CommunicationShipping & Tariff CostConfidentiality & ITARQualification All in One Place
Rapid Prototyping Techniques Compared: Injection Molding, 3D Printing, and CNC Machined Prototypes
Recent Posts
Addressing the Common Design Issues in Injection Molding Plastics
At Elite Mold & Engineering, we try to ensure the success of every injection molding project by addressing any design issues well before production is underway. Our integrated prototyping and product development services bring any potential issues to light, while...
Rapid Injection Molding: An Increasingly Crucial Service for Supply Chain Sustainability
Rapid injection molding is one of the key ways that American manufacturers have risen to the challenges of today’s global supply chain. It’s no secret that most plastic products are made in China. Traditionally, when customers thought of molded plastics, Chinese...
A Guide to STL Files for 3D Printing Projects: STL vs. CAD Models and Other Critical Info
Creating a custom STL file for your parts is one of the crucial early steps in the 3D printing process. Essentially, an STL file is a 3D model that precisely describes the surface geometry of your part as a complex structure built up from interlinked triangles. We’ll...
A Guide to DLS 3D Printing Technology – How It Works, Materials, and Advantages
Digital light synthesis, or DLS 3D printing is one of the many emerging methods of additive manufacturing. A uniquely advanced VAT polymerisation process, DLS produces full-density plastic parts and prototypes with fine detail and excellent surface finishes. DLS 3D...
Elite Mold & Engineering specializes in three of the most flexible high-speed prototyping services on the market: rapid injection molding (RIM), 3D printing, and low-volume CNC machining solutions. Each of the three processes comes with its own set of unique benefits and disadvantages.
Namely, 3D printing and CNC machining both offer unbeatable quick turnaround, with the former typically being more cost effective and the latter offering increased material flexibility. On the other hand, prototype injection molding gives you a streamlined path to market if you plan on transitioning your project into ongoing production, or ramping up to high-volume runs.
Let’s take a deeper look into what sets these three rapid prototyping services apart so that you can choose the most optimal method for your project.
Injection Molded Prototyping Services
In general, injection molding is the best method to handle prototype projects that will transition into production molding down the line. Compared to both 3D printing and CNC machined plastics, injection molding is usually more cost-effective for large volume production runs – especially when it comes to less complex parts, or prototypes which have already successfully been carried through the iterative design process.
When it comes to prototype injection molding, we’ll often use special low-cost tooling to make your low-volume project more economical. Due to the shorter service life of prototype molds, we can use softer metals that are easier to machine – e.g. aluminum and softer steel alloys such as P20 mold steel.
The advantage is the softer alloys are both quicker and easier to machine and polish, allowing us to streamline your project and minimize your upfront costs. Nevertheless, even the lower cost of tooling development is a disadvantage of injection molding compared to 3D printing and CNC machining, which essentially just require your custom part file before manufacturing is underway.
The Advantages of Prototype Injection Molding:
- A simplified and streamlined path to production.
- Capable of production-ready prototype parts with full fidelity.
- Easier to ramp up and meet high-volume requirements.
3D Printed Prototyping Services
The major advantage of additive manufacturing compared to injection molding for prototypes is that 3D printing is a tool-free process. That means there are no upfront tooling costs, and no lengthy process for us to develop the custom prototype molds.
3D printing is better optimized for small-batch prototype projects that require complex or intricate parts – especially prototyping that needs multiple iterative design phases to modify, test, and refine the final product.
The drawback is that additive manufacturing generally isn’t the best method for production runs, especially as higher volumes come into play. It can therefore sometimes be more complicated to ramp up manufacturing compared to developing your prototypes for injection molding from the start.
The Advantages of Additive Manufacturing for Prototyping:
- No upfront tooling costs or costly development process for custom molds.
- Extremely cost-effective, especially for projects that will see multiple design stages or implement iterative design processes.
- Unbeatable turnaround: simply upload your part files and we can begin working on your custom prototypes immediately.
CNC Machined Prototyping Services
Like 3D printing, CNC machining gives you a streamlined path into the prototyping process. Essentially, all we need is a CAD file of your prototype part and a block of the correct material. Then it’s just a matter of properly setting up the machine and manufacturing begins immediately.
The major downside is that CNC machining generally isn’t the best method for full-scale production of complex plastic products. While modern multi-axis machines have no trouble meeting most complex design requirements, they simply don’t offer the throughput or efficiency you get with plastic injection molding. Therefore, it’s often better to utilize prototype injection molding or 3D printing if you plan to segue straight into production.
The Advantages of CNC Machining for Prototype Manufacturing:
- Material flexibility: capable of manufacturing prototypes from virtually any engineering plastics as well as metals or even wood.
- No upfront tooling costs or complex development process.
- No delay in production: once we receive your part files and have the right materials, we can set up the machine and start churning out your prototypes.
Michigan’s Prototyping Specialist in Injection Molding, 3D Printing, and CNC Machining
Elite Mold & Engineering has remained one of Michigan’s leading prototype injection molding companies since 1982. Based out of Shelby Township, our state-of-the-art facility today integrates 3D printing and CNC machining services to provide our customers with the highest speed and highest flexibility possible. Our company is an ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR registered American manufacturer.
Communication
By utilizing domestic tooling, you can benefit from improved communication with your tooling vendor. No more late-night meetings or waiting days for a response from an overseas vendor. Instead, with both parties in the same or similar time zone, you can ensure timely communication that aligns with your schedule. Moreover, this approach allows you to save valuable time and money on travel expenses for potential tryouts.
Confidentiality & ITAR
When working on a highly confidential or new design, where getting to the market first is crucial, confidentiality becomes an absolute necessity. By partnering with a domestic U.S. supplier that possesses complete in-house mold construction capabilities, you can have greater confidence in the security of your data, knowing that it will not be shared without your knowledge. This is particularly essential for government projects that require ITAR data protection, making the utilization of a domestic tooling vendor a mandatory requirement.
No Additional International Shipping or Tariff Cost
With a domestic tooling supplier, you can avoid additional charges such as international freight, customs, and tariffs. The savings on shipping costs can help offset the price differences between low-cost country tooling and domestically built options. Furthermore, by choosing domestic suppliers, you can avoid delays caused by mold transportation via ocean freight or costly airfreight shipments. Saving both time and money is made possible with a domestic tooling supplier.
Qualification All In One Place
When constructing and qualifying a mold, it is essential to possess prior knowledge of any modifications or tuning that have already been undertaken. By opting for domestic mold construction, your chosen provider can ensure that they possess a comprehensive understanding and documentation of all prior work completed on the mold. This facilitates a more efficient problem-solving process and enables effective troubleshooting of potential flaws.
Let Elite Become Your Preffered Domestic Tooling Partner
Elite Mold & Engineering has been crafting top-notch plastic injection molds domestically in the United States for nearly four decades. Our talented team of experienced designers and skilled professionals in the Tooling Department are dedicated to constructing robust, high-quality, and efficient molds tailored to meet your specific project requirements.
Discover the multitude of benefits when you choose a domestic tooling source. With our expertise, experience, and commitment to quality, we provide a multitude of key advantages that will streamline your operations. Our local presence ensures seamless communication, offering you the convenience of direct and efficient collaboration. Elite’s stringent quality control measures guarantee precision and reliability, delivering top-notch tooling solutions tailored to your specific needs. Also, by choosing a domestic source, you support local businesses and contribute to the growth of your community. Our quick turnaround times ensure that you stay ahead of the competition, enabling you to meet even the tightest project deadlines. Embrace the numerous advantages of a domestic tooling source and watch your productivity soar.