How are the tools priced?

1. The cost of the plastic parts will be affected by the investment / marketing concept. The more one invests in tooling, the lower the piece part cost.

2. A single cavity mold is less expensive than a two-cavity mold but the productivity of two cavities will double up.

3. The cost of a family mold of four different parts as a set is less expensive than four molds in a single cavity, but the unit price will be affected by the scrap rate during production. The family mold must have the same material and color in one shot of plastic parts. If one part is running short for the set, then the other three parts are "tossed". The unit costs take into account the sorting of the different parts in one shot. All of this is considered when determining the number of cavities.

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What type of steel should be used in the mold?

The quality of steel is one of the most important factors when building a mold. Harder steels have longer tooling life. As with all benefits, one must consider the cost, as harder steels are more expensive. The degree in hardness of steel is defined as HB or HRC. The pre-hardened steel ranges from 170HB to 370HB or 20HRC to 38HRC. Besides the hardness degree, the most common terms used in the industry is AISI (international standard) P20, 420, and H13 for the insert of Cores and Cavities.

P20 - Season Components typically uses GS 638, GS 318 and ASSAB 618 steel. On occasion we use ASSAB718 if requested by the customer. This steel has more reliability and cost double the normal price. The steel hardness in P20 is approximately 28 - 32 HRC.

420 - This steel has finer molecules, anti-corrosion stainless steel and can be heat-treated from 30 HRC to 50 HRC for an additional cost. This is normally used for clear Lens and Season Components uses ASSAB S136.

H-13 - This is also heat-treated steel and the one Season Components uses is ASSAB 8407. It will be hardened to 48 - 52 HRC.

Mold Base and Components - We use standard mold base made from Carbon Steels if not specified by the drawing. Carbon steel standard is JIS S50C or AISI 1050, hardened to 200 HB. We use DME or equivalent standards for components unless otherwise specified.

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How many cavities should be quoted per mold?

The tooling quotation should include the number of cavities you are requesting in order to accurately compare the tooling quotes. Obviously, it is not "fair" to compare a two-cavity quote against a one-cavity quote. If you are unsure as to the number of cavities, Season Components will help you in this decision based on your annual quantities and size of parts.

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What kind of runner system do you require?

There is sub gate, side gate, direct gate, three plates, and hot runner gates. The decision on selecting gating could affect the product appearance, productivity and cost. If you have no instruction on this issue, Season Components usually makes suggestion during quotation. For hot runner system, we use DME or Incoe heating elements unless specified.

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What kind of plastic will be molded?

The shrinkage of the material will impact the tooling design. Also, the effect of the material's acidity to the mold is considered. The material and color must be specified.

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What is Mold Design Drawings?

When designing the mold, a detailed part drawing is required. Season Components will provide the mold drawings to the customers for approval within 5 working days (except on complex parts) after receipt of the order. This mold drawing is supplied complementary to all Season customers for engineering and documentary records. The test shot date is committed on the quotation and is based on the approval date of the mold drawing. Season Components ISO registration has a policy regarding customer approval of mold drawings to avoid any misunderstanding.

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What does Test Shots mean?

Season will provide ten shots of samples in generic material without color at no charge. We need a quick reply from the customer for conditional approval and /or changes before final test shot. The delay in the response will delay the mold schedule. It is a common practice to polish, texture or fine-tune the mold for a final test shot in about one or two weeks after received the comments from customer on the first test shot sample.

Special material or color - On occasion the customer may require a special rare material or rare color. In these instances the customer should supply the material to Season Components before the test shot date and it will quote based on this exception. Most colors and material are available in China, but there is always the rare exception.

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What kind of finishing is used on the product surface?

The external part of plastic products usually requires surface polishing or texturing. We provide texture samples similar to Mold-Tech textures for your selection. Level of polish finish to SPI standard must be specified. Mirror or optical finish is the most expensive as it is time consuming to produce. We need your finishing specification when completing our quotation.

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What do I need for a quotation?

Detail part drawings in electronic data is preferred. Otherwise, blue prints are required. Samples are helpful but not necessary as measurements and other information to complete the quote is derived from the drawings. Detailed information includes; material of the mold and the plastic parts, number of cavities or volume per production, surface finishing and specification of the molding machine.

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How do I keep informed on tooling progress?

Season Components provides a bi-weekly Tooling Progress Reports with digital pictures for timing checks. While it is not necessary, you are welcomed to communicate by email or telephone with our tooling engineers. You are also invited to visit our tool shop and participate in our test shot runs.

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What are Season's Tooling payment terms?

Tooling payment terms are 40% deposit with the purchase order, 30% on the first test shot sample submission, and the balance of 30% is paid upon approval of final sample.

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