Plastic Injection Molding Questions: 17 Top FAQs

Aluminum seldom makes sense if a mold is fabricated in China (which we cover later). Steel is the most common injection mold material, but choosing the right injection mold steel material is similar to selecting the foundation for a building: it dictates the mold&#;s durability, performance, and ultimately, the quality of your parts. As engineers, we understand the critical nature of this decision.

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Let&#;s delve into the three most common types of hard steel and pre-hardened steel utilized in injection molding:

Hard Steels:

1. / / H13: This trio offers a workhorse option. After hardening, they achieve a Rockwell C hardness of 49-53 HRC, making them suitable for ordinary hardening molds. Their versatility allows for applications across various projects.

ESR: This steel takes the performance of the previous group a notch higher. It boasts the same hardness range (49-53 HRC) after hardening but excels in applications demanding both durability and a highly polished finish.

S136 / S136SUP / : Don&#;t be fooled by the &#;steel steel&#; reference &#; these are actually high-performance stainless steels. Their strength lies in corrosion resistance, making them ideal for molds processing materials like POM and PVC, which can be corrosive to standard steels. Additionally, they hold their own when it comes to achieving a polished finish.

Lifespan: Mold tooling made from hard steels like 1.#, #, and # will usually last for around 300k-500K shots, but can reach 1 Million if the mold structure is simple.

Pre-Hardened Steels:

S50C / S55C: These steels offer a cost-effective option for mold bases, providing adequate strength and machinability. However, their lower hardness limits their suitability for high-wear applications.

718 / 718H: Renowned for their toughness and ability to achieve a good surface finish with standard polishing techniques, 718 and 718H are popular choices for mold cavities and inserts. Their well-rounded properties make them a versatile option for various applications.

738 / 738H: Offering superior rigidity compared to 718 grades, 738 and 738H excel in core and insert applications. While their polishing capabilities are considered &#;ordinary,&#; their rigidity often outweighs this limitation for specific applications.

A Note on P20: It&#;s important to clarify the perception of P20 steel in China. While technically encompassing a series that might include materials like 718 or 738, the term &#;P20&#; in China often refers to a lower-grade steel with potentially less desirable properties compared to the 718/738 series.

NAK80 / XPM: The champion of pre-hardened steels, NAK80 boasts a hardness of 37-43 HRC. This, coupled with its excellent polishing capabilities, makes it the go-to choice for molds requiring high-precision parts from materials like PC, PA+GF, and PC+GF.

Remember, this is just a starting point. Selecting the optimal steel grade requires careful consideration of factors like part complexity, plastic-type, production volume, and budget. Consulting with experienced mold makers and material suppliers is crucial to ensure you make the best choice for your specific project.

Lifespan: For pre-hardened materials the mold life is usually 100K-300K shots.
In particular:

• 278#; 718#; p20#: 100k-200K;
• NAK80; XPM: 200-300K

Watch these videos on how to test steel&#;s properties which may help you to select the types you require.

1. Does outsourcing manufacturing of components to China really save me money  Absolutely. As a leading plastic injection mould manufacturer in China, we can assure you that despite the rise in manufacturing costs over the years, China's competitive labor costs still make it a cost-effective choice for outsourcing production.

2. Are Chinese manufacturers able to match western quality standards  Indeed. As a prominent plastic injection mold manufacturer, we adhere to high-quality standards. It's worth noting that many top-tier products, from smartphones to cars, are now manufactured in China. Therefore, you can rest assured that quality won't be compromised.

3. What is your basic process  As one of the most reliable plastic injection moulding services, our process starts with obtaining detailed quotes from 3-5 Chinese manufacturers. Once a factory is chosen, we ensure on-time delivery, handle any issues that arise, and provide consistent communication assistance. Quality inspection is performed before delivery to ensure the highest standards.

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4. What are the benefits and advantages of working with you  As a key player among injection mold making companies, we offer multiple advantages such as lower mold cost, risk control, excellent engineering communication, transparency, and convenience. We help you select the best plastic injection molding companies by performing on-site visits and constant monitoring of mold production. We also manage custom clearance and ship plastic products or molds from China to your door.

5. Why should you work with us for new product launch  We stand out among plastic injection moulding manufacturers for our rapid mold development, familiarity with Western engineering standards, IP protection, and startup-friendly approach. We offer an integrated manufacturing solution that extends beyond plastic molding to include metal parts and electromechanical assembly.

6. What is an estimated lead time for making a sample  As a trusted injection mould company, the lead time for sample creation depends on the complexity of the tooling required. Usually, it takes around 60 days for tooling and an additional 30 days for sample production.

7. How about your mould payment terms  Our mould payment terms are designed to be flexible and accommodating for our clients. Typically, we follow a 40%-30%-30% or 50%-25%-25% payment structure.

8. How about the part payment terms  The payment terms for parts are generally split into 30%-70% in most cases. As a top-notch plastic injection mold manufacturer, we strive to offer convenient payment options to our clients.

9. What do you need for Quotation  To provide an accurate injection moulding quote, we need 2D part drawing & 3D drawing, specific mold & part requirements, or samples.

10. What&#;s your quote time As a leading plastic injection company, we strive to provide a quotation within 1-2 days.

11. How about the tolerance Our injection molding precision is of the highest standards. Mold tolerance is 0.005mm, while the product tolerance is 0.02mm.

12. What Steel do you usually useWhat standard mold components do you usually use In our role as a premier plastic injection mold service provider, we use top-grade steel such as P20, S136, NAK80, SKD61, 420SS. For mold components, we use standard items from LKM, HASCO, and DME.

13. What&#;s your after-sales services As a reputable plastic injection mold company, we offer excellent after-sales service. If there are any quality issues with the products, we will replace them at our expense.

14. What&#;s design software do you use To facilitate custom molds injection molding, we use advanced software like UG, Pro-E, Master cam, Solid works, 3D max, AutoCAD, CAM.

15. Do you offer product design services Absolutely. As one of the leading plastic injection mould manufacturers, we offer extensive product design services. We help modify your designs to enhance production efficiency and reduce costs.

16. Do you offer extended molding services such as assembly, packaging, or decorating Certainly. As a full-service injection mold manufacturer in China, we offer extended molding services such as assembly, packaging, and decorating.

17. Is Injection Molding an Eco-friendly Process Injection molding has been improving its environmental footprint with advancements in technology and material development. As a responsible plastic injection molding company, we ensure to use thermosetting polymers that can withstand extreme conditions, contributing to a more eco-friendly process.

18. What dimensions can you accommodate for the production of plastic components As an experienced plastic injection mold service provider, we can produce plastic components of any size. We collaborate with several reliable tooling shops and choose the one most suitable for your project.

19. Which types of resin can I (or should I) utilize As a leading plastic injection company, we assist you in choosing the right resin considering its application. Factors such as tensile strength, impact resistance, ductility, mechanical characteristics, and chemical and environmental operating requirements are considered.

20. What is the delivery time frame for my plastic parts order The delivery timeframe varies based on the mode of transport. Sea freight takes about three weeks to the US and five weeks to Europe. If your parts are small, we can use air freight, which reduces the delivery time to about four days.

21. Can we establish a Non-Disclosure Agreement with your company Certainly. As a trusted plastic injection mold company, we understand the importance of confidentiality. We are happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to receiving any confidential information.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of china large plastic molds supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.