Injection molding tooling cost?

[par1]

How to reduce injection molding tooling cost? or how to negotiate the tooling cost with tool maker?

(Do you think if we do any kind of CAE or any other work related to injection molding tool will help us to reduce cost?)

 

[patprimmer]

Yes, if it is done right and it is a significant contribution.

Regards

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[Pud]

As Pat says, yes but........

If you design the tooling you should save around 10-15% of the tool cost (at least in the UK).

I am sure a toolmaker would love you to do this as it then absolves him of any responsibility as to it's function (i.e. does it actually work??) Remember the old adage: "Beware of drawings as not only do they contain drawing errors, they contain all your design errors too!!"

Tooling sourced from low cost economies (e.g. China) is also cheaper but also fraught with difficulties regarding project control and many other factors (although I have bought tools from China and they have been excellent quality)

Rgds

Harry

 

[par1]

I think near by 50 % would be machining (EDM/ECM) , 10-15 % design, 20-25 % steel & rest of other things.

Except to buy the tool from china/korea , how can we negotiate the tool price with toolmaker?

If CAE cost is so less than why some companies do Mold flow, shrinkage, warpage, cooling analysis inhoise instead of at tool maker?

 

[Pud]

Perhaps just because they can...

a) It justifies their job
b) They can make pretty diagrams of flow, warpage etc which probably are not too accurate anyway.

H

 

[Pud]

Forgot:

Tooling cost bears a direct relationship to part design too. Make the parts simple to make!!

 

[ehw]

Your question:
How to reduce injection molding tooling cost?
(Do you think if we do any kind of CAE or any other work related to injection molding tool will help us to reduce cost?)

If you like to use the toolmaker only as your workbench - May be
But !
"I am sure a toolmaker would love you to do this as it then absolves him of any responsibility as to it's function"

I have also some other recommendations (ATTENTION: POLEMIC !!!)
- make all moldflow and complete drawing of the mold / tool
- supply the steel to the toolmaker and care for the heat treatment
(if you by a lot of tools you can make an agreement with the steelmaker and get some extra bonus)
- supply all components to the toolmaker (limit switches, hydraulic cylinders, ejector pins, hot channel ...)
- make the sampling of the tool in your plant
- make the dimensional report in your plant
- make all final adjustments in your plant
- make all documentation (drawings, handbook) and spare parts by yourself
- take care about all accessories for handling
Please don't forgot: manage by yourself all changes from final customer

Your toolmaker "would love you" - he has to think only about machining and assembly

Sure, you don't have any problem to manage all this activities and you will get the tool in SHORTER times with BETTER quality and CHEAPER than from your toolmaker.


BUT SEROUSLY:
why everybody is asking for price reduction (at the end you get what you paid for) and
nobody is asking how to improve the mold.
A well done mold with good components from a good toolmaker will cost more, but this tool can make you save a lot of money during the lifetime of the tool (lower cycle time, less downtime for maintenance, less scrap - you will save a lot of money - but OK, it's very difficult to calculate and demonstrate this savings, it's easier to demonstrate the reduced tool price).

 

[deper]

EHW is definitely right. Just like a car, a house, a camera, etc..."You get what you pay for". Too many times projects are driven by the cost of the tool and then the molder ends up paying for it on every part. A well designed tool built by a quality shop won't be you cheapest mold, but it will pay for itself many times over in cycle time, mold repairs, and down time. Unfortunately, it is difficult to put numbers on what you haven't spent to convince your purchasing agent to spend a little more on tooling.

For example, we did a mold for a washing machine tub. We recommended better gating and a slight wall stock reduction which meant quicker cycle. The mold ran a 60 second cycle 24/7. The first year they saved over $1million in material alone! I just wonder if a bargain basement design firm or mold-maker would have offered the same recommendations?

 

[injectionmolder]

Keep in mind that your production volume will be a factor on how much you can save, if your production will be extremely high do not make any mistake in things such getting a hand load insert tool just to save without getting a core pull tool. You might end up paying for the core pull and more on the long run without ever having it.
As for your question
(Do you think if we do any kind of CAE or any other work related to injection molding tool will help us to reduce cost?)
That will also have to do with the size of your purchasing orders. The bigger the PO more motivation for them to give you a better price for the tooling project.

Regards