P20 pre-hardened steel tools for 100 to 10,000 shot capacity. Single-cavity, straight-pull geometry, limited surface finish. The fastest and cheapest way to move from CAD to real injection-molded parts for design validation — typically in 14 to 21 days, starting from $2,800.
3D printing is the default for small-quantity prototypes — cheaper, faster, no tooling to build. But for design validation, prototype injection tooling wins for three reasons:
Real material properties. Injection-molded ABS behaves like injection-molded ABS. A 3D-printed ABS-like resin behaves like photopolymer — UV sensitive, different shrinkage, different modulus. For functional validation, there is no substitute for the real material.
Real process physics. Wall sink, weld lines, flow marks, gate vestiges — these only show up in injection molding. You need real molded parts to discover which cosmetic issues will show up in production, so the production tool can be designed around them.
Real quantities. 50 prototype parts is expensive via 3D printing ($30-100/part) and fast to mold ($8-20/part after tooling). If you need to send samples to multiple customers, distributors, and test labs, molded parts are economic.
If your design is final and production volume justifies it immediately, go straight to a production tool — saves weeks. Prototype tooling makes sense when you need design iteration (1-3 tool modifications) before committing to production.
| Element | Prototype tool (P20) | Production tool (H13) |
|---|---|---|
| Tool steel | P20 (32 HRC) | H13 (52 HRC) or S136 |
| Cavity count | 1 | 2, 4, 8, 16, 24+ |
| Cooling channels | Basic straight-drilled | Conformal, optimized |
| Surface finish | SPI B1 (mild polish) | A1-D3 range or textured |
| Runner system | Cold runner | Hot runner typical |
| Ejection | Pin ejection only | Pins, lifters, slides, cores |
| Shot life | 10,000 | 1,000,000+ |
| Cost | $2,800–$8,000 | $8,500–$50,000+ |
| Lead time | 14–21 days | 35–49 days |
We review your CAD for draft angles, wall thickness uniformity, undercuts, and sink-prone ribs. You receive a marked-up DFM report after quote acceptance.
Tool designers create the mold assembly, parting line layout, gate location, and cooling plan. You review and approve before steel is cut.
CNC roughing, finish machining, EDM for tight pockets, and polishing. Quality checks throughout.
First shots are produced. We capture dimensional data, cosmetic photos, and weld-line locations. Ship 10-20 samples to you for review.
Two revisions typically included in quote. Revisions beyond two charged per change. Common revisions: shimming for gap adjustments, ejection timing tweaks, venting adjustments.
On approved tool, we can run your first production batch (typically 500-5,000 units) within a week of T1 approval.
Prototype tooling handles most common thermoplastics. Some demanding resins require production-grade tooling:
| Resin | Prototype OK? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | ✓ Yes | Most common prototype resin |
| PP (polypropylene) | ✓ Yes | Low shrinkage, forgiving |
| PC (polycarbonate) | ✓ Yes | Higher melt temp, needs good venting |
| PC/ABS | ✓ Yes | Standard engineering blend |
| HDPE / LDPE | ✓ Yes | Low cost, straight-pull geometries |
| Nylon (PA6, PA66) | ✓ Yes, unfilled | Glass-filled wears P20 faster — may only last 2,000-5,000 shots |
| TPE / TPU | ✓ Yes | Soft resins, long cycles — prototype tool fine |
| PA66-GF30 (glass-filled) | ⚠ Limited | Abrasive — P20 tool life drops to ~2,000 shots |
| PEEK | ✗ No | Needs hardened tool (H13 or above) due to 360 °C melt temp |
| LSR silicone | ✗ No | Requires specialized LSR tooling |
| LCP (liquid crystal polymer) | ✗ No | Extremely abrasive, hardened tool only |
Prototype tool cost depends mostly on part size and complexity. Rough guide:
| Part complexity | Part envelope | Typical tool cost | Piece price (ABS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple (flat, single draft) | < 50 × 50 × 20 mm | $2,800–$3,800 | $0.80–$1.50 |
| Moderate (ribs, bosses) | < 100 × 100 × 40 mm | $3,800–$5,500 | $1.50–$3.00 |
| Complex (undercuts, actions) | < 200 × 150 × 80 mm | $5,500–$8,000 | $3.00–$6.00 |
| Large or multi-action | > 200 × 150 × 80 mm | Quote required | Quote required |
Dongguan is the global center for plastic tooling. Skilled tool makers, domestic tool steel, and mature hot-runner supply chain make prototype tools 40-60% cheaper than comparable US/EU quotes. Quality is comparable — we use the same CAD/CAM software and tool steel grades.
Upload STEP and target material. DFM feedback included with every quote. First parts typically in 3 weeks.
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