whatever your injection molding needs, we have the right solution

A prototype injection mold is a fast, low-cost method for manufacturing small quantities of injection molded plastic parts.

Prototype Tooling & Molding

• Low volume production
• Parts in 2-4 weeks
• Capable of 10k+ cycles
• Undercuts & unscrewing details
• Square corners
• 55 to 1200 tons

Starting at $899

Bridge tooling can span the gap from prototype injection molded parts to production with inexpensive and high volume production parts while maintaining prototype molding lead times.

Bridge Tooling & Molding

• Moderate volume production
• Parts in 3-6 weeks
• Capable of 300k+ cycles
• Family and multi-cavity molds
• Automatic undercut details
• Automatic unscrewing molds
• Fully automatic production

Rapid Production Molding

• High volume production
• Parts in 4-8 weeks
• Capable of millions of cycles
• Unlimited part complexity
• Optimized automatic production
• Highly competitive pricing

Injection Molded Parts Starting at $899!

Get prototype injection molded parts fast! With Rapid Molding you won’t break the bank doing it. Components ranging from 0.5″ x 0.5″ up to 20″ x 20″ have never been less expensive. Get a prototype injection molding quote right now, simply upload your 3D CAD file and answer a few questions.

SERVICE COMPARISON

Prototype Molding
Bridge Molding
Rapid Production

	Prototype Molding	Bridge Molding	Rapid Production
	$	$ /Only	$ /Only
Lead-time Typical time from project start to sample parts	2-4 weeks	3-6 weeks	4-8 weeks
Price	Starting at $899	$$	$$$
Typical Tool Life (cycles)	10k+	300k+	500k to 10M+
Sharp Corners We use advanced EDM technology so your parts can have sharp corners
Undercuts Slides, lifters & male threads	Yes (manual & automatic)	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)
Threaded Holes Requires unscrewing mechanism	Yes (manual)	Yes (automatic)	Yes (automatic)
Insert Molding
Over Molding
Unattended Molding
Proprietary Insert System Used for low-cost molds
Customer Owned Tooling
Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

WHY CHOOSE RAPID MOLDING?

Cost Efficient

Whether you need prototypes or production, we have a cost efficient solution.

100% On-time, every time

With thousands of successful projects completed, you can trust us with your mission critical projects.

Knowledge and Experience

Our staff are some of the most knowledgeable engineers in the industry, each averaging over 25 years experience.

Injection Molding Materials

There are 100s of available thermoplastic materials. These are just a few of the resins we stock. Many are also available with additives, like glass or carbon fibers, and fillers like talc.

ABS
ABS/PC
ASA
PA6 (Nylon 6)
PA66 (Nylon 66)
PA612 (Nylon 612)
PBT (Polyester)
PBT/PET
PC (Polycarbonate)
PC/ABS

PC/PBT
PE (HDPE)
PE (LDPE)
PEI
PET
PETG
PK (aka PKE or POK)
PMMA (Acrylic, Plexiglas)
POM (Acetal)
PP (Polypropylene)

PPA
PPE/PS
PS (GP)
PS (HIPS)
PSU
SAN
TPE
TPR
TPU
TPV

When Injection Molding Excels

Advantages to injection molding versus machined or 3D printed parts:

Rapid Molding FAQ's

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Are you the same company as Rapid Molds (RapidMolds.com)?

Yes, in 2023 we changed our branding to better reflect the full-service nature of our business, which is building rapid molds and providing rapid injection molding services.

How quickly can Rapid Molding deliver injection molds?

Rapid Molding prides itself on swift turnarounds. Typically prototype injection molding lead-times are are 2-4 weeks. Whereas bridge tooling and production tooling lead-times can run 3 to 8 weeks depending on the size and complexity of the parts. In general, we typically deliver production molds 50% to 70% faster than industry standards, ensuring your projects hit the market without unnecessary delays.

Can Rapid Molding handle complex molding projects efficiently?

Absolutely! We have decades of experience with complex molding projects. We are well equipped to handle even the most intricate molds. We've successfully tackled diverse projects, providing precision and efficiency for both simple and highly complex parts.

What is the difference between protoype and bridge or production molding?

In our process, there is no tangible difference in the parts. Some prototype molders may take shortcuts, like rounding off corners or eliminating water lines in the mold in an effort to reduce costs. We do not make these compromises.

What is the difference between bridge and production molding?

Bridge molding utilizes a bridge tool to accomplish low to moderate volumes of molded parts quickly and cost efficiently. There are small sacrifices in tool longevity with a bridge mold versus a production mold, but often times a bridge tool has more life than many projects need (300k+ cycles). Whereas rapid production molding spares no expense when it comes to tooling and is therefore the king of low cost, high-volume production injection molding.

What is the difference between an "injection mold" and a "tool"?

Nothing, the term "tool" is a broad term that could refer to many different types of tools or dies, but in our process it is interchangeable with the term "mold".

