Tool 04 / Make-or-mold
Know the quantity that justifies a mold.
3D printing keeps fixed cost low. Injection molding lowers unit cost but requires tooling. Find the volume where those two cost curves cross.
Compare production economics
Find when per-unit savings finally repay the mold.
Decision context
Break-even is a threshold, not an automatic decision.
The calculator divides total tooling cost by the savings per molded unit. If a mold costs $5,000 and saves $2.50 per unit, the simple break-even point is 2,000 units.
Reasons to keep printing beyond break-even
Design changes, uncertain demand, multiple variants, low inventory, and short product life can make flexibility more valuable than the theoretical unit saving.
Costs to add before signing a tooling order
Include design-for-manufacturing revisions, samples, shipping, customs, storage, minimum order quantities, rejected batches, and future mold maintenance. Compare cash timing as well as total cost.