Rapid Tooling Service from a Trusted China Manufacturer

Get a working injection mold in days, not months. As a China rapid tooling manufacturer and supplier, our factory cuts aluminum and steel molds in 5 to 15 days so you can test real parts, validate your design, and bridge to production. Upload your CAD file and get a factory-direct quote with free DFM feedback within 24 hours.

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ISO 9001 Certified Factory Mold in 5–15 Days NDA Protected Free DFM Feedback

The Problem We Solve

Why Slow Tooling Kills Good Products

These are the problems buyers tell us about every week. Here is how we take each one off your desk.

Tooling Takes Months

Long mold lead times push your launch back and let competitors get there first. Our rapid molds ship in 5 to 15 days.

Tooling Costs Too Much

You are not ready to spend $50,000 on a steel mold for a design that may change. Rapid tooling costs a fraction of that.

3D Prints Are Not Real Parts

Prints look right but do not test like molded plastic. Rapid tooling molds your real material, so your test results mean something.

Design Changes Are Expensive

With hard tooling, every change is costly. A rapid mold is easy to adjust, so you can iterate fast while the design is still moving.

Hidden Costs After Ordering

Cheap quotes often grow after you pay. Our quote is itemized and final, with no surprise charges for setup, tooling, or packing.

Worried About Your Design

Sending files to a new supplier feels risky. We sign an NDA before you share anything, and your design and mold stay yours.

Rapid Tooling at YiguProto China factory
Mold design, CNC and EDM cutting, and trial molding under one roof at our Dongguan, China factory

Our Solution

One China Manufacturer, One Accountable Partner

YiguProto is a rapid tooling company based in Dongguan, China. We own our tool shop, molding floor, and quality lab. That means no middleman, no markup, and no finger-pointing.

From your first CAD file to the last shipped carton, one team handles DFM review, mold design, CNC and EDM cutting, trial molding, inspection, and delivery. You always know who to call.

  • Free DFM review on every quote
  • Mold in 5 to 15 days, with T1 samples right after
  • ISO 9001:2015 certified factory
  • Aluminum, P20, and H13 steel molds in-house
  • You own the mold, with free storage and maintenance
  • English-speaking engineers, replies within hours
Upload Your File & Get a Quote Ask an Engineer

Overview

What Is Rapid Tooling?

In plain words: rapid tooling is a fast way to build an injection mold. It is also called prototype tooling, bridge tooling, or soft tooling. We cut the mold cavity from aluminum or soft steel, use a stock mold base, and deliver a working mold in days instead of weeks.

Once the mold is ready, we run it on a normal injection molding machine. You get real parts in your real material, so your testing is accurate and your market feedback is useful.

Rapid tooling costs a fraction of a production mold, so you can validate the design without a big upfront spend. When the design is frozen, we build a hardened steel mold for mass production. Many customers start with rapid tooling and switch later.

What rapid tooling gives you:

  • Real molded parts in your final material
  • Mold ready in 5 to 15 days
  • Much lower cost than production tooling
  • Easy design changes between runs
  • A clear bridge to high-volume production

When to Choose Rapid Tooling

Good fit if you need:

  • ✓ 100 to 10,000 molded parts
  • ✓ Real material for testing and market trials
  • ✓ A design that may still change
  • ✓ Parts before your production mold is ready

Consider production tooling if:

  • ✗ You need 100,000+ parts per year
  • ✗ The design is frozen and long-term
  • ✗ You need the lowest cost per part

Capabilities

Rapid Tooling Capabilities at a Glance

Real numbers, so you can plan your project with confidence.

5-15d

Mold Lead Time

Mold cut and assembled in 5 to 15 business days, depending on size and complexity.

3

Mold Materials

Aluminum (6061 / 7075), P20 soft steel, and H13 hardened steel.

1-8

Cavities

Single-cavity, multi-cavity (up to 8), and family molds.

100+

Volume

From about 100 parts up to 10,000+ per mold. No large MOQ.

.02

Tolerance

±0.02 mm typical on molded parts. Mold cavity cut to ±0.01 mm.

350T

Press Tonnage

50T to 350T molding machines with closed-loop process control.

600

Part Size

Parts up to about 600 × 400 mm, from 0.5 g to 2,000 g.

10k

Mold Life

Aluminum: 1,000 to 5,000 shots. P20: about 10,000. H13: 100,000+.

Compare Your Options

Rapid Tooling vs Production Tooling

Both have a place. The right choice depends on your stage, your volume, and your budget.

Rapid Tooling

Best for prototyping, market tests, and bridge runs

  • Best stage — prototype, low volume, market testing
  • Typical volume — 100 to 10,000 parts
  • Mold cost — low, a fraction of production tooling
  • Lead time — 5 to 15 days
  • Mold life — 1,000 to 10,000 shots
  • Design changes — easy and fast

Production Tooling

Best for mass production and long-term demand

  • Best stage — mass production, stable orders
  • Typical volume — 100,000+ parts
  • Mold cost — high upfront, low cost per part
  • Lead time — 4 to 8 weeks
  • Mold life — 100,000 to 1,000,000+ shots
  • Design changes — costly and slow

Not sure which fits? Tell us your volume and timeline and we will recommend the right mold.

