For custom-designed silicone products, tooling is a necessity. This is because custom products are made to specific specifications and designs that can not be possible to produce using standard tools and machinery. Custom tools and machinery are typically designed and created specifically for the production of a particular product and are often unique to that product. The process of creating custom tools and machinery for a custom product is known as custom tooling, and it is an important step in the production of many custom products. Tooling represents a substantial investment in the total cost of developing a custom silicone product.

Tooling cost is important for several reasons.

Finally, tooling cost is also important because it can affect the speed and efficiency of the manufacturing process. High-quality tools and machinery can help to increase production speed and reduce downtime, which can help to improve overall productivity.

The cost of tooling will change from project to project because it depends on so many variables. As a result, it should be assigned directly to the given product. How much you will pay for new tooling depends largely on the project, but manufacturing overseas will significantly lower your tooling costs when compared to domestic manufacturing.

There are 7 factors that can drive up the cost of tooling, including the complexity and quantity of the tools and machinery required, the materials used, and the level of precision and accuracy needed.

1. The complexity and precision of the tools and machinery required: More complex and specialized tools and machinery typically require more time, skill, and resources to produce, which can increase the cost.
2. The materials used: The cost of tooling can also be influenced by the materials used to make the tools and machinery. For example, using high-quality materials such as carbon steel or tungsten carbide can increase the cost, but may also improve the durability and performance of the tools.
3. The processing time of tools and machinery needed: The cost of tooling can also be influenced by the processing time for CNC machining required. In general, the longer time needed for CNC machining, the higher the tooling/mold cost.
4. The level of precision and accuracy needed: The level of precision and accuracy required for the tools and machinery can also affect the cost. For example, tools and machinery that need to be highly precise and accurate, such as those used in the aerospace or medical industries, may require more complex and specialized manufacturing processes, which can increase the cost.
5. The type of manufacturing process used: The cost of tooling can also be influenced by the manufacturing process used to produce the tools and machinery. For example, a mold need EDM process will cost higher. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a manufacturing process that uses electrical discharges to remove material from a workpiece. This process can be used to produce very precise and complex shapes and is often used for hard or difficult-to-machine materials such as tungsten carbide, tool steel, and other high-strength alloys. EDM is generally considered to be more expensive than CNC machining, which uses cutting tools to remove material from a workpiece. CNC machining is a more common and versatile manufacturing process and is typically less expensive than EDM.
6. The tool/mold size also affects the cost: the mold with more cavities will be bigger, which requires more mold material and longer machining time, thus the cost will increase.
7. Surface treatment, such as plating or coating, can affect the cost of tooling.For example, if the tools and machinery used in the manufacturing process require a specific type of coating or plating, this can increase the cost of the tooling.

Our in-house tooling shop is equipped with 2 sets of 850 CNC and 2 milling machines. The in-house tooling shop gives us greater control and flexibility over the production of tools and machinery. Allow for faster turnaround times and lower costs. Normally compression mold tooling cost range from US$800~4000 per set. Tooling lead time is around 8~15 days.

Our professional engineering team will undertake a thorough, engineering-oriented analysis of your product – digging into the details to suggest design changes to ensure an enhanced part design, optimized molding process, and superior quality parts. We then give a quote on tooling cost and unit price.

Sometimes the tooling cost may out of the customer’s budget due to certain features and combinations of features which result in more complex molds, hence higher tooling costs. We will give certain suggestions for simplifying the design of the product without sacrificing the performance needed. When the design and cost are approved by customers, our engineer will start mold design. The next step is CNC tooling and prototyping.

Tooling cost is important because it is a significant part of the overall cost of manufacturing a product. The tools and machinery used in the manufacturing process play a crucial role in determining the efficiency, quality, and cost of production. As such, the cost of producing these tools and machinery must be carefully considered in order to ensure that the manufacturing process is as cost-effective as possible. To submit your CAD for tooling cost review, Contact us here!