Injection Moulding

[loafer123]

I would be interested to hear from anyone on here who runs an injection moulding business.

I want to try a short run for a new product for my wifes business - sort of like a paperweight but in shaped and decorative plastic.

[Yuxi]

3d printing Shirley

[loafer123]

Yuxi said:

3d printing Shirley

I want a short run, but not that short a run!

Thanks, though!

[anonymous-user]

How big is the item?

[kev b]

You could make up a silicon mould and use resin to cast them.

[loafer123]

Item is less than 10cm long by 5cm diameter in a solid tube, but shaped.

Resin mould is a good idea, but I want, say, 500 of them.

[DSLiverpool]

loafer123 said:

Item is less than 10cm long by 5cm diameter in a solid tube, but shaped.

Resin mould is a good idea, but I want, say, 500 of them.

Aluminium Tool will do that but still cost, I suggest looking in China to save £ but you risk seeing them on eBay made illegally. Get some uk quotes first.

[NoNeed]

I am an injection moulding technician so know quite a bit, sadly my company isn't a trade moulder so I can't help directly but can recomend protolabs who do exactly what you are asking for.


https://www.protolabs.co.uk/?utm_medium=cpc&ut...

[garethj]

Protolabs can get the tooling price down but the piecepart price is often quite high. However their quoting system is slick so it's easy to get a quote.

If the part is simple then maybe do a search for Manumold, a simpler moulding machine which is cheaper to run. Babyplast is the next stage up and because they are cheaper to run the moulding companies often charge less for parts moulded with them. A google search for either of these will find moulders that can help for low volume stuff like yours.

[slybynight]

I work in this area.. drop me a pm if you like.

[Richjam]

The shape of the internal part of the tube will be your biggest challenge is it in line of draw? I.E will the internal form be able to be pulled out once the plastic is set? Or does it have any curves/undercuts that prevent it. As has been said an aluminium tool will be cheapest but your probably looking a minimum of £4000 investment to do it in the uk. Protolabs will probably be cheaper but will charge you extra for parts.

[loafer123]

Thanks, all - much appreciated.

I am flat out on other projects, but will come back to this when things calm down.