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Frequently Asked Questions

Thermoplastic Injection Molding

How can ASH help me prototype?

We can produce your first prototypes using 3D printing or CNC machining, allowing you to test form, fit, and function before investing in production tooling. For projects requiring fewer than 1,000 parts, but where a full production run may not yet make sense, we offer our flat-rate low-volume manufacturing program called SUPERMOLD.

SUPERMOLD provides a cost-effective way to produce high-quality injection molded parts with lower upfront investment and faster lead times. This allows customers to accelerate time to market, validate demand, and bridge the gap between prototyping and full-scale production without sacrificing part quality.

Can we supply our own material?

We can produce your first prototypes using 3D printing or CNC machining, allowing you to test form, fit, and function before investing in production tooling. For projects requiring fewer than 1,000 parts, but where a full production run may not yet make sense, we offer our flat-rate low-volume manufacturing program called SUPERMOLD.

SUPERMOLD provides a cost-effective way to produce high-quality injection molded parts with lower upfront investment and faster lead times. This allows customers to accelerate time to market, validate demand, and bridge the gap between prototyping and full-scale production without sacrificing part quality.

Does ASH color match?

We can produce your first prototypes using 3D printing or CNC machining, allowing you to test form, fit, and function before investing in production tooling. For projects requiring fewer than 1,000 parts, but where a full production run may not yet make sense, we offer our flat-rate low-volume manufacturing program called SUPERMOLD.

SUPERMOLD provides a cost-effective way to produce high-quality injection molded parts with lower upfront investment and faster lead times. This allows customers to accelerate time to market, validate demand, and bridge the gap between prototyping and full-scale production without sacrificing part quality.

Is injection molding cheaper than 3D printing?

We can produce your first prototypes using 3D printing or CNC machining, allowing you to test form, fit, and function before investing in production tooling. For projects requiring fewer than 1,000 parts, but where a full production run may not yet make sense, we offer our flat-rate low-volume manufacturing program called SUPERMOLD.

SUPERMOLD provides a cost-effective way to produce high-quality injection molded parts with lower upfront investment and faster lead times. This allows customers to accelerate time to market, validate demand, and bridge the gap between prototyping and full-scale production without sacrificing part quality.

Silicone Injection Molding

What is LIM?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

What industries use Liquid Silicone Rubber?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

What is the difference between HCR and LSR?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

What is the difference between TPE and LSR?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

Can silicone withstand extreme temperatures?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

Is silicone resistant to chemicals and environmental exposure?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

How flexible is silicone rubber?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

What is the tensile strength of silicone? The tensile strength of silicone varies by

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

How long does a silicone injection mold last?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

What is the difference between thermosets and thermoplastics?

LIM (Liquid Injection Molding) is a manufacturing process used to produce precision rubber and silicone components. Think of LIM as the process, and LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) as the material most commonly used in that process. While the terms are often used interchangeably, LIM can also be used with other liquid polymers such as epoxies.

Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

What is the difference between metal injection molding and casting?

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is ideal for producing small, highly detailed components with complex geometries that would be difficult or costly to manufacture using traditional casting methods. Because MIM utilizes an injection molding process, it excels at creating intricate features, tight tolerances, and consistent repeatability in high-volume production.

Die casting, on the other hand, is generally better suited for larger components with simpler geometries. While die casting is highly effective for many applications, it is most commonly used with non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, zinc, and magnesium.

MIM also offers greater material flexibility, supporting a wide range of ferrous and specialty metal alloys while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy.

What is the difference between CNC and injection molding metal?

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is ideal for producing small, highly detailed components with complex geometries that would be difficult or costly to manufacture using traditional casting methods. Because MIM utilizes an injection molding process, it excels at creating intricate features, tight tolerances, and consistent repeatability in high-volume production.

Die casting, on the other hand, is generally better suited for larger components with simpler geometries. While die casting is highly effective for many applications, it is most commonly used with non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, zinc, and magnesium.

MIM also offers greater material flexibility, supporting a wide range of ferrous and specialty metal alloys while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy.

Is metal injection molding cheaper than CNC machining?

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is ideal for producing small, highly detailed components with complex geometries that would be difficult or costly to manufacture using traditional casting methods. Because MIM utilizes an injection molding process, it excels at creating intricate features, tight tolerances, and consistent repeatability in high-volume production.

Die casting, on the other hand, is generally better suited for larger components with simpler geometries. While die casting is highly effective for many applications, it is most commonly used with non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, zinc, and magnesium.

MIM also offers greater material flexibility, supporting a wide range of ferrous and specialty metal alloys while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy.

Is metal injection molding cheaper than 3D printing?

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is ideal for producing small, highly detailed components with complex geometries that would be difficult or costly to manufacture using traditional casting methods. Because MIM utilizes an injection molding process, it excels at creating intricate features, tight tolerances, and consistent repeatability in high-volume production.

Die casting, on the other hand, is generally better suited for larger components with simpler geometries. While die casting is highly effective for many applications, it is most commonly used with non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, zinc, and magnesium.

MIM also offers greater material flexibility, supporting a wide range of ferrous and specialty metal alloys while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy.