Below is a cost comparison between Nylon, ABS and Polycarbonate (PC) for a complex injection moulded part. There is also a comparison of how the price and lead time change according to the number of parts ordered.

Our 3D printing solutions cater to personalised needs with a diverse range of materials and colour options, perfect for intricate plastic components and small batches.

Several compelling factors underscore manufacturers’ inclination towards adopting precise injection molding instead of the conventional approach:

From inhalers to surgical implements, the flawless, dependable plastic components vital to medical devices find their genesis in precise injection molding.

In general, injection moulding tooling can cost from £2k to £100k. Costs for moulded parts can range from a few pence to a hundreds of pounds each.

For Nylon, going from quantity of 500x to 5000x has a 88% total cost per part saving for a simple injection moulded part. For volumes around 500x and below, it can often be cheaper to CNC machine or 3D Print the parts depending on the design. This is because the high tooling costs are spread over a smaller number of parts, making each part more expensive. Going from 5000x to 50,000x sees an additional cost saving of 9%. This demonstrates how increasing the part quantity significantly reduces part cost for smaller volume orders. However, as the order quantity increases, the reduction in unit price becomes less but still significant.

Choose our CNC Turning services for circular cross sections. We also offer Turn & Mill capabilities for more complex turned parts.

When comparing the three materials, the data shows that ABS is the cheapest material to manufacture with, and polycarbonate is the most expensive. The lead time only increases by a few days going from 500x to 50,000x. This is because the bulk of the lead time for an injection moulding project is manufacturing the mould and sampling. Once the mould produces parts to specification, part production is very fast.

Ready to see how much your part costs to manufacture? Request a free Injection moulding quote today, and one of our engineers will review your project within 24 hours.

This comprehensive guide delves into the depths of precise injection molding, providing a thorough exploration of its mechanics, pivotal advantages, employed equipment, design considerations, and more.

In this article Get It Made simulated the production for two different parts, a very simple small part, and a more complex larger part. You can see how prices vary between different common injection moulding materials and part quantities moulded.

Precision plastic enclosures, connectors, insulators, and other elements tailored to meet the exacting tolerances of electronics materialize through this technique.

However, once you have the moulding tool, the plastic moulded parts will have a very low unit cost. And the tooling is usually CNC machined from a high quality steel, allowing more than one production run using the same tool, so it will last many years.

Dubbed both precise and precision injection molding, this specialized iteration of the conventional injection molding methodology establishes itself as an evolved form of its predecessor. Where conventional injection molding achieves tolerances of ±0.005 inches, precise injection molding surmounts this by attaining tolerances of ±0.001 inches, or even tighter margins.

Precise injection molding stands as a pivotal method in the realm of manufacturing, facilitating the creation of plastic components characterized by remarkably stringent tolerances, intricate geometries, and precise details.

Request your free injection moulding quote today and one of our engineers will personally review your project within 24 hours. They will then help fine-tune your project to make sure you get the best possible price and lead time for your injection moulding project.

Injection moulding is a manufacturing process often used to produce high volumes of plastic parts. This manufacturing process starts by creating and machining a mould with precision to form the part’s features. Then molten plastic resin is injected into the metal mould cavity. The plastic moulded parts subsequently cool and are ejected from the mould cavity. If you want to know more about the injection moulding process, read our Injection Moulding Guide.

Get It Made was founded in 2011 with a mission to make manufacturing simple. Based in London, UK, Get It Made provides outstanding manufacturing services to companies across the globe.

With many years of experience, sheet metal parts can be a great low-cost option for certain high and low-volume applications.

Industries such as optics, medical devices, electronics, and automotive stand as fervent patrons of precise injection molding, leaning on its capability to yield plastic components of unparalleled accuracy.

The achievement of plastic parts characterized by astoundingly tight tolerances hinges on the meticulous control of these core factors:

Precise injection molding constitutes an advanced manufacturing technique, facilitating cost-effective mass production of remarkably intricate plastic components. This methodology finds its zenith in industries like optics, medical, and electronics, where the demand for plastic components boasting micron-level precision and accuracy is unwavering. With the appropriate expertise and equipment, the finesse of precise injection techniques can replicate nearly any plastic component design with unparalleled precision.

While it retains a fundamental kinship with traditional injection molding, the essence of precise injection molding lies in its specialized equipment designed to achieve unparalleled tolerances and consistency:

The data again indicates that ABS is the most cost-effective to manufacture in out of the three materials, while polycarbonate is the most expensive. With an increase in quantity from 500x to 50,000x, the lead time only increases by a few days. This is primarily because most of the lead time in an injection moulding project is manufacturing the mould and sampling. Once the mould successfully produces parts to the desired specifications, the parts can be produced rapidly.

Critical automotive plastic parts, ranging from headlamps and dashboards to exterior trims, are meticulously produced via precise injection techniques.

Precision optics encompassing lenses, prisms, mirrors, screens, light pipes, and other optical constituents owe their existence to this methodology.

This exceptional level of precision unlocks the ability to produce plastic components of extraordinary complexity, boasting precision-fit assemblies, optical-grade surfaces, and microscopically detailed features.

It is essential that the design of the injection moulded parts are carefully reviewed before production. Removing unnecessary features from the parts will make the tooling easier to machine. Read our Injection Moulding Design Guide to optimise your parts and get a better price for your project.Â

Within these pages, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of this specialized molding approach, a cornerstone for crafting optics, medical instruments, electronics, and other goods necessitating unparalleled precision.

Aluminium extrusion is ideal for both single prototypes and large-scale production, offering bespoke, high-standard, consistent cross-sectional profiles.

Tooling is often a key part of the economics in plastic injection moulding, this is because it is a large up-front investment. And this cost needs to be amortised into expected part volume, over a number of years. If injection moulding isn't suitable, it is very possible 3D Printing or CNC Machining could be a better option. Depending on the parts' features, the machining of a complex mould will require more time and expense, increasing the upfront costs of the project. This is the main reason why injection moulding is mainly used for high volumes.

The data shows a slightly different trend for a larger, more complex injection moulded part than the simple/smaller one analysed above. There is a saving of 79% going from 500x to 5000x in nylon and a further 12% going up to 50,000x. This shows that there are still substantial cost savings in manufacturing into the high thousands for larger, more complex parts. The price for 500x is comparable to 3D Printing as the tooling cost is a relatively smaller proportion of the unit cost than the small/simple injection moulded part.

This intricate procedure allows for the production of intricate components that would be otherwise unattainable through traditional injection molding techniques.

Below is a cost comparison between Nylon, ABS and Polycarbonate (PC) for a simple injection moulded part. The table/graph also compares how the number of parts ordered affects the price and lead time.

Optimised for mass production of plastic items, our services in Plastic Injection Moulding are backed by deep expertise and industry-leading knowledge.

If you want to know more about materials options for your injection moulding project, read our article about choosing the right Injection Moulding material.