Prototype Tooling - in China
At AMSL we offer two tooling options for your injection molding projects: a prototyping tooling and a production tooling. Both options meet your specific needs, and quantities.
Fastest Path to Market and Cost-Effective Solutions With Our Prototype Tool.
What is prototype tooling in manufacturing?
The prototype tool is mainly for new project development, aimed at creating qualified prototypes to confirm design feasibility, performance, and injection molding process parameters. They are typically for simple structures and lower volume manufacturing.
What is the concept of production tooling?
Production tooling is essential for producing a large quantity of products consistently and efficiently. So the production mold have to build in durable and precise manner to meet the tight tolerances.
What is the difference between production tooling and rapid tooling?
Production ability
Production tool:
Aim to fulfill the demands of large-scale, high-efficiency, and high quality plastic product manufacturing.
Prototype tool:
On contrary, prototype tool serves in low-volume production, with less precision and tolerances. Typically used for testing marketing, or products functions.
Design complexity comparison
Prototype tool:
The design for prototype tool is simpler, focusing primarily on meeting basic injection molding requirements, without excessive pursuit of structural complexity and precision.
Production tool:
The design of production tool is more complex, it requires consideration of various factors such as the performance of injection molding machine, part tolerance, and production efficiency
Material selection and treatment
Prototype tool:
Prototype tool often utilize cost-effective and easily processable materials such as S50C steel or aluminum.
Production tool:
To meet high-volume production and tight tolerances, production tools need tough materials like high-speed tool steel or carbide alloys. The choice depends on the parts’ material and product performance needs.
Processing difference
Prototype tool:
Prototyping process is relying on mechanical machining, resulting in shorter manufacturing cycles and lower costs.
Production tool:
Utilizes state-of-the-art techniques such as CNC machining and EDM for optimal precision. Along with heat treatment and surface treatment processes, to ensure precision and mold performance.
Cost Difference
Production tool:
The production tool is costy because of the special requirements for mold steel, designs, and processing to ensure the durability and high-quality parts.
Prototype tool:
The process of creating prototype tool is more cost-effective.
Leading time
Production tool:
It takes 5 weeks to several months; it depends on the mold size and construction complexes
Prototype tool:
2 weeks or 5 weeks can submit T1 samples.
Customizable Prototype Tooling Solutions
Why use prototyping tools?
Design Response
✅ Quick responses help designers validate and optimize designs, ensuring final products meet requirements before production
Iterative Design
✅Receive prototypes within days for quick feedback and testing, enabling fast design refinements and improvements before finalizing the product design.
✅Produce different prototypes simultaneously to allow for rapid iterations and modifications.
Effective communication
Prototyping effectively communicates ideas and concepts between designers, clients, and team members, ensuring alignment on project goals
Cost savingsPrototype tooling can reduce the risk of costly changes during mass production by identifying design flaws at an early stage.
Niche marketingProduce small amounts of injection-molded parts for market testing before launch.
Can help capture niche marketing and reduce financial risks before production.
Time efficiencyThrough soft tooling, designers can quickly visualize and test different design options, speeding up the overall research and product development, resulting in bringing new products to market faster.
Overall, prototype tools are essential in the product development process, as they facilitate innovation, iteration, and ultimately leading to the creation of successful products.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
S50C; P20 steel or Aluminum
Typically hundreds shots or ≤2000 shots
Rapid prototyping and tooling are essential techniques in product development.
Rapid prototyping is a technique to create physical models from digital designs quickly, often using 3D printing.
And rapid tooling refers to the fast production of tools or molds, typically using methods like additive manufacturing or CNC machining, to accelerate and reduce the cost of production runs. Both methods enhance design flexibility and speed up the development cycle.
The cost of a prototype can vary widely based on factors like design complexity, materials, and mold size. Generally, prototype tool costs range from $1000 to $50,000.
Typically, building a prototype tool takes between 2 weeks to 2 months, It depends on the complexity of the part, mold size, and the manufacturing processes involved.
- Product development Used across various industries, including automotive, consumer goods, electronics and medical devices, to develop and refine new products.
- Functional testing Build prototypes for functional testing, ensuring that parts meet performance requirements before mass production.
- Market testing Produce small batches of parts for market testing and validation.
Prototype injection molding is a rapid prototyping technique used to create small quantities of injection-molded parts for test or refine product designs before full-scale production. It’s commonly employed in product development to quickly and cost-effectively produce functional prototypes that closely resemble the final product in terms of material, geometry, and functionality.