One mold, lifetime production
How a single steel tool carries a program from first parts through repeat orders.
See how one mold runs for the life of the partInjection Molding Tooling
Injection Molding Tooling: One Hardened Steel Tool
The tool fixes cycle time, part cosmetics and achievable tolerance for the life of the part. NetProto builds one hardened steel mold and runs production from it, instead of a staged path through throwaway tools.
Injection Molding Tooling
One hardened steel tool, built once
Tooling is the decision that fixes cycle time, cosmetics and achievable tolerance for the life of your part.
NetProto builds a single hardened steel injection mold. There is no tooling ladder to climb and no throwaway tool to pay for first.
The tool is completed in 10 business days on qualified programs, and typical output is 100,000+ parts from that same tool.
You own the tool once the tooling charge is paid, and can request it at any time.
Where to go next
Tooling topics
Short answers here, with the full detail on each page.
Injection molding service
Quoting, DFM review and production for molded parts.
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When related parts belong in one mold, and when separate tools are better.
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Controls for programs where every reorder has to match.
Review high volume injection moldingExport molds
Take delivery of the tool itself rather than molded parts.
Learn about exporting your moldMaterials
Resin choice drives shrink and cycle behavior, but not the tooling product.
Browse injection molding materialsTooling decision
One steel tool, or a tooling ladder
Most quoting platforms sell tooling in stages. Each stage is a separate purchase and a separate qualification cycle.
One hardened steel tool
- The tool is completed in 10 business days on qualified programs.
- Typical output is 100,000+ parts from the same tool.
- One qualification cycle, then repeat orders run on the tool you already own.
- The same tool keeps running for reorders without the tooling charge being billed again.
- No minimum order quantity, so low first orders do not force a different tool.
A staged tooling path
- Aluminum tooling wears faster than hardened steel and caps how long a program can run.
- Prototype tooling is discarded rather than carried forward into production.
- Bridge tooling adds a middle purchase instead of a direct path to production.
- Soft tooling means qualifying a part twice rather than once.
- Hardened steel often costs less than US-made aluminum tooling over the life of a program.
Tooling questions buyers ask
Common questions
Do you offer prototype tooling, soft tooling, or bridge tooling rather than steel?
No. A hardened steel tool reaches first parts fast enough that a throwaway tool adds cost and a second qualification cycle rather than saving time.
Why steel rather than aluminum tooling?
Steel holds cosmetics and tolerance over a far longer run, and it does not cap program life the way a softer tool does.
Who owns the mold?
You do. Once the tooling charge is paid the tool belongs to you, and you can request it at any time.
How long does tooling take?
The tool is completed in 10 business days on qualified programs, depending on part size and complexity.
How many parts will the mold produce?
Typical output is 100,000+ parts. Actual life depends on the resin, the part and the program.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No. There is no minimum order quantity, so a small first order does not change the tooling approach.
What steel do you use?
Hardened steel, selected for the part and the expected run. We review the selection with you during DFM rather than publishing a fixed grade.
What does lifetime support cover?
As long as you keep ordering, the same tool keeps running and the tooling charge is not billed again. Maintenance, storage and design changes are quoted separately.
Ready to quote
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