Create the 3D design file and make revisions appropriate for manufacturing, including details such as feed points for injection molding, cooling channels, as well as ejection points.

With designs in hand, the mold is then machined. This often involves CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining, electrical discharge machining (EDM), or even traditional methods, depending on the complexity and requirements of the mold.

If the mold consists of multiple parts, it may need to be assembled together. This may include fitting guide pins, ejector pins, and other components.

Before the mold is ready to be used in production, it will be tested on the machines and used to produce a few samples to verify if the parameters are correct.

Plaster molds are suitable for early-stage prototyping and trial production. They help identify and address issues, providing valuable assistance for subsequent production.

In large-scale production, aluminum molds are commonly used, with a lifespan of up to 10 years. Aluminum molds can produce better quality finishes for plastic injection molded parts, but it requires greater technical expertise as it is a softer material than steel. Fancy Packaging’s team of engineers are highly experienced in working with aluminum molds.

Steel molds offer high precision, excellent detail representation, and can produce tens of millions of finished parts. Their lifespan can reach 10-15 years.

Small-batch production can utilize copper molds as production tools, which offer the advantage of relatively lower mold manufacturing costs and durability.