Lock Down Your Specs First

A supplier can only quote what you define. Send a 3D file in STEP format, plus a 2D drawing that calls out tolerances, threads, and surface finish. Name the exact resin grade, not just ABS or PC. State annual volume and the mold life you expect.

Without these items, every quote you receive is a guess. Guesses get revised upward later, usually right when you can least afford it.

• 3D model in STEP plus a 2D drawing with critical tolerances marked
• Resin grade, color, and flame rating where it applies
• SPI finish callouts for each cosmetic surface
• Annual volume and typical order batch size
• Expected mold life, in shots

Add your acceptance criteria as well. Define what a good T1 sample looks like before anyone cuts steel.

Screen the Supplier, Not the Website

Websites are cheap to build. Ask who actually cuts the steel. A genuine mold maker runs CNC, EDM, and grinding in-house. Ask which mold steels they stock and what they use for first-article inspection.

Then ask for DFM feedback on your part. A supplier who returns thoughtful comments within a few days understands molding. One who replies with only a price does not.

Watch for quotes that arrive in hours with zero questions. Nobody prices a mold correctly without studying the geometry. Vague answers about where the tooling work happens are another warning sign. Shop profiles published by MoldMaking Technology show the equipment list a real mold builder carries.

Compare Quotes on Identical Terms

Never line up two mold prices until you confirm both describe the same tool. Check the steel grade, cavity count, and whether a hot runner is included. Ask what the price covers: T1 samples, texture work, and sample freight.

A cheap mold with expensive parts usually costs more over the production run. Add mold cost to part price times volume before you decide. Independent cost data published by Plastics Technology gives you a second reference when a quote looks too good to be true. Our breakdown of mold costs from China shows which line items move the total most.

Protect Your IP Before Sharing Files

Sign an NDA before sending anything beyond a general description. It should cover drawings, 3D data, and the mere fact that you are sourcing the project. Keep your own register of what you sent, to whom, and when.

If a supplier will not sign, move on. Plenty of serious shops will.

Settle Mold Ownership and Payment in Writing

This is the clause buyers forget and later regret. State who owns the mold after final payment, where it is stored, and what happens if you move production elsewhere. Put it in the purchase order.

On payment, a common structure ties tooling payments to milestones. Pay a deposit to start cutting steel, with the balance due on sample approval. Production orders often run on a deposit with the balance before shipment. Whatever you agree, keep it in the PO. Chat messages are not terms.

Audit the Factory, Even Over Video

You do not need to fly to China for a first order. You do need to see the floor. Ask for a live video walkthrough: presses running, the mold shop, and the QC room with its measuring equipment.

Match what you see against the supplier’s claims. A shop that hesitates to show its floor is telling you something. Ask whether the shop holds ISO 9001 certification and when it was last audited. And ask how they handle mold design tweaks after T1 samples.

Plan Shipping and Landed Cost Early

Parts usually travel by sea for volume and by air when you are in a hurry. Confirm the trade term in the quote. FOB, CIF, and DDP put very different costs and responsibilities on you.

Ask who clears customs at your end. Then add freight, duties, and insurance to the part price before comparing with a local supplier. The headline part price is never the full story. A landed cost comparison keeps the math honest.