How Much Does Plastic Injection Molding Cost?

Introduction

Are you concerned about the cost of plastic injection molding? So, how much does it really cost?

The direct answer to this question is that it can range from $3,000 to $100,000. This is the overall cost, which encompasses several factors, including the project’s scope and intricacies.

A simple single-cavity plastic injection mold costs between $1,000 and $5,000, but as you move to larger, more complex molds, the price increases, ranging from $50,000 to $80,000 for a multi-cavity steel mold. Remember, we’ve just discussed the cost of the mold. To determine the overall price of the process, material, operations, maintenance, and repair costs are also added.

Undoubtedly, plastic injection moulding is one of the most cost-effective methods for bulk manufacturing. However, startups require higher initial investments. So, let’s examine the factors that affect plastic injection molding costs.

Key Factors Affecting Plastic Injection Moulding Costs

Equipment Costs

There are various types of special-purpose machines for plastic injection molding– compact, mid-sized versions, and industrial machines. So, the type of your project will determine which types of machines are best to invest in. Here, we have discussed various types of machines and the amount of investment required for each.

Compact manual injection molding machines: These are compact benchtop manual models that perfectly fit in small spaces and support manual operation. That’s why startup businesses can easily operate them and are best suited for small-scale in-house manufacturing needs. Their prices range from $2,000 to $10,000.

• Automated small-scale injection molding machines:

These types of machines combine compactness and automation, making them ideal for medium-sized businesses. Their prices range from $8,000 to $50,000. These systems feature hydraulic systems.

• Large industrial machines:

These large industrial machines are mainly operated by contract manufacturing, service providers, and large manufacturers. Fully automated and precise, these machines are accurate and produce bulk molds with fast cycles. However, they require professional operators, skilled labour, maintenance, and repair. Prices vary according to the features, size, and automation level, and they can range from $50,000 to over $500,000. They often feature servo motors or hybrid systems to improve energy efficiency.

Mould Costs

As discussed earlier, another vital cost is the cost associated with the injection mold or mold tooling —the core component of plastic injection molding. These costs depend on each step of the mold manufacturing process, from design through final assembly. There are various costs involved in mold making, which are discussed as follows.

The process starts with mold design. Complex designs take longer to develop, which increases engineering costs.

Next is the mold material you require. Harder tool steels last longer but are more expensive than aluminum or softer metals. This choice impacts both the up-front price and future maintenance expenses.

Precision machining is the main cost driver. The mold-making process usually involves several steps:

• Cutting and shaping the mold base and cavity with advanced industrial CNC machines.
• Using electrical discharge machining (EDM) to achieve fine details and sharp corners.
• Multiple quality checks and trial test shots to ensure the mold meets specifications.

After machining, molds go through assembly, testing, and adjustments to fix any issues. Each revision adds extra time and expense.

Surface treatments, such as polishing or hardening, further protect the mold but also increase total costs.

Finally, each mold is packaged and shipped for injection molding production. The entire process, from design to finished tool, can take several weeks and is a key factor in overall project costs.

Mostly, the mold cost is huge for complex and large components, and that’s why many manufacturing companies prefer to outsource mold making. But for simple molds, in-house manufacturing can be done at an affordable price.

Injection Moulding Material Costs

Plastic injection molding materials primarily include thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, TPU, and ABS. However, material costs depend on the chosen material, the mold design, and the required quantity.

Price may vary depending on the thermoplastic you choose.

Labour or Service Costs

Similar to the machining process, which relies primarily on CAD design to produce molds, injection molding equipment also relies on CAD design to produce finished parts. Many processes, such as injecting molding material into molds and ejecting finished parts, are automated. That’s why labour is not really needed for operating machines, but it is necessary for other roles. These roles include setting up the tooling, monitoring the molding process, and performing repairs and maintenance. However, when outsourcing, these costs can be eliminated.

Post-Processing and Finishing

Post-processing and finishing add extra costs to injection molding. These steps include removing excess plastic, polishing surfaces, painting, or adding textures. Sometimes, parts require machining or assembling after molding. These tasks improve appearance and function but increase time and labor costs.

Plastic Injection Molding Overview

Reducing Plastic Injection Moulding Costs

• Before starting an injection molding project, it is important to check if the CAD model is suitable. Look for possible problems like steep angles or complex shapes that might cause issues.
• Remove minor parts or detailing that are unnecessary to simplify the model. This reduces the mold size and saves material.
• Use a core cavity approach to make molding easier. This involves sinking cavities into the mold base, which reduces the need for hard-to-make draft angles. It also helps improve the surface finish of parts.
• Design parts so they can fit together by themselves, known as self-mating parts. This reduces the number of molds needed. Using a universal mold for multiple parts saves money and time.

Start Your Plastic Injection Moulding Project

Now you know that plastic injection molding is a preferred solution for bulk plastic manufacturing.  Although higher costs are involved in equipment, tooling, and other factors, the price per part decreases as the number of parts produced increases, as it is divided by thousands of parts. Additionally, the precision and accuracy of manufactured plastic parts are unmatched with plastic injection molding. 3D printing will be best for low-volume parts.

If you are starting an injection molding project, partnering with a reliable injection molding manufacturer can help elevate your business. Here, MoldPartner covers all for you. We offer comprehensive solutions, from design to production, with nearly 20 years of expertise. Contact us for more information.