Five Things You Need Before Asking for an Injection Molding Quote

What should I know before getting an injection molding quote? 

“I have the CAD drawing. What else could they possibly need?”

Does this sound familiar?  Preparing for a plastic injection molding quote may not be as simple as you think.

“…I have the CAD drawing, what else could they possibly need?”

While it is true that a custom plastic injection molder could prepare a quote from just a CAD drawing, or in some cases, a hand-drawn two-dimensional drawing, you are most likely adding unnecessary expense by not preparing a few essential items beforehand to provide more information for your molder.

Get a more accurate cost estimate for your plastic injection molding quote by gathering these five things ahead of time.

5 Essentials For an Accurate Plastic Injection Molding Quote

When any plastic injection molder quotes a project, there are a few essentials they look for from a customer: a drawing, the application or use case, desired material, quantities, and finishing touches.

1. A Drawing

   Seems pretty basic, right? Still, it’s important to point out that only having a description of the part available can leave a lot to the imagination, and words can be interpreted very differently from person to person.

   The small details you may consider insignificant could lead to significant differences in the tooling/mold cost. That’s why it’s crucial to have at least a well-dimensioned hand drawing. Many molders will require much more.

   Check out our helpful write-up on plastic parts design here for more detailed information.

2. Application

   It is important for a plastic injection molding company to understand how your product will be used. Will it be subject to impact? Will it be outside? A good molder will be willing to recommend a material based on the information you provide if you have not already selected one. That, in turn, will affect your injection molding quote.

3. Material

   Did you know there are over 80,000 grades of plastic available on the market today? The commonly used grades typically cost $1.00-$5.00/lb, but highly engineered grades can exceed $40/lb. As mentioned above, it’s important to select a material that has the right properties for your specific product, without over-engineering and adding cost.

   Knowing the application directly affects the material, which directly affects the quote.

4. Estimated Annual Quantities

   This information is very important and should be a key part of your marketing plan. Having an estimate of how many parts you expect to order annually will help the molder determine the number of cavities to build into the mold (cavity refers to the number of parts the mold produces each cycle).

   If your quantities are high, the molder may recommend using hardened tool steel to prolong the life of the mold. For low-production runs, a shorter tooling lifespan is usually acceptable.

   While hardened steel is more expensive upfront, cheaper tooling may wear out quickly. If you later move to high-volume production with a softer mold, you could face additional tooling costs and production interruptions. Planning for your estimated annual quantities from the start helps you choose the right tooling and avoid these extra costs.

5. Any Secondary Operations

   If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, let them know in advance. Do you want any printing on the part? Does the part need to be assembled? Do you want the molder to package it? Knowing these things upfront may lower your overall costs if the plastic injection molding company views your project as a larger source of income for them.

Request a Free Injection Molding Quote from Rex Plastics

If you’re still shaky on all the details of the plastic injection molding process, check out our helpful article here. Or, give us a call at 1-800-839-0366.

At Rex Plastics, we make it easy to take the next step from concept to production. Whether you have a simple sketch or a detailed CAD file, our team can guide you through materials, design considerations, and production planning to help you avoid costly surprises. 

Request a free quote today and see how our expertise can bring your project to life.

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Suggested APA citation:

Rex Plastics. (2016, October 14). Five Things You Need Before Asking for an Injection Molding Quote. Rex Plastics. https://rexplastics.com/plastic-injection-molding/five-things-need-asking-plastic-injection-molding-quote/