NetProto hardened steel tool
- Steel chosen with you during DFM.
- Typical output is 100,000+ parts on many programs.
- Same tool runs reorders.
Steel injection mold
Steel Injection Mold: Grades, Hardness and Cycle Life
Steel injection mold searches mix material grade, hardness, and expected output. NetProto standardizes on one hardened steel product selected in DFM.
One product
Hardened steel without a public grade catalog
Listing mold steel grades on a marketing site invites apples to oranges comparisons without your resin, volume, or geometry.
NetProto selects hardened steel during DFM for the part and program. There is one tooling product, not good better best steel tiers. See an aluminum mold compared with this steel tool.
Expectations
Marketing grades versus program steel
Grade shopping on a website
- Grades listed without your resin context.
- Implied equivalence between suppliers.
- Hidden second tools when wear exceeds grade assumptions.
What to send instead of picking a grade online
Resin family including filled variants.
Annual volume and reorder expectations.
Cosmetic and texture requirements.
Critical dimensions and tolerance bands.
Life framing
Typical output versus contractual life promises
| Statement | Allowed framing | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000+ parts | Typical for hardened steel | Warranty or life promise |
| Tool wear | Depends on resin and maintenance | Fixed cycle count promise |
Ownership
You own the steel tool
Once the tooling charge is paid the mold is yours, including export when needed.
- Request mold export when you need the tool physically
Related
/injection-molding-tooling/aluminum-injection-mold
Aluminum versus steel comparison.
/injection-molding-tooling/aluminum-injection-mold
/injection-molding-tooling/soft-tooling
When softness is the issue.
/injection-molding-tooling/soft-tooling
/injection-molding-tooling/injection-mold-manufacturing
Manufacturing milestones.
/injection-molding-tooling/injection-mold-manufacturing
/manufacturing-standards
Tolerance bands.
/manufacturing-standards
/injection-molding-tooling
Tooling hub.
/injection-molding-tooling
/our-quality-assurance
ISO 9001 manufacturing.
/our-quality-assurance
Resin family and filled grades
Filled grades are part of the resin family reviewed in DFM for a hardened steel tool.
Materials guideFAQ
Steel mold questions
Which steel grade do you use?
Hardened steel selected during DFM; grades are not published.
Can you promise a fixed mold life?
No. Typical output is 100,000+ parts depending on resin, part geometry, and maintenance.
Can I export the steel mold after production?
You own the steel tool once the tooling charge is paid. Export of that tool can be arranged on its own.
What resin families work with a hardened steel mold?
The resin family, including filled grades, is chosen during DFM. Hardened steel is selected for that program. There is no published ranking of best resins.
Next step
Start with DFM on your CAD
Upload for steel scope on your program. NetProto manufacturing is ISO 9001 certified.