Why You Should Choose Machined Parts Manufacturers Wisely
Mechanical parts manufacturers play a pivotal role in driving industrial…
Steel tooling, rapid lead times, and no minimums — ideal for prototyping, design validation, and bridge production.
Whether for buttons, grips, or seals, mold rubber or silicone over an existing plastic part.
Injection molding is the most cost-effective way to make a plastic part at scale. The injection molding process involves injecting molten plastic into a mold tool, then ejecting the solidified part. This process quickly repeats hundreds or thousands of times, amortizing the cost of the mold tool and driving down the cost of each unit to a few dollars or less. Since the injection molding process uses the same mold tool for each part, it offers consistent quality across every part. Injection molding also has the highest variety of materials, colors, cosmetics, polishes, and surface textures when compared to CNC machining or even 3D printing.
BoYi’s custom plastic mold service is a service providing on-demand prototype and production molding. We take a customer-first approach which means we find the right injection molding supplier within our manufacturing supplier network to mold the parts the way you need them—without design compromises—at the right price point. We offer expert consultation on each injection mold quote and project managers on every order to move your parts from design to production. Our team has experience in every industry, especially medical injection molding and liquid silicone rubber molding. First-time buyers receive $500 off their first mold with Xometry. We offer both domestic and China injection molding options, as well as ITAR injection molding.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
Lead Time | Starts at 5 business days, including fast quote responses with design-for-manufacturing (DFM) feedback |
Production Options | Domestic and international |
Materials | Most plastics, including custom sourcing and matching; see materials list below |
Machines Available | Single, multi-cavity, and family molds; 50 to 1,100+ press tonnage; side actions including hand-loaded cores. |
Inspection and Certification Options | Includes FAI and PPAP. ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485, UL, ITAR, and ISO 7 and 8 Medical Clean Room molding. |
Tool Ownership | Customer-owned with mold maintenance |
Mold Cavity Tolerances | +/- 0.005″ when machining the mold and an additional +/- 0.002″ per inch when calculating for shrink rate |
Part to Part Repeatability | +/- 0.004″ or less |
Critical Feature Tolerances | Tighter tolerances can be requested and may increase the cost of tooling because of additional sampling and grooming. Xometry will mill to a steel-safe condition on critical features. |
Available Mold Types | Steel and aluminum; Production grades range from Class 105, a prototype mold, to Class 101, an extremely high production mold. Xometry typically produces Class 104, 103, and 102 tools. |
First, you can send CAD files and detailed information (material, quan-tity, tolerance, etc.) to us Email or Linkedin .
Secondly, we will analyze manufactur-ability based on drawings of productsand give you a favorable quotation.
Thirdly, we will start manufacturing process once all relevant deatials are fully confirmed.
Finally, we will carefully pack and shipthe goods when the products are completed.
LET’S DO IT!
| Guidance | Quick Turn Molding |
|---|---|
Tooling | Prototype grade aluminum molds |
Mold Shot Life | Up to 2,500 shots |
Size Limitations | Max XYZ of 10″x12″x3.9″ |
Mold Finishes | 6 Standard finishes (SPI-A2, A3, B2, B3, light or heavy textured) |
Limited to 25 families of materials, or customer supplied | |
Inspection Options | Standard XYZ Dimension Report |
Typical Quote Response Time * | Same day, in as little as 2 hours |
Part Lead Times | Fast as 5 business days |
Country of Origin | Domestic only (made in USA) |
* Quoting response times reflect requests received during business hours, requests received outside business hours will be addressed the following business day.
| Material Families Available |
|---|
ABS | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
PC-ABS | Polycarbonate-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
ASA | Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate |
HDPE | High-Density Polyethylene |
HIPS | High-Impact Polystyrene |
LCP | Liquid Crystal Polymer |
LDPE | Low-Density Polyethylene |
PA 6/6 | Polyamide 6/6, Nylon 6/6 |
PBT | Polybutylene Terephthalate, Valox |
PBT-PET | Polybutylene Terephthalate-Polyethylene Terephthalate |
PC | Polycarbonate |
PC-PBT | Polycarbonate-Polybutylene Terephthalate, Xenoy |
PEBA | Polyether Block Amide |
PET | Polyethylene Terephthalate, Rynite |
PETG | Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, Eastar |
PMMA | Polymethyl Methacrylate, Acrylic |
POM | Acetal Polyoxymethylene, Delrin |
PP | Polypropylene |
PPA | Polyphthalamide , Zytel HTN |
PS-PPE | Polystyrene-Polyphenyl Ethers, Noryl |
PS | Polystyrene |
Soft PVC | Polyvinyl Chloride, Geon HC |
TPE | Thermoplastic Elastomer, Santoprene |
TPU | Thermoplastic Polyurethane (Shore A) |
TPV | Thermoplastics Elastomer, Vulcanized Rubber |
For more information on these materials, see our materials page. Customers may also supply their own materials upon request.
