Small Run Injection Molding?

[pinebox]

Anyone used any small injection molding services? Like ~1000 pieces? I could probably do a bit more quantity if necessary, since I'm sure some people would like to use some caps that are unique for their own projects. I would love to replace al the switch caps on an A Range I look after, but they have these triangular switch caps that are long out of production. I could 3D print a bunch, but it would be much nicer to have them molded and at the quantity I need it may be about the same price, but curious if anyone has a place they can point me to?

 

[a soBer Newt]

I have been curious about trying out PCBway's injection molding service. You may want to talk with Hollywood Plastics Engineering (818) 361-6040 620 Arroyo St San Fernando, CA 91340. I worked with them a bit when I was at AEA.

 

[ruffrecords]

Unless things have changed radically in the last 20 years, the tooling cost will mean you need to make at least 10,000 to be economic.

Cheers

Ian

 

[The Kid]

Nice bike! If ya feel like diy, years ago on here, became aware of this book, didn't get around to building it and now not sure about parts available in the book, used cartridge heaters. The difficult part is making the molds, and maybe materials for the knobs/caps. There's vids on net of people who've built it, too.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I tooled up an injection molded case for my drum tuner (20 years ago).

I had the tooling machined in China and it wasn't cheap.

[edit- "small run injection molded" is kind of an oxymoron. IM involves significant tooling cost to realize low cost parts. For small runs the modern technology to consider, IMO is 3D printing. /edit]

JR