The short answer: plastic injection molds cost anywhere between $100 for a 3D printed low-volume injection mold to $100,000+ for a complex multi-cavity steel mold for high-volume production, which generally represents the most significant fixed start-up cost in injection molding.
Is injection Moulding cheap or expensive?
An injection mold is easily the most expensive part of the project, and can dramatically increase costs for small part runs. The main factors that influence the cost of an injection mold are the size and intricacy of the part, the material used, and the number of parts being produced.
Why does injection molding cost so much?
Since plastic products created using injection moulding are generally smaller and more intricate than those created by rotomoulding, there is naturally a higher investment of time and labour involved in creating them, which can ultimately increase the cost.29 may 2018
How much does a prototype injection mold cost?
So how much does a proper plastic injection molded prototype cost? At the Engineering Resource Center, a simple plastic injection molded prototype starts at around $3,000 but the exact number will depend on part size, complexity, material, quantity, and number of cavities in the mold.15 nov 2019
Which is cheaper injection molding or 3D printing?
Injection molding is cheaper than 3D printing if you produce more than 100 parts. While the cost per unit using 3D printing stays relatively unchanged, the price for injection molding becomes dramatically better the more pieces you manufacture with your mold.25 nov 2019
Is injection moulding cost effective?
While injection molding may seem costly compared to processes like CNC machining and 3D printing, the ability to scale and manufacture thousands of parts makes it a cost-effective solution for mass production. ... This means, the more complex the part's geometry, the higher your manufacturing costs will be.