sheet with molding parameters you can transfer to your own press
- Tool history file — a PDF that follows the tool through its remaining life
- Spare parts list with ejector pins, springs and water fittings named by size
Mold making FAQ
How long does it take to build an injection mold?
A typical single-cavity tool takes 25 to 45 days from design freeze and approved steel. Simple 2-plate tools sit near the low end; multi-cavity, hot runner or textured tools extend the schedule. The quotation states the day count per stage, so you can see where the time goes.
What steel do you use for mold cavities?
P20 and 718H for general production, S136 for corrosive or optical parts, and H13 for high-temperature engineering resins. We file the steel certificate against your order number, so the grade is traceable after delivery.
What happens if the trial samples fail inspection?
We rework at our cost and re-run the trial. The tryout sheet records what changed between runs, so you can see the fix rather than take it on trust.
Can you modify an existing mold made by another supplier?
Usually yes. We measure the existing tool, document its condition with photos, then quote the modification. If the base is worn or the layout blocks the change, we say so before quoting rather than after invoicing.
Do you build tools for resins we specify, or recommend one?
We build to your specification. When the draw is open we suggest qualifying two resins in the DFM report, because gate size and shrink rate depend on the choice.
Get a mold quote with a dated schedule
Send the 3D model, the 2D drawing and your annual volume. We return a DFM note, a line-item price and a stage-by-stage lead time within one business day.
Request a quote