What is Injection Mold Tooling?
Quality injection mold tooling is the foundation of successful plastic injection molding production.
Injection mold tooling (also called injection molds or tools) is the heart of the plastic injection molding process. A mold is a precision-engineered assembly, typically made from hardened steel or aluminum, that contains one or more cavities in the exact shape of the desired plastic part.
Key components of an injection mold include:
- Cavity (A-side) – Forms the external/cosmetic surface of the part
- Core (B-side) – Forms the internal/non-cosmetic surface
- Runner System – Channels that deliver molten plastic to cavities
- Gates – Entry points where plastic enters the cavity
- Cooling Channels – Passages for coolant to control temperature
- Ejection System – Pins and mechanisms to push parts out
- Side Actions/Lifters – Mechanisms for undercuts and complex features
Types of injection mold tooling:
- Prototype Molds (Aluminum) – Low cost, fast build, 1,000-10,000 shot life
- Bridge Molds (P20 Steel) – Medium volume, 50,000-100,000 shots
- Production Molds (H13/S136 Hardened Steel) – High volume, 500,000-2,000,000+ shots
Proper mold design and construction are critical to achieving consistent part quality, minimizing cycle time, and maximizing tool life. Our in-house mold engineering team ensures every tool we build meets the highest standards.
Need to Know
Mold tooling is typically the largest upfront investment in an injection molding project, but a well-designed mold delivers excellent ROI over its production life.