MARCH 15, 2023
This is simply a list of questions that I pass on to clients for them to use when working with plastic injection molders. The list is not exhaustive, there are many other questions dependent on the type of part and product you are making. This list is mainly to start a conversion with the plastic injection molder, to build a rapport with them and hopefully get each of you on a level understanding of what to expect regarding the process and final product.
This list is mostly for the new entrepreneur but can be useful for others as a check list before writing that very big check. Plastic injection molders may want to use the list when working with new clients to help eliminate differences in understanding. Factors and details may be everyday knowledge for a molder but never heard of by the client. This gap in understanding can cause big relationship issues between the two. What the client does not know will come back and bite both parties.
If you need help designing a product, or a part, to be plastic injection molded, please contact us. We combine styling, functionality and efficient manufacturing characteristics into parts to help you improve the return on your plastic injection molded parts. We also develop parts for other plastic and metal manufacturing processes, just encase another process is better suited for a particular part or design.
General Questions
What makes a great molder/customer relationship?
What makes the process go smoothy? What are the “Top 5” things to always do?
What makes things go poorly? What are the “Top 5” things never to do?
Mold Questions
Who owns the mold?
Where is the mold being made? US/Overseas
Where will the mold be stored?
Will there be indication on the mold that it belongs to me, us, our company?
What charges are there for storing the mold?
Who maintains the mold?
What is regular maintenance?
What happens if a mold becomes damaged? Who pays?
What happens if a mold breaks?
What material is the mold made of?
What type of mold is it? MUD (Master Unit Die) or Custom
How many parts can this mold produce over a lifetime?
How many parts can be delivered per day/week?
What is the charge for a second mold? (Since the mold design is already done. Also, if you have to make more parts than the current mold can produce)
Can more cavities be added to the mold?
Part Questions
What is a normal lead time for ordering parts?
How long do I have to pick up the parts? What charges are there afterward?
What quantities are colored plastic materials ordered? (This may affect part price too if they only use a portion of a color.)
Is there a changeover charge for ordering different colored parts?
What texture will the part have?
What textures are possible? What does it cost to have the mold textured (to create textured parts)?
Where will the ejector pins be?
How much will they affect the part?
Where will the injection gate be?
How much of a nib will be left on the part when trimmed from the runner?
How accurate will the parts be?
What will be the inspection rate?
What sort of material/process/QC documentation will be provided with each run/order?
What happens if faulty parts are sent to me?
How do we decide how much “flash” is acceptable and where?
Will the parts be made only of virgin material? What is the max percentage of regrind that will be used in the parts?
How will parts be delivered? (You may want to indicate that colors need to be separated.)
What packing/assembly services do you offer?
Okay. That should get the conversion rolling. Hopefully more questions will come from these and assumptions from both parties will be expressed and modified as needed to each parties satisfaction.
