MANUFACTURING SOLUTION

Rapid Tooling Services

Accelerate your product launch with high-quality, low-cost injection molds. Rapid tooling bridges the gap between prototyping and mass production, delivering real plastic parts in weeks, not months.

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A steel blank for a multi-cavity injection mold, representing rapid tooling

The Smart Path to Real Plastic Parts

Rapid tooling refers to the accelerated creation of injection molds using softer, easier-to-machine materials like aluminum or pre-hardened P20 steel, rather than the hardened tool steel used for high-volume production molds.

These molds are faster to manufacture (reducing lead times from months to weeks) and significantly less expensive (often 50-70% less than production tools). While their lifespan is shorter (typically 500 to 100,000+ parts depending on material and complexity), they are perfect for producing real, production-quality plastic parts for functional testing, market validation, and early product launches (often called "bridge production").

A two-color injection molded part produced with rapid tooling

Why Choose Rapid Tooling?

Speed to Market

Get your first molded parts in weeks, allowing you to launch your product or conduct market testing much faster than waiting for a full production tool.

Reduce Financial Risk

Avoid the massive upfront investment of production tooling. Validate your design and market demand before committing significant capital.

Design Flexibility

Rapid tools are easier and less expensive to modify than hardened steel tools. This allows for design refinements based on initial molded part review.

Rapid Tooling FAQ

What is the expected lifespan of a rapid tool?

The lifespan depends on the material it's made from and the plastic being molded. Aluminum tools can typically produce 500 to 10,000+ parts. P20 steel tools can often produce 50,000 to 100,000+ parts. This is usually more than sufficient for prototyping and bridge production needs.

What is "bridge production"?

Bridge production uses a rapid tool to fulfill initial customer orders or market demand while a more expensive, long-lead-time production tool (made from hardened steel) is still being manufactured. It allows you to generate revenue earlier and validate market acceptance before full-scale launch.

Do I need to design my part differently for rapid tooling?

The core DFM (Design for Manufacturability) rules for injection molding (uniform wall thickness, draft, radii) still apply. However, for rapid tooling, it's even more critical to avoid complex features like undercuts, which add significant cost and time. Simplifying your design will always make tooling faster and cheaper.