With only a quote for "a complete set of molds," it was impossible to know how to compare them.
I received an inquiry about a mold quote from someone considering commercializing their product.
I received a quote from one company, but I don't know what's included in the price.
The message is that it's difficult to determine whether something is expensive or cheap.
If the specifications change during the prototyping process,
I also heard concerns about the uncertainty surrounding how high the costs might become.
The scope of the estimate varied from company to company.
Technical issues are,
The issue was that the quotation did not clearly specify which parts and processes of the mold were included.
The phrase "complete set of molds" doesn't necessarily mean that design costs are included.
I don't know if the cost of test shots is charged separately or what the details are.
Even if you get quotes from multiple factories, if the scope of work is not consistent,
You cannot compare them simply by listing the amounts.
Even if a quote seems cheap, it might simply be missing some steps from the process.
A mold is made up of multiple parts and processes, including the core, cavity, and slide.
A mold is not a single block, but rather a cavity that creates the outer shape of the product,
Centered around the core that creates the inner shape,
A sliding mechanism for forming undercuts (shapes that cannot be removed directly in the direction the mold opens),
It is made up of nested parts that can be partially replaced.
The process is divided into design, parts processing, heat treatment, assembly, and test firing.
Each of these methods requires time and expense.
The criteria for what is included in an estimate vary from company to company.
Some companies charge separately for design fees, while others include trial runs in their price.
Even when using the same phrase "complete set of molds," the scope they refer to can differ.
This complexity of the configuration is the underlying reason.
We are checking whether the breakdown is written down by individual parts and processes.
When comparing quotes,
First, we check whether the breakdown is separated by component unit and process unit.
If design, processing, heat treatment, assembly, and test firing are listed as separate items,
This will give you a clear picture of where and how much money is being spent.
Another point to consider is,
The key is whether or not to identify in advance the parts of the prototype specifications that are most likely to change.
The movable parts and fitting parts (parts that fit together) are
Bugs that only become apparent after actually running the program are likely to occur.
This is an area that often requires modifications during the prototyping stage.
Knowing this point beforehand will help you
This makes it easier to anticipate, from the estimation stage, which parts' molds will need to be remade if modifications are necessary.
After defining the scope of the project, obtain quotes from multiple factories.
In this consultation, we obtained quotes from multiple factories.
We considered methods for comparison after standardizing the scope of the data.
By having the design fee, processing fee, heat treatment fee, and trial run fee listed under the same category,
This is the first time that comparing prices becomes meaningful.
Another thing we considered was to first identify the parts of the specifications that are most likely to change,
This approach involves agreeing on an estimated cost for any additional expenses that may arise if changes are made, before creating a prototype.
Regarding movable parts and fitting parts,
If you ask in advance about the estimated cost if revisions are necessary,
This makes it easier to estimate costs during the prototyping process.
The concept of aligning the scope of orders can also be applied to orders other than molds.
The idea of standardizing the scope of work when comparing quotes is not limited to molds.
Sheet metal processing, cutting, surface treatment, etc.
This concept applies to all orders that are completed through multiple processes.
Instead of judging whether it's high or low just by looking at the amount on the estimate,
First, check what range that amount covers.
Maintaining this order is the starting point for comparison.
We compare options across the entire range, from design to the selection of the manufacturing facility.
MACHICOCO is a company based in Higashi-Osaka.
We provide project management services to bring products to life in collaboration with engineers at local factories.
We don't own any large-scale facilities in-house; we handle everything from development and manufacturing to sales.
Regarding mold quotes,
We can start by standardizing the scope of the breakdown and then comparing multiple processing locations.
If specification changes are anticipated during the prototyping phase, identify in advance the areas where changes are likely to occur.
We will also consider how to proceed by agreeing on an estimated additional cost in advance.
From the stage of finalizing the design direction to selecting a processing partner for mass production,
We handle it according to the scope.
You can start a consultation even without drawings.
Having the following information will help the consultation proceed more quickly.
- Hand-drawn pictures and photographs
- Approximate dimensions
- Intended usage
- Desired quantity
- If you have any actual examples that could be used as reference, please include those as well.
Drawings are not required.
I tried creating CAD data using AI, but...
We also receive inquiries from people who are unsure whether the design can be used directly for mold design.
Even at the idea stage, we can work together to consider everything from design and prototyping to manufacturing methods.
You can consult with us even with handwritten drawings or photographs.