Tooling Options

Pick the Right Mold for Your Volume

We build every mold in-house and match the material to your part count and part design.

Aluminum Molds

6061 / 7075  |  100 to 5,000 parts

Cut fast and cost less than steel. Aluminum cools quickly, so cycle times drop and parts come out stable.

P20 Soft Steel Molds

About 10,000 shots  |  5,000 to 10,000 parts

Stronger than aluminum at a similar price. A great all-round bridge mold when you need more life.

H13 Hardened Steel Molds

100,000+ shots  |  High volume

Heat-treated for long life and high pressure. The right choice for engineering plastics and production runs.

3D-Printed Inserts

Conformal cooling  |  Complex shapes

Additive inserts follow the part shape for even cooling. This cuts cycle time and reduces warping and sink marks.

Materials

Mold Almost Any Plastic You Use in Production

If it can be molded in production, it can be molded with rapid tooling. Need a special grade? Just ask.

Commodity Plastics

  • ABS — tough and low cost
  • PP — flexible, chemical resistant
  • PE (HDPE / LDPE) — impact resistant
  • PS / HIPS — rigid, low cost

Engineering Plastics

  • PC — clear, impact resistant
  • PA (Nylon) — strong, wear resistant
  • POM (Delrin) — low friction, rigid
  • PMMA / PBT — clear or electrical parts

High-Performance Plastics

  • PEEK — heat and chemical resistant
  • PPS — high heat, chemical resistant
  • PEI (ULTEM) — flame retardant, strong
  • PSU / PPSU — steam sterilizable

Elastomers & Silicone

  • TPE — soft touch, Shore 20A to 95A
  • TPU — abrasion resistant, flexible
  • LSR (silicone) — medical and food grade
  • Fluorosilicone — fuel and oil resistant

Glass-filled, UV-stabilized, flame-retardant (UL94 V-0), and food-grade grades available. Custom Pantone / RAL color matching on production orders.

Surface Finishes

Finish Your Molded Parts to Match the Final Look

We polish the mold and finish the parts, so your samples look like the production version.

SPI-A (Glossy)

Diamond-buffed, mirror-like surface (A1 to A3). For lenses and cosmetic parts.

SPI-B (Semi-Gloss)

Fine sanded surface (B1 to B3). Smooth with low shine. Common on industrial parts.

SPI-C (Matte)

Stone-ground matte finish (C1 to C3). Hides tool marks and small defects.

SPI-D (Textured)

Dry-blast texture (D1 to D3). Good for grips and hiding ejector marks.

MoldTech / VDI Texture

Etched leather grain and geometric patterns, from fine to coarse.

Painting & Printing

Spray painting, pad printing, silk screening, laser engraving, and UV coating.

Quality Control

How We Keep Every Mold and Part in Spec

Precision is a process, not a promise. Here is how we control it at every step.

DFM Before Cutting

Our engineers review your part and the mold layout before any steel is cut, so problems are caught early.

Mold Steel Verification

We check steel grade and hardness before machining. A weak mold cannot hold tolerance for long.

T1 Sample Approval

We run first trial (T1) shots, send photos and parts, and wait for your approval before production.

CMM Measurement

Critical dimensions are measured on a CMM with recorded data, not guesses.

In-Process Monitoring

Press parameters are monitored every cycle. Closed-loop control keeps parts stable run after run.

Inspection Report

First article inspection and a full dimension report ship with your order on request.

Industries

Where Rapid Tooling Saves the Most Time

Our rapid molds help teams test and launch products across many industries.

Consumer Electronics

Housings, bezels, and buttons for fast design cycles and frequent updates.

Automotive

Trim, clips, and interior parts for fit checks and pre-production builds.

Medical & Healthcare

Device housings and trays in medical-grade PC, PEI, and silicone.

Robotics & Automation

Covers, brackets, and gripper parts for fast build and test cycles.

Industrial

Gears, housings, and fixtures in POM, PA, and PPS for pilot runs.

New Energy

Battery and charging parts in flame-retardant and UV-stable materials.

How It Works

From CAD File to Molded Parts in 6 Steps

A clear, proven process with no surprises. You always know where your project stands.

1

Upload & Free DFM

Send your 3D CAD file with material, quantity, and finish needs. Get an itemized quote and DFM report within 24 hours.

2

Mold Design

We plan the parting line, gates, cooling, and ejector layout, then confirm the design with you.

3

CNC & EDM Cutting

We machine the cavity and core in-house, then check critical dimensions before assembly.

4

Polish & Assemble

The mold is polished to your finish, deburred, and assembled with the mold base.

5

T1 Trial & Approval

We run T1 shots, inspect them, and send photos and parts. You approve before we run production.

6

Produce & Ship

We run your parts, inspect each batch, pack them safely, and ship with tracking to your door.

Start Your Project Today

Design Tips

Simple Design Rules for a Fast, Clean Mold

Good design for manufacturing (DFM) lowers cost, reduces defects, and speeds up delivery. Here are the basics.

