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Speed vs. Quality in Prototype Tooling: Finding the Right Balance

Speed vs. Quality in Prototype Tooling_ Finding the Right Balance

Prototyping is one of the most important steps in the product development process. Prototypes allow product developers to find design flaws and/or test different design options quickly by providing tangible models that can be evaluated for form, fit, and functionality before committing to full-scale production tooling. Different types of prototypes can be used during different phases of the project, including clay mock-ups, 3D printed parts, machined parts, and cast and injection molded parts. Due to advances in the speed of mold fabrication, prototype injection molding has become one of the most popular methods of producing both functional plastic prototypes and visual concept models in any design phase due to its ability to accurately replicate final production parts on a short timeline.

Selecting the right prototype injection molding tooling requires navigating the inherent tradeoff between speed and quality. Generally, the faster a prototype mold can be produced, the lower fidelity the parts are to final product specifications. On the other hand, while achieving extremely precise prototypes is the best option for advancing the design, producing high-quality prototype tooling adds time and costs to the iterative design process. 

Finding the right balance depends greatly on the priorities and objectives during the development phase. Understanding these tradeoffs allows product developers to produce prototypes that meet their needs in an optimal time frame without either overspending on unnecessary precision or working with inadequate approximations with low-fidelity prototypes. The key is aligning the quality and speed with the purpose of each round of prototypes. This article explores the factors influencing both speed and quality in prototype tooling and how to find the right balance.

Factors Impacting Prototype Tooling Speed

Complexity

The complexity of the mold design directly correlates with the machining and assembly time required before prototype parts can be molded. Intricate molds with multiple cavities, side actions, or complex geometries necessitate longer manufacturing lead times than simple, single-cavity open and closed molds (see Part Design).

Durability

The durability of the mold material also impacts production speed. Prototype molds constructed from less robust materials, such as 3D-printed resins or soft metals, are faster to produce but may degrade more quickly, limiting the number of cycles before the part geometry starts changing. This may be acceptable, since prototype runs are usually in the hundreds or thousands; these types of molds are durable enough to produce these quantities..Conversely, molds machined from hardened steel offer extended lifespans but require additional fabrication time. When tens of thousands of parts are needed for an extended user study, this type of tooling may be required.

Part Design

Part complexity is another significant factor affecting prototype injection mold fabrication speed. Designs incorporating undercuts, threaded features, or small features increase the intricacy of the tooling and the associated manufacturing time. Features that cannot be created in the primary mold cavities in the direction of the mold opening must be created using slides or core pins, which take time to fabricate. Deep, thin ribs cut into the tool require the use of small diameter, long cutting tools and extended machining time. The bigger the cutter that can be used, the faster the mold can be made. Avoid small radii when possible (< 0.016”) and think about the spacing of features and the size of the tool required to make those features in a mold. Simplifying part designs, particularly in early prototyping stages, can optimize injection mold fabrication time and reduce production timelines.

Precision

If a prototype part must meet strict tolerance specifications, then a machined prototype injection mold is preferred. Aluminum or brass mold cavities are usually sufficient, but fragile mold features, such as long, small diameter pins, may need to be inserted as stainless steel features into the mold to increase robustness. Molds printed in aluminum or stainless steel are not strong enough for small features, must be polished post-printing, and therefore, cannot be expected to produce parts that require precision tolerances.

By carefully considering these factors and making strategic design decisions, product development teams can minimize mold fabrication lead times, optimize injection molding cycles, and accelerate the prototype tooling process while still achieving the required part functionality and quality.

Factors Impacting Prototype Tooling Quality

Material

The material used for the mold significantly affects the quality of the surface finish. Surface finish is essential for visual models and user interaction points but less critical for prototypes intended to test structural integrity or function. However, if high-polished parts (SPI-A1) are required, the mold must be fabricated in stainless steel (SS). A mirror finish is impossible with 3D-printed mold parts, and only SPI-A2 can be achieved with aluminum tools. Selecting the right mold materials can still emulate tactile feels and visible quality, while post-molding treatments can further enhance surfaces.

Molding Press

Measurement variability affects the consistency of each shot in a prototype run. While tighter process controls and appropriate machine parameters can enhance accuracy and repeatability, hobby injection molding machines often struggle to maintain part tolerances due to inconsistent parameters. Achieving repeatability requires high-quality production molding machines with tightly controlled parameters. Striking the right balance involves optimizing resin selection, machining methods, and process tuning steps to enhance quality, even if it extends timelines.

Finding the Right Balance Between Speed and Quality

Finding the optimal balance between speed and quality in prototype injection molding tooling requires strategic decision-making around project goals. The product development team must align on clear objectives for each prototyping round. Some rounds may prioritize visual models to assess industrial design concepts or ergonomics. Others may focus on functional prototypes, aiming to demonstrate real-world viability on critical features, even if cosmetics are crude.

