How to Mark Cosmetic vs Functional Faces on an RFQ

What Cosmetic vs Functional Actually Controls

Cosmetic vs functional on an injection molding RFQ means naming show faces, writing SPI, VDI, or texture codes, and setting gate, ejector, and parting-line keep-outs. Make it premium is not a finish spec. Mark faces first. Decoration after molding is a separate secondary line.

For the tolerance field on those same faces, read specify tolerances on an injection molding RFQ. A show face can stay on a standard finish and still need a tight mate. That split lives on standard vs tight tolerances on a quote.

Cosmetic face is seen or photographed

A cosmetic face is a surface the user or camera will see. A show face cannot take a gate vestige or an ejector pad unless you say so.

Functional face is a mate, seal, hidden wall, or interior boss

A functional face is a mate, seal, hidden wall, or interior boss. Hidden walls can accept witness marks that a show face cannot. Gates and ejectors belong on the functional set unless you write a keep-out that forces them elsewhere.

Class A without a face list is an incomplete spec

Make it look premium tells the toolmaker nothing about where the gate goes. Class A without a face list is the same problem as looks good. Name the show faces. Use Class A only as a label on a named face, not as the entire specification.

A handheld enclosure has a branded top, two side walls a user will see, a bottom that sits on a desk, and an interior that holds a battery. The top and sides are cosmetic. The bottom may be cosmetic if it is photographed. The interior is functional.

Write a Face List, Not an Adjective

SPI, VDI, Mold-Tech, or plaque code per show face

Use a face list, not an adjective. Face A: show, SPI or texture, no gate. Face B: side, witness allowed or not. Hidden walls: functional. Open injection molding surface finish options for the category list. Copy the code you already use. If you do not have a code yet, still name the show faces and write texture to follow.

Color code on show faces. Paint belongs on the secondary line

A pantone, RAL, or resin color code on the show faces is useful. Nice black is not. If color will be painted after molding, say that on the secondary line. Paint is a secondary line. It does not delete the SPI code on Face A.

Texture needs extra draft. Say so if marketing picked grain

Textured surfaces need more draft than polished ones. Write the texture code and the pull direction, and note additional draft per texture depth so DFM does not have to guess. Marketing picking fine grain without a code is still a pending item, not a finish spec. See draft angle for textured surfaces.

Worked example: Face A (top): show, SPI A-2, no gate, no ejector. Face B (left and right): show, same SPI, parting line allowed on the rear edge only. Face C (bottom): functional, witness allowed. Interior: functional. Color: resin black, no paint. That block can be tooled. Make it look premium cannot.

Keep-Outs That Change Tooling

No gate on Face A is usable. No marks anywhere is not

Gate vestige, ejector pads, and parting mismatch belong on named faces. No gate on Face A is usable. No marks on the part is not. A keep-out with no allowed face is a complaint, not a spec.

Always name the allowed face, not just the forbidden one

If a side wall can take the parting line, say so. If the camera-facing top cannot take an ejector pad, say so and point at the hidden walls that can. Read ejector pin marks on cosmetic molded parts for the defect view, then still write the keep-out on this RFQ.

Parting line across a shutoff plus no parting line on the same edge is a conflict

Asking for a texture across a shutoff and forbidding the parting line on the same edge is a conflict. Write which document wins on that edge.

Worked example: the branded top is Face A. The interior bosses are Face D. The note says no gate, no ejector, no parting line on Face A. Ejectors allowed on Face D. Review can place steel on the interior. The same note without Face D leaves reviewers to invent a home for the pins.

Secondary Operations Are a Separate Line

Pad print, screen, hot stamp, laser, paint

Painting, silk screening, pad printing, hot stamping, or laser marking is a declared secondary, plus the face and the artwork. That line does not replace the as-molded face list.

Artwork attached. The as-molded face list is still required

Worked example, with later decoration: Face A (top): show, as-molded, will take pad printing. Face B (sides): show, light texture, no gate. Bottom and interior: functional. Secondary: pad print logo on Face A, artwork attached. The pad print does not replace the SPI or texture code on Face A.

RFQ Checklist

Use these numbered steps as the paste block for the quote notes.

1. List show faces and hidden faces.
2. Add SPI or texture per show face.
3. Write gate and ejector keep-outs that name the allowed face.
4. Attach a drawing or screenshot with those faces circled.
5. Upload CAD through the injection molding instant quote platform.

A complete note looks like this: Show: Face A top SPI A-2, no gate, no ejector. Show: Faces B/C sides, texture plaque T-04, parting allowed on rear edge. Functional: bottom and interior, witness allowed. Color: resin, no paint. Screenshot 220-faces.png circled to match.

If marketing will pick texture later, still complete steps 1, 3, 4, and 5 now. If you will decorate after molding, add the secondary line on the same record.