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Question by Josh W: Anyone know anything about Plastic Injection Molding?
I’ve been designing a little invention that I’m trying to get made and possibly mass produced, but I don’t know the first thing about how to do so. I’d like to get at least one made so I can tweak the design until I get it just right, but where do I start? Do I need to create a computer model in order to get a mold made? How large of an investment am I looking at? Any information would be appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by Gary H
For prototypes, you could go to a machine shop with a drawing and ask them to quote on machining it out of aluminum or brass. If you are planning on getting a patent or trademark on your invention, you should consult a patent attorney about how to protect your invention. Having an injection molding die built will be expensive (depending on the details of the design). There are a number of technologies around for rapid prototyping. This would be similar to the machine shop route but would give you an article in plastic (or epoxy or wax or ??? depending on the technology) and it should be cheaper. Either way, you will need drawings with enough detail for someone to make it. If it is not too complicated, you might be able to build a scale model (either larger or smaller) using materials from the hardware store or building supply (styrofoam insulation, PVC pipe, wood, or others).

Search on rapid prototyping and talk to some local machine shops. On the plus side, your local machine shops are probably anxious to get the work. You may be able to protect the invention by having three different machine shops each make a few different components if you do not give them the entire drawing. good luck

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