How To Brief A Chinese Mould Maker And Get A Real Quotation
What to send, what to ask for, and which missing piece of information causes most of the surprises later.
What to send
A 3D model in a neutral format such as STEP or IGES. A 2D drawing marking which dimensions actually matter, because a model alone means the mould maker has to guess. The exact moulding grade including any filler or flame retardant package, not just the polymer family. The colour and whether the part is plated or painted afterwards. And the annual volume, which is what decides impression count.
The missing piece that causes most trouble
Annual volume. A quotation built on the assumption of a single impression is not comparable to one built for two, and a supplier who is not told the volume will quote whatever makes the number look best. Give the volume and the cycle assumption up front, and the quotations you get back become comparable with each other.
How impression count is decided
What to ask for in return
Cavity steel named, not described as high quality mould steel. Impression count and slide count stated. Gate type stated with a reason. A cycle time with a note on whether it was measured or estimated. A shot life figure. The trade term, FOB or CIF, on the offer itself. And a lead time that includes the first trial rather than ending at shipment.
Signs a quotation has been thought about
It comes back with questions, or with marked up changes to the part. A supplier who returns a price within an hour and no comments has not looked at the model. The most useful thing a mould maker sends before an order is a list of things wrong with your part, which is what the design review stage in this plant exists to produce.
In This Guide
Products Referenced In This Guide
Moulds For Other Product Series
Custom Plastic Injection Moulds
Three archived records that carry a name and nothing else
Moulds For Sanitary Ware Parts
ABS Sanitary Part Mould With S136 Cavity Steel
Stainless quenched cavity for a plated bathroom part
Product materials ABSMould material S136 quenching
Mould Components And Inserts
Mould Inserts And Core Pins
Replace the feature that wore out, not the whole cavity
Related Reading
Buying Guide
Single Cavity Multi Cavity Or Family Mould
Impression count is most of the tool price and most of the piece price. How to decide it before you ask for a quotation.
Material Guide
How To Choose Cavity Steel For An Injection Mould
S136, NAK80, S-Star, SKD61 and 718 all appear in this catalogue. What each one is actually for, and what it costs you to pick the wrong one.
Industry
IT And Communications
Enclosures, covers and moulded detail parts for IT and communications hardware
Industry
Medical Instrument
Instrument housings and moulded components for medical equipment makers
Questions On This Topic
Follow up questions this guide raises.
Should I send the part to several suppliers?
Yes, but send all of them the same information. Most quotation spreads turn out to be different assumptions about impression count and steel rather than different prices for the same tool.
What payment terms are normal for tooling?
Staged against order, trial approval and shipment. The archived catalogue here quotes T/T and L/C. Staging matters because it gives both sides something to hold until the trial parts are accepted.
Who owns the mould?
Put it in writing at order. Where the customer pays for the tool it is normal for the customer to own it, including the right to have it shipped out. That is far easier to agree before the tool exists.
Apply This To Your Own Part
General guidance only goes so far. Send the model and the moulding grade and we will tell you what it means for your tool.