FAQs

How fast can MPM turn around a part and tooling quote?

A ballpark quote can be generated in as little as one day, but the general turnaround time for a firm part and tool quote is three to five days. You may request a quote online by contacting the Engineering Department.

Can MPM provide a prototype mold and prototype samples?

Yes, MPM can provide both, and in some instances, it is recommended to construct bridge tooling with one cavity ahead in a multi-cavity tool. This way, the dollars expensed in prototyping can be utilized towards the production mold.  In addition, one of the advantages of using the production tool for the early samples is that it truly represents how the tool will run in production, this isn't always possible in a prototype tool.

What information is on the quote sheet?

The quote is usually presented with part information such as, part weight, material type and material price. There will then be the piece part section which lists the pricing per part, with 4-5 quantity breaks in multiple cavity configurations, and a daily production rate. The mold quote section will contain the tooling cost lead time, and a detailed description of the mold construction.

Does MPM have Moldflow capabilities?

Yes, MPM utilizes a flow package that will detail multiple gate locations to identify potential molding defects such as burn areas, flow lines, and even fill.  This will help identify the appropriate measures that should be taken in the tool construction to eliminate the defects and properly construct tooling to hit the customer’s specifications.  MPM will utilize this technology during the quote stages of a project to properly quote the tool costs. 

How many tooling sources does MPM use?

Typically MPM will quote 3 to 6 sources, both domestic and overseas, depending on the type of tool being quoted. Some tool shops are better equipped than others at certain types of tool construction methods.

Does MPM handle existing takeover tooling?

Many companies do not like to deal with takeover tooling due to the many possible problems that can be encountered. MPM however, understands these issues and how to avoid them to make the transaction as seamless as possible. We have handled as many as 75 take over molds in one year.  Please contact the Engineering department for detailed procedures for a successful takeover program. 

Does MPM have internal tooling capabilities?

Yes, MPM utilizes both internal and external sources for tool repairs and maintenance.  We have toolrooms with the necessary equipment to complete most minor repairs at 2 of our facilities

What types of material does MPM process?

We process a wide variety of injection molding grade materials such as, nylons, acetals, ABS, PP, PE, PPO (Noryl/Xyron), polyesters/PBT, PVC, PC, acrylic. MPM also can process many specialty grades including PPA (Amodel), PPS (Ryton), LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) and long fiber materials with up to ½" long glass at up to 60% concentrations.  Contact the Engineering Department for additional materials not listed.

Will MPM help in selecting a grade of material to fit an application?

Yes, we would consult with various material representatives to determine what the best resin is for a particular application. Factors to be considered include, thermal requirements, mechanical properties, chemical resistance, UL rating, UV stability, cost, and availability.

Could we run different materials in the same mold?

Possibly, it would depend on the material shrinkage, for example, the shrinkage on a styrene material would be about .005" inch per inch and the shrinkage on an unfilled nylon would be about .025" inch per inch. In this case the parts would obviously be quite different in size, but if the materials had similar shrinkage rates, such as polycarbonate, ABS, or styrene, then they could be possibly interchanged if the customer would like to see how different materials would perform.

Does MPM process any clear materials?

Yes, we currently process clear grades of polycarbonate, pvc, styrene, acrylic, polyester and nylon.

Can MPM assist in making material recommendations?

We do help in selecting possible materials that would fit the application and have many industry resources to call on for their expertise.

What CAD format can MPM accept?

MPM uses Keycreator and Creo for in-house CAD systems. We would prefer that CAD data is sent in one of the following formats (in order of preference): .STP, Solidworks, .XT parasolid, .igs .dwg or .dxf (Autocad) or .stl. STL is required for the Moldflow software. If you have a question about another file type that would be acceptable, please contact our Engineering Department.