While most injection molded parts are produced in mass volumes, low volume injection molding demonstrates its adaptability by catering to applications that require smaller production runs. To satisfy these demands, organizations can confidently contact injection molding partners offering lower volume production runs.

The primary consideration when dealing with plastic injection molding is the molds themselves, also known as 'tooling '. This is where the real work is done. Molds must be carefully designed, considering parameters such as how many cavities to include, geometry, injection speed, pressure, holding time, and more. The high upfront tooling cost is often prohibitive for low-volume runs, so this is not for when you only need a handful or 100 parts but more for reoccurring low volumes every year or maybe more than a couple of thousand.

However, depending on the specific application, this may not be an issue. High-quality parts that command higher prices can more than justify the increased cost of low-volume tooling. However, an experienced injection molding partner can optimize mold creation with simple geometry and rounded edges that minimize tooling requirements.

There are a number of things we look for when designing and evaluating a project. We look for sharp corners or even very small radii, in rotomolding typically these type of areas like to trap air/gas bubbles which result in porous edges. Another area we look at is does the part have the proper draft built into it and are there any areas the create an undercut that would prevent the part from being able to be de-molded. We also review the model to make sure that there are no areas that are narrow and deep that may prevent heat transfer in the mold itself. Without heat transfer in the mold the plastic will not form in those areas. The last major thing we look for is the actual interior volume of the mold. There must be enough volume in the mold to accommodate the proper charge weight of the part. A general rule of thumb is 1 cu.ft. of interior volume can hold up to approx. 21 pounds of resin. The charge weight of a part dictates the wall thickness. The same mold can produce parts with different wall thicknesses just by increasing or decreasing the charge weight. So for example, if the part requires 42 lbs of resin to create a part with a wall thickness of 3/16" it would need approx. 2 cu.ft. of interior volume, but the mold only has 1.375 cu.ft. of interior volume. So it would not be able to produce a part with a 3/16" wall thickness. The customer would then have to do one of two things, increase the interior volume or decrease the wall thickness of the part. These are only some of the major things we look for, there could be some other areas that we find on occasionally that need to be modified.

Every project is different. It really depends to the scope of work. I have seen some jobs take a day to design and some have taken a lot longer.

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"Working with the Sterling team from sales through production was a terrific experience. They helped us develop a high-quality, modular system all while helping us maintain desired margins. Our company has a strong reputation for product quality and value and that's what was delivered. I'm sure this is just the beginning of our partnership with Sterling."

Injection molding is among the most widespread manufacturing methods used today, with more than 30 percent of plastic parts produced using this technique. It is an exceptional method for producing plastic parts that are consistent and reliable for all production runs. Learn about low volume injection molding runs.

Our involvements typically starts from the very beginning. The customer will contact  our sales department to outline the project, and at that point they will set up a conference call or a face-to-face meeting to discuss the project.

I have not heard directly from the customers, but I have heard through other people that our turnaround time for a design is fast and our level of professionalism is top notch.

Are you in need of a low volume injection molding for your product? Crescent Industries provides an edge by giving you access to years of experience and insight from our professional team starting with the mold design, building your injection mold, and running production. We’ll work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Contact us today to see how we can help you realize your project.

Have you had conversations with clients about their experiences with other designers or molders? ...how does Sterling stack up... easy to work with, fast results, etc

This guide covers an overview of plastic rotational molding, critical design considerations for rotationally molded parts, rotational molding tooling, mold-in-graphic, typical projects and much more.

At its core, low volume injection molding is similar to traditional injection molding. It relies on the same basic principle of melting thermoplastic materials and injecting them into mold cavities under pressure. The plastic cools quickly, and molds can contain multiple cavities for multiple parts, which is why it's widely used in mass production. This precision and consistency are what make low volume injection molding a reliable choice for your manufacturing needs.

Polaris is the leader in off-road, ATV and Utility vehicles for sportsman and outdoor enthusiasts. Hunters have been a strong and growing customer of their business. To capitalize on this market, Polaris looked to Sterling Technologies to help develop some products for their new line-up.Scott S., Polaris Team Leader - Engineered Parts & Accessories, had a concept for a gun vault, dog kennel, and cooler package option for the bed of their popular Ranger™ UTV. After doing his research, he contacted Sterling Technologies to explain his vision, review the timeline of project and discuss consumer price points. Within one month, Scott had his final drawings and ordered his tooling through Sterling's OneSource FastTrack program. The tool was online, molding sample quantities just 3 months from that initial phone call.Scott S.,  Polaris Team Leader - Engineered Parts & Accessories

Very involved. We layout how we want the mold to look and how they are to operate one they are complete. We create the complete list of specification for the tooling group.

That all depends on where they are at with their project. Some customers come to us with a fully designed product that we just have to redline to make sure if fits our molding process, others may come to us with a rough sketch of what they want, and some just have nothing at all and we have to start from scratch. I think that is what makes us unique is the fact that no matter where they are in the process we can help them get them product to the finish line.