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Design guide hubDFM
Texture Draft Requirements: Injection Molding Design Rules
Textured faces need extra draft beyond smooth wall defaults before mold polish and etch.
DFM
Texture depth consumes draft budget on every textured face
SPI polish and MoldTech grains need more release angle than smooth walls.
Texture suppliers publish draft guidance per plaque grade. Use it before you freeze CAD.
Shutoffs across textured faces need extra attention to avoid scuff on ejection.
Mixing polished and textured regions on one part needs a clear parting and draft plan.
DFM
Quote this rule with your CAD upload
NetProto DFM review flags these geometry patterns before steel is ordered.
- Call out draw direction and cosmetic faces on the model.
- Note resin family even when the grade is not final.
- Tighten tolerances only on mating features that need them.
Texture RFQ
Send before mold texture is ordered
Missing plaque reference delays T1 cosmetics.
Texture standard and plaque ID if selected
Faces that must stay polished versus textured
Draft callouts on all textured surfaces
Parting line across texture boundaries
Related rules
Design guide
Jump to sibling rules before you freeze CAD.
DFM article
Long form engineer guide.
DFM articleDraft angle
Baseline release angles.
Draft angleInjection molding textures
Finish cluster hub.
Injection molding texturesMoldTech glossary
Plaque numbering.
MoldTech glossaryVisual reference
Molding context for this rule
Images from the Forge media library illustrate typical programs.
Injection molded part design review on CAD
Injection molded part design review on CAD
Plastic housing with ribs and bosses
Plastic housing with ribs and bosses
Engineer measuring molded component
Engineer measuring molded component
FAQ
Texture and draft questions
Can texture be added after T1?
Texture is cut in steel. Major changes rework cavity polish.
Is SPI the same as MoldTech?
SPI describes polish level. MoldTech describes etched grain patterns.
Does deeper texture need more draft?
Yes. Follow supplier draft charts for the plaque you pick.
Next step
Upload texture plaque and draft notes
Include finish callouts on CAD views with pull direction.