Making the dies, moulds, jigs and fixtures that produce parts in volume.
When you need it
An injection mould for plastic parts
A stamping or progressive die
Jigs and fixtures for your line
Hard or fine parts cut by wire EDM
What to send the shop
Part drawings and 3D models
Material specifications
Production volumes
Your press or machine limits
Photos with a scale, if a tool exists
Typical lead time
Basic die plates: under 1 week at one Cambridge shop. Company plants may share orders.
Ask the shop
3 questions worth asking
Q1
How many cycles is the mould built for?
Q2
Can you make a prototype mould before the production tool?
Q3
Who owns the tool once it's paid for?
Questions
Tool and die FAQ
How long do die plates and sets take?
Anchor Danly lists basic die plates and sets at less than 1 week, and complex ones at 2 to 4 weeks. These are company timelines; orders may be routed between plants. Confirm where yours will be made.
Do those times cover a complete custom tool?
The posted times cover die plates and sets. Ask for a separate schedule for design, machining, trials and approval of your complete tool.
What should I send for a tooling quote?
Send part drawings, models, material specifications, production volumes and machine limits. For an existing tool, add photos with a scale.
Good to know
Give your yearly volume and ask who owns the tool once it is paid for.
No Cambridge shop we checked posts prices for this. Send a request to compare quotes.