Keep Walls Even

Aim for 1.5 to 3.0 mm and keep thickness uniform. Uneven walls cause sink marks and warpage.

Add Draft Angles

Use 1° to 2° on vertical walls and 3° to 5° on textured surfaces, so parts eject cleanly.

Choose the Gate Location

Place gates on non-cosmetic surfaces. Good gate location avoids weld lines and flow marks.

Avoid Undercuts

Undercuts need side actions and add cost. Redesign them out when you can, especially on a rapid mold.

Plan Texture Early

Textured surfaces need more draft. Tell us the finish at quote time so the mold is cut right the first time.

Freeze the Design

Lock key features before the mold is cut. Fewer changes mean a faster, cheaper path to production.

Not sure your design is ready? Send it to our engineers for a free review.

Why YiguProto

Six Reasons Buyers Choose Our China Rapid Tooling Factory

We are not a trading company. We are the manufacturer. Here is what that means for you.

Molds in Days, Not Months

Most rapid molds are ready in 5 to 15 days, with T1 samples right after. Your launch stays on schedule.

Factory-Direct Pricing

No trading company and no hidden markup. You work directly with the supplier that owns the tool shop and the presses.

Quality You Can Measure

ISO 9001:2015 certified. Every batch is inspected, and FAI and CMM reports are available on request.

Engineering Support in English

Every project gets one dedicated engineer who reviews your design and replies within hours.

You Own the Mold

Your mold is 100 percent yours. We store and maintain it free while you run production with us.

Your IP Is Protected

We sign an NDA before you share files. Your design stays private, and we never show customer parts without permission.

See for Yourself — Get a Quote

Trusted Worldwide

Companies Around the World Rely on Our Rapid Tooling Service

"We needed real molded samples in three weeks for a trade show. YiguProto had the mold done in ten days and the parts looked like production. That saved our launch."

— Product Manager, U.S. consumer electronics brand

"As a startup we could not afford a production mold. The rapid mold let us test in real material, fix the design, and only then commit to tooling. Exactly what we needed."

— Founder, European hardware startup

"Their T1 report was clear and honest, and the changes we asked for were done fast. We have used them for several bridge runs and the quality is consistent."

— Engineering Lead, Australian industrial equipment maker

12+
Years in Manufacturing
3,000+
Molds Built
50+
Countries Served
ISO 9001
Certified Factory

FAQ

Rapid Tooling — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions buyers ask us most often.

Rapid tooling is a fast way to build an injection mold for prototyping, testing, and low-volume production. It is also called prototype tooling, bridge tooling, or soft tooling. We cut aluminum or soft steel cavities with CNC and EDM, use stock mold bases, and deliver a working mold in days instead of weeks.
Rapid tooling costs less and ships faster, but the mold has a shorter life (about 1,000 to 10,000 shots). Production tooling costs more and takes longer, but it lasts 100,000 to 1,000,000 or more shots. Many customers use rapid tooling to validate a design, then switch to production tooling for mass production.
Most rapid molds are ready in 5 to 15 business days, depending on size, number of cavities, and complexity. After the mold is cut, T1 samples are usually ready in 1 to 3 days, and production parts follow within 5 to 10 business days after you approve T1.
Aluminum molds typically last 1,000 to 5,000 shots. P20 soft steel molds run about 10,000 shots. Hardened H13 steel molds last 100,000 to 500,000 or more shots. Tell us your target volume and we will recommend the right mold material.
Almost any material used in production molding can be molded with rapid tooling. This includes ABS, PP, PE, PC, PA (nylon), POM (Delrin), PMMA, PBT, PEEK, PPS, and soft materials such as TPE, TPU, and silicone.
Upload your 3D CAD files and tell us your material, quantity, and finish needs. Most quotes come back within a few hours on business days, and never more than 24 hours. Every quote includes free DFM feedback.
We prefer STEP (.stp, .step) or IGES (.igs, .iges) files for clean geometry. We also accept SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo/ProE, Parasolid (.x_t), and STL files. 2D PDF drawings are welcome for tolerances and notes.
Molding starts from about 100 pieces, so there is no large MOQ. We support small prototype runs, bridge production, and full production volumes from the same process.
Cost depends on part size, complexity, number of cavities, and mold material. Simple aluminum molds for small parts often start around $1,000 to $3,000. Larger or multi-cavity molds cost more. Send your CAD file for an accurate, itemized quote.
You own the mold 100%. The tooling price covers the full cost of building it. We store and maintain it free at our factory while you run production with us, and we ship it to you if you ever move production.
Yes. All customer files, designs, and project details are kept strictly confidential. We are happy to sign your NDA before you share sensitive information, and we never share or display customer parts without permission.
Yes. Every quote includes a free DFM review. Our engineers check wall thickness, draft angles, undercuts, gate location, sink marks, weld lines, and ejector placement, then suggest changes that cut cost or reduce defects before the mold is cut.

Ready to Get Your Rapid Mold Made?

Upload your CAD file today and get a factory-direct quote with free DFM feedback within 24 hours. No obligation. No middleman. Just fast molds and real parts from a China manufacturer you can trust.

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