An assessment is needed around must-have quality attributes versus those that can be sacrificed for expediency. Factors like rigidity, strength, and durability often cannot be compromised, even for prototypes. However, perfect color matching or mirror-polished chrome finishes may be unnecessary until production tooling. Keeping prototypes as fast and affordable as possible while achieving core goals for the phase should be the goal.

Creating critical function prototypes is another way to help de-risk areas of uncertainty within the overall project. For example, instead of investing in detailed housing molds solely to evaluate how assembly snaps work, a simple mold can be created with snaps on a simple support structure that mimics the housing but with minimal detail. This approach saves significant mold fabrication time while still allowing thorough testing of the critical functionality, ensuring that design uncertainties are resolved quickly and efficiently.

With priorities set, reasonable schedule expectations can be built, factoring in part size, complexity, batch sizes, and service shop bandwidth availability. Then, as prototypes are evaluated after each round, the team can adjust levers like design revisions vs. mold rework needs, surface finishes, measurement standards, and testing criteria to reassess the right speed and quality balance for the next phase. Finding this equilibrium enables affordable progress between the initial concept and full production release.

Optimize Speed & Quality with Protoshop: Your Injection Molded Prototyping Partner

If striking the right speed vs quality balance for your next injection molded prototypes seems complex, don’t go it alone. Partner with the knowledgeable Protoshop team to fast-track learning critical information about your product designs, no matter the development phase. We build high-quality aluminum molds in 3-5 days and mold parts within 1-2 days. Reach out today to learn more about our services that balance your need for speed with must-have quality standards.

Excellent
Based on 7 reviews
Dana Taylor
Dana Taylor
2024-01-17
If you're in need of a molding prototype shop, Dylann and Jimmy at Protoshop are sure to not only meet but exceed your expectations. Their team demonstrates remarkable responsiveness and proactiveness, contributing to an exceptionally efficient overall process. The speed at which they deliver top-notch work is truly impressive. Protoshop's commitment to customer satisfaction is apparent in their flexibility and willingness to closely collaborate with clients to address specific needs. An exemplary instance of this was their accommodation of our request to have our customer onsite for part evaluation and mold changes while we were present. What sets Protoshop apart is not solely their technical proficiency but also their dedication to providing valuable insights and design advice. Their expertise extends beyond standard projects, showcasing proficiency in handling complex components for diverse applications, be it over-molded sealing parts or flexible components. In conclusion, if you're on the lookout for a reliable and efficient partner for your manufacturing and molding requirements, I wholeheartedly recommend Protoshop. Their combination of expertise, responsiveness, and commitment to customer satisfaction makes them an exceptional choice for a variety of projects.
Brittany Mason
Brittany Mason
2023-06-06
I have worked with Photoshop on several mold designs over the past year. From the moment I reached out to them with an inquiry, they were prompt in their communication and eager to assist me. I have greatly appreciated and benefited from their extensive expertise and prompt feedback. They consistently offering valuable suggestions and insights that ultimately saved us money in the overall design. As for the quality of work they provided, Dylann and her team have always come through. If any issues do arise, they have been quick to offer solutions and kept us up to date throughout the whole process. If you're looking for a reliable partner for your plastics molding needs, I would check them out.
Stacie Depner
Stacie Depner
2022-10-18
Having worked with Dylann and Jimmy prior to Protoshop, I knew the immense level of expertise they have for this business and it proved to carry through. They are honest straight shooters that will help guide you and find the best solution for your molds. We needed a mild that could be versatile and allow us to easily change out one side of the design. Dylann helped us come up with an approach that will allow us to continuously iteration the design without having to make a whole new mold every time.
Chad Follmar
Chad Follmar
2022-08-23
Dylann and team are wonderful to work with. On multiple programs, they have delivered quality product in a matter of days. The design for moldability support is unparalled to ensure your part is ready to order.
Garrett Garner
Garrett Garner
2022-06-15
We work regularly with Protoshop on a variety of complex components for various projects. They are an excellent company to work with providing a vast history of experience to help their clients optimize designs. We have worked with them on microfluidic chips with small feature sizes, over molded sealing parts and flexible parts. They have experience working with many materials including Topas (COC), polycarbonate, TPE, PE, and PP. I would highly recommend reaching out on your next project. The team is very responsive to design changes as well as delivering to tight timelines. They also offer design advice and best practices which have helped expedite design iterations.
Steven Soeder
Steven Soeder
2022-06-13
Great experience with Protoshop. Dylann is extremely responsive and great to work with. Very fast turn-around. Worked with us on our order to get what we needed. I was able to drop ship 3d printed parts from another vendor to Protoshop to have them match-fit and incorporated into our tooling. I will be back again.
Wendell Woidyla
Wendell Woidyla
2022-05-31
Dylann at Protoshop is excellent to work with: highly responsive and proactive. This is possibly the fastest, high-quality work I have ever witnessed. 1 week...from payment (start) to delivery (after CTQ measurements at Protoshop), we had 100 test samples of a component we intend to use in high volume manufacturing. Thank you for the tremendous work! I would highly recommend Protoshop, and will plan to use Protoshop services in the future.