Mass Production
Mass production is a crucial aspect of product design, and selecting the most appropriate production method is essential for controlling costs and ensuring the required quantity is met. In this regard, it's important to understand the various production plans available. Here's a brief introduction to some of the commonly used production methods.
3D Printing
3D printing is the most convenient solution for producing models without the need for expensive molds or finding a factory.
Advantages:
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High-quality prints with complex shapes that cannot be produced with molds
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Flexibility to make changes and produce designs in various sizes and materials
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No need to create molds or invest in expensive machinery
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Suitable for low-volume production runs
Disadvantages:
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Surface defects or roughness may occur
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Material may not perform as well as molded products and can be more fragile
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May not be suitable for products that require high safety standards or are used as utensils
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Production time can be lengthy and not suitable for mass production
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Higher cost per item compared to molding methods.
Silicone Molding
Silicone molding is a popular method for prototyping and producing initial toys due to its low cost. Typically, each mold can be used for 10-20 times. This method involves pouring silicone into a polished and separated model, and after half a day to a day, a silicone mold is ready. The model can then be removed and filled with various materials such as PU resin and epoxy resin, which are vacuumed to remove bubbles. The molded product can then be removed after some time.
Advantages:
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Silicone molds are cheap and suitable for small-scale production
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Easy to polish and color
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Cheaper than 3D printing
Disadvantages:
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Limited mold life, suitable for small-scale production, i.e. 10-100
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The prototype needs to be separated into pieces to make the mold
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The quality of molding will be limited by the technology and experience.
Injection molding
Injection molding is a popular manufacturing method for producing model toys. By utilizing a large injection molding machine and a specifically designed mold, melted plastic is injected into the mold and then cooled to produce finished products quickly. Each item can be produced in as little as a few seconds to a minute.
The benefit of this production method is its low unit cost of production and high production capacity, making it ideal for large-scale manufacturing needs. However, the upfront cost is very high.
Advantages:
Low production cost per unit for toys Ability to use different materials such as ABS, POM High precision High production volume.
Disadvantages:
Custom molds can be very expensive. One toy may require several molds, each costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and production time is lengthy.
Our Solutions
We primarily rely on 3D printing as our production tool, allowing us to quickly create simple and small printed objects while also providing assistance with design and modification.
It's worth noting that the surface of 3D printing can be relatively rough. If a smooth surface is required, additional processes and costs are needed for polishing. Furthermore, 3D printing only offers single-color materials and solutions, but we can provide outsourcing services if coloring is required.
If you have any questions or would like to inquire about mass production using 3D printing or silicone molding, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
tel: 96494045