Choose materials based on the design requirements, considering properties like dimensional stability, impact resistance, and chemical resistance. Semi-crystalline materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, are preferred for bearing and wear applications due to their excellent durability and low friction characteristics. On the other hand, amorphous materials, like polycarbonate and ABS, offer superior dimensional stability, making them ideal for parts that require tight tolerances and high precision.
Understand the tolerances required for your part, as they are influenced by material shrinkage during cooling. Tighter tolerances may be necessary for assembly and functionality, ensuring proper fit and performance of the final product. However, achieving these tolerances increases production costs due to more stringent manufacturing controls and potential for higher reject rates. Balancing the need for precision with cost considerations is crucial in the design process.
Maintain consistent wall thickness to avoid defects such as sink marks, warping, and differential cooling rates. Varying wall thickness can lead to internal stresses and deformation. Refer to recommended thickness ranges for different materials to optimize part quality and reduce cycle time. For instance, thinner walls may reduce material usage and cooling time, but they must still meet structural requirements.
Incorporate draft angles to facilitate the ejection of the part from the mold. Draft angles prevent the part from sticking to the mold, reducing wear on the mold and ensuring smoother production. Different surfaces require different draft angles, with textured surfaces needing the most draft to avoid drag marks. Typically, a draft angle of 1-2 degrees is sufficient for smooth surfaces, while textured surfaces may require 3-5 degrees.
Add ribs and gussets to enhance part strength and reduce cosmetic defects such as sink marks. Ribs provide additional support without significantly increasing material usage. Ensure rib thickness is 50-60% of the wall thickness to prevent warping and shrinkage. Properly designed ribs can also help in maintaining dimensional stability and reducing the weight of the part.
Use radii and fillets to eliminate sharp corners, which can create stress concentrations and impede material flow during molding. Rounded corners improve material flow, enhance structural integrity, and reduce the likelihood of cracks or fractures. Incorporating radii and fillets not only improves the aesthetics of the part but also enhances its durability and performance.
Design parts to avoid undercuts, which complicate the molding process and increase tooling costs. Undercuts require additional mold actions or complex tooling solutions, leading to higher production costs and longer cycle times. Use alternatives like slots, adjusted parting lines, or bump-offs to achieve the desired design features without the complications of undercuts.
Attach bosses to side walls or ribs to provide support and minimize visible sink marks. Bosses are typically used for fastening or assembly purposes. Ensure the boss thickness is no more than 60% of the part thickness to prevent sink marks and maintain structural integrity. Proper boss design includes fillets at the base to reduce stress concentrations and improve material flow.
Communicate with your supplier about aesthetic and functional requirements to determine optimal gate locations and types. The placement and type of gate can significantly impact the appearance and quality of the final part. Proper gating minimizes visual marks on important surfaces and ensures even material distribution, reducing the risk of defects like voids or weld lines.
Engage with your supplier early in the design process to discuss material selection, tolerances, and other design considerations. Early collaboration ensures the final part meets all specifications and quality standards. Your supplier can provide valuable insights into manufacturability, potential cost-saving opportunities, and best practices for achieving high-quality parts. This partnership helps in identifying potential issues early and streamlining the production process.
Injection molding could absolutely be used for prototyping, but it depends on the project requirements. Typically, for projects that require less than 10 prototypes, injection molding may not be the most cost-effective option. We are happy to meet with you to discuss your needs and help determine if injection molding is the correct process for you.
BOYI is happy to offer you injection molding services with NO minimum order quantity.
Absolutely. As long as you are able to supply project requirements and part specifications, Fictiv is happy to provide a no-obligation quotation.
Of course! BOYI will maintain your mold for 2 years after your most recent order and allow you to re-order parts for the duration of the mold life.
BOYI’s quick turn molding process involves using a proprietary insert and base system to produce molded parts rapidly. Depending on your project’s requirements and complexity, parts can be delivered as quickly as 5 business days!
Yes! As part of Xometry’s service, we offer DFM feedback on all projects both pre-sale as well as during final tool kickoff to ensure the project is a success.
After receiving the order, one of our manufacturing engineers reviews the statement of work. A case manager is assigned, and an appropriate manufacturing supplier is identified. A comprehensive DFM/PEG report is created and provided for approval. Upon approval, tooling and mold production is commenced. T1 samples are produced and shipped for approval. Upon approval, the remaining parts are made.
Injection molding is used across various industries, including aerospace, medical devices, consumer goods, energy, electronics, automotive, robotics, toys, and more.
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