End-to-end mold engineering: from Moldflow-validated design to hardened multi-cavity production tools. Aluminum soft tooling in 2-3 weeks for market validation, P20/H13/S136 production molds in 4-6 weeks — with in-house molding trials and CMM-verified T1 samples before anything ships.
Free Consultation| Grade | Properties | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| P20 Steel (Pre-hardened, 28-32 HRC) | Good machinability, uniform hardness, no heat treatment distortion risk, polishable to SPI B-1 | Volume production molds up to 500,000 shots, general consumer and industrial parts |
| H13 Steel (Hardened, 48-52 HRC) | Excellent heat and wear resistance, high toughness, suitable for hot runner systems and glass-filled resins | Long-life molds 500,000-1,000,000+ shots, abrasive materials, high-temperature engineering resins |
| S136 Stainless (Hardened, 48-52 HRC) | Superior corrosion resistance, mirror polishability to SPI A-1, excellent for optical surfaces | Optical parts, medical devices, transparent PC/PMMA parts, corrosive resins (PVC, POM) |
| 718H / NAK80 (Pre-hardened, 37-43 HRC) | Higher hardness than P20 without heat treatment, excellent texturing and polishing response | Cosmetic-critical parts, textured surfaces, mid-to-high volume programs |
| Aluminum 7075 (Soft Tooling) | Machines 4x faster than steel, excellent thermal conductivity for shorter cycles, economical | Prototype molds, bridge tooling, market validation runs of 25-25,000 shots |
| Beryllium Copper (Inserts) | Thermal conductivity 3-4x tool steel, eliminates hot spots in deep cores and thin ribs | Cooling-critical inserts, deep bosses, areas prone to sink marks and warpage |
| Parameter | Standard Range |
|---|---|
| Mold Classes | SPI Class 101 (1M+ cycles) to Class 104 (prototype) |
| Cavity Count | 1 - 16+ cavities (balanced runner or hot runner) |
| Soft Tooling Lead Time | 2 - 3 weeks (aluminum, T1 samples included) |
| Production Mold Lead Time | 4 - 6 weeks (P20/H13/S136, T1 samples included) |
| Max Mold Size | 1200mm x 1000mm (fits up to 1,000-ton presses) |
| Cavity/Core Tolerance | ±0.01mm (machining), ±0.005mm (EDM/grinding) |
| Part Tolerance Baseline | ±0.05mm (tighter achievable per resin and geometry) |
| Mold Flow Analysis | Moldflow simulation included on every project |
| Runner Systems | Cold runner, hot runner (open/valve gate), insulated |
| Mold Base Standards | DME, HASCO, LKM, FUTABA per customer region |
Full SPI standard range: A-1 mirror finish (Ra ≤ 0.012μm) for optical parts through D-3 dry blast matte. Polish grade specified per surface in the mold design review, matched to part cosmetic requirements.
EDM texture per VDI 3400 scale or chemical etch per Mold-Tech standards. Textures hide weld lines and witness marks, improve grip, and mask minor cosmetic defects in production.
Non-directional spark-eroded finish for cavities, ribs, and features tools cannot reach. Controlled VDI grades from near-polish to coarse texture, uniform across complex geometry.
Surface hardening to 65+ HRC for glass-filled and abrasive resins. Extends mold life 2-3x in high-wear gate and shut-off areas without through-hardening distortion.
Hard chrome plating for wear surfaces and corrosion protection with PVC and flame-retardant resins. Electroless nickel for complex geometry with uniform coverage.
Cavity identification, date codes, recycling symbols, and customer part numbers engraved per specification. Interchangeable date insert systems available.
| Type | Lead Time | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Soft Tool | 2-3 weeks | 25 - 25,000 shots, prototypes, bridge production, market validation before steel investment |
| P20 Production Mold | 4-5 weeks | 50,000 - 500,000 shots, general consumer and industrial parts, cost-effective volume tooling |
| H13 / S136 Hardened Mold | 5-6 weeks | 500,000 - 1,000,000+ shots, abrasive/corrosive resins, optical surfaces, maximum tool life |
| Multi-Cavity / Hot Runner Mold | 5-6 weeks | High-volume programs, 2-16+ cavities, valve gate systems for cosmetic parts, lowest per-part cost |