What types of CAD files do you accept?

Our preferred 3D CAD format is STEP, as it imports into all of our CAD/CAM/CAE software smoothly. We can also accept IGES, IGS, STP, X_B and X_T, but we must have actual 3D CAD to provide accurate proposals or provide a molded product.

Can you accept a PDF drawing?

Yes, 2D drawings in PDF format are acceptable for inspection and communication purposes, but cannot be used as a substitute for the 3D CAD formats listed above.

Can you build my mold from an STL file?

No, due to the limitations in accuracy associated with this file format it is not a viable option for building injection molds.

Can you help me with my 3D CAD?

Yes, we have provided plastic product design services for over 30 years and have engineers on staff that are very knowledgeable about injection molded part design.

If you need assistance with 3D CAD creation or modifying your part design for better results with injection molding, inquire with your CSE (Customer Service Engineer).

Do I own the mold?

Yes, once you purchase a bridge or production mold, it is your property.

Prototype molds are constructed for use in our proprietary system and for that reason the customer does not own these mold inserts and only pays a "tooling setup fee".

Will you store and maintain my molds?

Yes, we warehouse and maintain all molds in our possession for the life of the project. If the project becomes dormant for more than 12 months we will contact you to understand your intentions and future needs. We may charge a storage fee for molds held beyond reasonable dormant periods.

Do you have a standard NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)?

We take care to restrict access to your data/information to a need to know basis. Each customer that registers on our website is afforded these standard confidentiality terms. For more information, contact your CSE (Customer Service Engineer).

What is the maximum size part you can mold?

We provide injection molding services up to 1,200 tons in the US and up to 2,800 tons in Asia. The maximum part size will depend on the material selected and the part geometry, but as a general rule, injection molded parts may require 2-5 tons per square inch of projected surface area. For example, a 10"x10" part might require 200 to 500 tons of clamp force, depending on part geometry, nominal thickness, material selection and other factors.

Does Rapid Molding provide textures on molds?

Yes, all production molds, and most prototype molds, are eligible for acid-etched textures using dozens of industry standard patterns.

Many prototype molders only apply sand or bead blast textures. While we do offer this services, acid etching is more accurate and will last for many, many more cycles.

Do you offer true diamond polished molds (SPI A series finishes)?

Yes, this is a subject where we shine! Pardon the pun...

It is important to note that aluminum can become "shiny" and appear to have a mirror finish, but that does not qualify as an SPI A series finish. For this reason your average prototype mold may not actually meet your project requirements.

Additionally, soft materials, like aluminum or mild tool steels, will not retain this "shiny" appearance after repetitive injection molding cycles. To truly provide an SPI A series finish, the mold requires special steel, like very specific grades of hardened 420SS with a very tight grain structure. Be sure to specify this finish requirement in your RFQ (Request For Quote) or discuss this with your CSE (Customer Service Engineer) before beginning your project.

Can your molds be modified easily?

Yes, even when the design change is not a "steel safe" change. We build all of our molds from steel, as a result we can easily cut away more steel or "add" steel back in using modern welding techniques. This is a much more difficult task with aluminum and one of the many reasons we do not typically use aluminum to manufacture our molds.

Do you manufacture aluminum molds?

No. In the 1990s we experimented for several years with aluminum molds. We found that modern high-speed machining techniques can actually remove more steel per hour than aluminum! This is due to the amount of energy released in ultra-high-speed machining. When removing high volumes of aluminum the energy actually makes the aluminum soft, nearly melting it to a liquid form. As a result the aluminum reaches a point of diminishing returns and UHS cutting of steel surpasses the removal rate of aluminum.

Additionally, steel molds are much more durable, can survive fully automatic molding and are much easier to modify. If cost is driving you to consider aluminum molds, submit an RFQ and see what we can do for you.

Can Rapid Molding assist me with material selection?

Yes, but selecting the plastic material for each application is the customer's choice and responsibility. We have engineers with decades of experience who can digest your requirements and make suggestions, as well as, provide technical data on various material, but in the end you will need to make this choice.

Does Rapid Molding provide secondary operations or assembly services?

Yes, we are a full-service, custom injection molder, as such we offer assembly services and a wide array of secondary services from printing to sonic welding.

Can Rapid Molding assist with retail packaging options?

Yes, we have several good suppliers that we partner with for retail packaging. For more information, contact your CSE (Customer Service Engineer).

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards, company checks, EFT (wire transfer or ACH) and USDC cryptocurrency.

If you need assistance making your payment ask your CSE (Customer Service Engineer) to connect you with our orders department.

Complex parts? No Problem.

We manufacture molds with all levels of complexity, everyday. Features like undercuts and internal or external threads are no problem. We can even incorporate these features into prototype molds. Molds that require multi-stage ejection, floating cores and cavities, reverse injection and ejection are all available to build your molds.

Got a tough problem? Great, we love a challenge!