New Tool Development
Controlled drawing and CAD, material, quantities, target service life and sample acceptance requirements.
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Tool design and production
Mold & Die Tooling Services
Design for manufacturability, mold and die manufacture, trials and maintenance planning based on the approved part definition.
Development & lifecycle review
What Does Your Tooling Project Need?
Select the project type and provide the available records. Existing tools, repairs and transfers require assessment before scope and feasibility are confirmed.
Existing Tool or Transfer Review
Tool identification, available drawings and records, condition, machine interfaces and the proposed transfer scope.
Review this project →Repair, Inserts or Engineering Change
Affected features, condition evidence, shot and repair history, proposed revision and required revalidation.
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One controlled sequence
From Requirements to Lifecycle Care
Agree the operations, records and approval responsibilities required for the project. Trial count and release timing depend on the results and acceptance scope.
- 01
Confirm requirements
Input: controlled part definition, material, quantities and acceptance targets.
Record the project scope, required information and open decisions.
- 02
Approve DFM & design
Review geometry, tool concept, cavities, inserts and process interfaces.
Approve required decisions and the drawing revision before manufacture.
- 03
Manufacture & fit
Work to the approved tool design and agreed material requirements.
Inspect and record the tool identification, revision and agreed manufacturing checks.
- 04
Trial & correct
Run the tool with the selected material, machine and trial conditions.
Record sample results, process observations, corrective actions and revalidation needs.
- 05
Approve samples
Review required inspection results and outstanding actions.
Document approval status and the agreed production-release decision.
- 06
Maintain & control changes
Track condition, maintenance, repairs, insert changes and revisions.
Agree repair scope, cost and renewed verification when requirements change.
Detailed engineering and workflow reference
Tooling requirements
Tooling design begins with the approved part drawing and CAD model, selected material and process, production quantities, target service life and sample acceptance requirements. These inputs define the mold or die concept and the work required before production release.
Design for manufacturability
The design for manufacturability (DFM) review addresses parting lines, draft, shrinkage allowances, wall and rib transitions, cores, slides, shutoffs, gates, runners, venting, cooling and ejection. Trimming, machining allowances, replaceable inserts, cosmetic surfaces and maintenance access are included where applicable to the selected process.
The review records recommended geometry changes, the proposed tool concept, unresolved risks, customer decisions and the drawing revision approved for manufacture. Filling or mold-flow analysis may support this work when its inputs and scope are agreed. Trials are still required to assess the tool with the selected material, machine and production conditions.
Tooling Workflow
- Confirm engineering files, material, production quantities, inspection requirements and the proposed manufacturing sequence.
- Complete DFM and resolve decisions required for tool design release.
- Define the tool layout, inserts, slides, cooling, ejection and process-specific feed and venting systems.
- Manufacture, fit and inspect the tool against the approved design.
- Run the initial trial, inspect samples and record process observations and corrective actions.
- Complete additional trials and sample approval as required before production release.
- Maintain records of preventive maintenance, repairs, insert changes and engineering revisions.
Trial records should identify the tool and part revisions, material, sample quantities, inspection results, outstanding actions and approval status. The project agreement defines the required records and responsibilities.
Trial evidence & release decisions
Define Trial and Approval Conditions
Design release
Drawing and tool revisions, resolved DFM decisions, approved concept and any outstanding items.
Initial trial
Material, machine and process conditions; sample quantities, dimensional results and process observations.
Correction & revalidation
Issue list, required changes, responsible parties, revised documents and agreed repeat checks.
Production release
Sample approval status, required inspection records, remaining actions and the agreed release authority.
Terms to agree for the project
Maintain the Tool and Define Responsibilities
Set the required records, ownership, care and change procedures in the project agreement. Confirm service-life targets and any warranty against the agreed operating and acceptance conditions.
- Identification & material records
- Tool ID, part and tool revisions, steel specification, requested material/heat-treatment records and replaceable insert identification.
- Ownership & storage
- Ownership, custody, storage conditions, access and responsibility for protection and records.
- Maintenance & repair
- Condition checks, shot history, preventive maintenance, failure assessment, repair authorization and verification.
- Spares & changes
- Required spare inserts, revision compatibility, change approval, pricing and updated sample acceptance.
- Transfer & recommissioning
- Available documentation, tool condition, machine interfaces, packing, transport and required trials at the receiving site.
- Continued use & replacement
- Dimensional and appearance acceptance, condition history, repair options and agreed replacement decisions.
Initial quotation
Define design, manufacture, trials, sample quantities and the records included in the quoted scope.
Changes & major repairs
Assess work, responsibility and validation; agree a separate scope or applicable contractual coverage before proceeding.
Transfer costs
Agree packing, transport, interface work, recommissioning and documentation responsibilities.
Cost and service-life reference
Part size, cavity count, side actions, deep or delicate features, tool material and heat treatment, cooling design, interchangeable inserts, trimming and validation affect tooling cost. Useful service life also depends on operating conditions, maintenance and the dimensional or appearance criteria for continued use.
Before order placement, agree the quotation scope, tool ownership, storage, maintenance responsibilities, spare inserts, approval of changes and the treatment of major repairs or replacement.
Before committing to tooling
Tooling Project Questions
What information is required to begin tooling design?
Provide the approved drawing and CAD revision, material and process, production quantities, critical features, cosmetic areas, secondary operations and sample acceptance requirements.
What should a tooling quotation include?
Define the design and manufacturing scope, trials, sample inspection, tool ownership, storage, maintenance responsibilities, spare inserts and approval process for changes.
How is a tool approved for production?
Approval is based on the agreed trial results, sample inspection, resolved corrective actions and required customer authorization. The tool and part revisions must be recorded.
Does an initial trial mean the tool is approved for production?
Initial trial results identify sample performance and outstanding actions. The project agreement defines corrective work, further trials, sample approval and production-release responsibilities.
Can an existing tool be transferred without changes?
Review the tool condition, documentation, machine interfaces and required acceptance criteria first. Agree any interface changes, repairs and recommissioning before confirming the transfer scope.
How are major repairs and engineering changes handled?
Assess the cause and affected features, then agree the work, responsibility, cost and verification requirements before proceeding. Record tool and part revisions and update the applicable approvals.
Engineering resources
Plan Tooling, DFM and Cost
From DFM to T1: A Practical Die Casting Tooling Workflow
A practical view of tooling development from requirement review and mold concept through steel release, T1 sampling, correction, approval, and maintenance planning.
Read engineering guide →Die Casting DFM Checklist Before Tooling Release
A drawing-based checklist for closing geometry, tooling, machining, finishing, inspection, and approval questions before die manufacture begins.
Read engineering guide →What Drives Die Casting Cost? A Total-Cost Review
A practical guide to tooling, material, geometry, process, machining, finishing, inspection, assembly, and change risks that shape total die casting cost.
Read engineering guide →
Project-specific tooling assessment
Review Your Tooling Project
Send the part definition and available tool records so engineering can clarify scope, required decisions and next steps.
Include with your RFQ
- Controlled CAD and drawing revision, material and quantities.
- Critical datums, appearance zones and secondary operations.
- Target service life, trial samples, inspection and approval requirements.
- Existing tool condition and records, if applicable.
- Repair, insert, engineering-change or transfer scope, if applicable.
- Requested schedule and any ownership or documentation requirements.
Quotation reference
Provide the controlled 3D model and drawing, material specification, batch and annual quantities, critical datums, cosmetic areas, secondary operations, target tool life, sample requirements and requested delivery schedule.