Frequently Asked Questions
- Can one mold be used to make several different pieces?
We can, in most cases, put more than one part in a mold. We call such molds “family molds” and whether or not they are feasible depends on how similar the parts are in general size and material volume as well as available space on the mold. We can, is some cases, even make family molds to make parts in different quantities or materials by shutting off parts of the mold.
- How many parts can be made from aluminum tooling?
The number of parts we can make from a mold depends on its complexity. With complicated aluminum molds we generally get at least 20,000 shots before having issues, and we have made well over 100,000 parts from simple aluminum molds.
If you anticipate higher quantities we can certainly make you a steel mold.
- What are your size limitations?
Due to the highly custom nature of our work it is hard to put exact limitations of what we can do, but there are three main constraints we have to work within. Your basic size limitations are approximately 14” x 20”. There is also a material volume constraint of 10 oz of plastic. Finally a part cannot have a surface area of more than 120 square inches. If you are unsure of whether or not your part will fit in our constraints feel free to give us a call and we will let you know.
- Will you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, or do you have one for me to sign?
We will be happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, you can find our standard form here.
- Do you outsource to China or other foreign countries?
None of our work is ever outsourced to foreign countries. All of our work, from CAD design to tooling fabrication and part production, is done in our facility in Dallas, Texas.
- How will my parts be sent to me once my production run is complete?
There are several different shipping options, and which one you need will depend on your quantity and the size of your parts. Smaller production runs or smaller parts are usually sent simply via UPS or similar service. Larger production runs that can be put on a pallet are sent via freight.
- What if I only need a few prototype parts to check the form, fit, and function of my parts and do not want to incur the large up-front cost of a mold?
If you only need a few parts as prototypes Epsilon can send you a rapid prototype of your design. These prototypes are made without a mold using a process called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and are similar to injection molded parts. Please call or email for details about rapid prototypes.
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