Norck: Rapid Prototype Tooling for Fast Injection Molding Iteration

Norck delivers rapid prototype tooling solutions for injection molding, empowering businesses across diverse industries to validate designs, test functionality, and bridge to production with speed and cost-effectiveness.

Capabilities for Prototyping Success:

• Fast Tool Fabrication: Utilizing aluminum or rapid-tooling alloys for shorter lead times and reduced costs compared to production-grade steel molds.
• Scalable Production Volumes: Supporting low to mid-volume runs of prototype parts for design validation, testing, and market feedback.
• Production-Representative Materials: Molding with a wide range of engineering thermoplastics to accurately simulate the properties of your final production parts.
• Design Flexibility: Accommodating design changes and iterations quickly without the cost and time penalties associated with modifying hardened steel tools.
• Finishing & Assembly: Secondary operations and finishing services to deliver complete prototype components or assemblies.

Norck's Engineering Edge: It's About Accelerating Your Development

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Early collaboration to optimize your part design for both prototype and production-grade injection molding, ensuring a smooth transition.
• Material & Process Expertise: Guidance on selecting the right materials and molding parameters to achieve your desired functional, mechanical, and aesthetic prototype requirements.
• Simulation & Optimization: Utilizing mold filling simulation where applicable to predict potential issues and optimize prototype tool design.
• Bridge to Production: Seamlessly transition from prototype tooling to production-grade molds with minimal rework, saving time and resources.

Why Choose Norck for Prototype Tooling?

• Speed to Market: Get functional, injection-molded prototypes in your hands faster, enabling rapid design validation and iteration.
• Cost-Effective Validation: Test design functionality, material choice, and assembly processes before investing in expensive production tooling.
• Realistic Testing & Feedback: Prototype parts produced in production-intent materials offer more accurate performance and user feedback.
• Partner for Success: We collaborate with you through prototyping and into full production, ensuring smooth transitions and on-time product launch.

There are mainly three toolings used for injection molding projects: prototype, bridge, and production tooling.

Prototype molding is used for a low-volume injection molding process to validate a design in terms of functionality, appearance, and assembly.

Its mold is made from aluminum or mild-grade steel, so it is cost-effective compared to a production mold. But it might wear quickly due to the soft material.

Prototype molding offers many advantages:

• Cost effective: Cost is reduced due to the prototype mold material (Aluminum/mild steel)

• Accurate parts: Prototype molds are ideal for prototyping, better than 3D printing, as it produces accurate details with conforming dimensions to the CAD models.

• Design validation:
Can help designers and clients decide on the shape, materials, finishings, features, gaps, and textures of a part before launching the production tooling

But there are some disadvantages as well:

   - Low volume production: Only one cavity can be made for each mold
   - Wears quickly: <500 shots
   - Limited modifications: Can’t be welded (adding material)

Prototype injection molding is made through four steps:

1. Plastification: The plastic granules are transferred from the hopper to the mold using a rotating screw and molted using heaters.

2. Injection: The screw will advance to increase pressure in the injection chamber to inject the molted plastic into the mold. The two cavities are maintained close until the plastic solidifies.

3. Cooling: After injection, the molted plastic will be cooled down to become solid using a cooling circuit. The screw will hold its position to hold the pressure inside the mold.

4. Ejection: After the molted plastic solidifies using a cooling circuit, the Die is opened, and the part is ejected via ejector pins. The screws will retreat to prepare for the next injection.

Obtaining a fully functional part might require extra processing for features that can’t be made with the Prototype molding process, such as taping. The designed part should follow Prototype molding design guidelines.

Norck is a technology-powered manufacturing leader specializing in CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding. Our intelligent, data-driven approach ensures exceptional quality, optimized costs, and seamless supply chain management for companies worldwide.

Key Services:

• Precision CNC Machining: High-quality custom parts and components.
• Advanced 3D Printing: Rapid prototyping and complex production parts.
• Sheet Metal Fabrication: Custom fabrication solutions across materials.
• Injection Molding: Scalable production for plastic parts.

Why Choose Norck?

• AI-Powered Manufacturing: Data and AI optimize our processes for superior quality, minimized costs, and supply chain visibility
• Vast Production Capacity: Our extensive partner network in Europe and the US guarantees both low and high-volume production.
• End-to-End Expertise: Our team of engineers, data scientists, and product developers ensure design for manufacturability and unparalleled service
• Single-Source Solution: Norck streamlines your supply chain, reduces overhead, enhances purchasing power, and delivers just-in-time results.
• Online Prototype Molding  Services: Norck's online prototype molding services provide a fast, easy, and reliable way to bring your ideas to life with high quality, custom made parts.
• Prototype Molding Services Near You: Your search for prototype molding services ends here. Norck offers tailored engineering and manufacturing support that begin with your unique project needs. Whether you're a local business or searching online, our expert team delivers top-quality, customized prototype molding solutions to bring your designs to life.

Experience the Norck difference. Get a quote fast for your manufacturing needs today!