Rapid tooling gets moulded parts in your hands quickly, for trial runs, early market feedback or low volume production. We cut the tool in our own UK tool room, usually in aluminium, on the same site as the presses. An aluminium tool usually takes four to six weeks, and is guaranteed up to 10,000 parts.
Rapid Tooling
Rapid tooling compresses the timeline by cutting a simpler tool in-house, usually in aluminium, on our CNC machining centre. Because our tool making is done here rather than bought in or sent overseas, there is no external lead time waiting on a third-party toolmaker.
We offer rapid tooling for injection and blow moulding, so a concept can be proven in the production-intent material and process before you commit to full production tooling. Prototype injection moulding runs from 5 to 500 parts, and a rapid tool can carry on into low volume injection moulding.
When volumes grow, the same tool room cuts multi-cavity production tooling in P20 steel. Our injection mould tooling page covers production tools and prototype tooling.
Choosing a Tool
Prototype, trial or low volume
Guaranteed for up to 10,000 parts while we run it, and usually four to six weeks to make. Quicker and cheaper to cut, with more scope to modify the tool later.
Very low volume
For very low volume development work, with the same scope to modify the tool later.
High volume production
Guaranteed into the hundreds of thousands of parts and usually multi-cavity, with a lead time of around six to eight weeks. A higher tooling cost, but typically a lower part cost.
Bridge Tooling
A rapid tool does not have to stop at samples. Aluminium tooling can keep producing parts while a longer-life production tool is prepared, which is often called bridge production. As demand grows, the same UK team scales the process with you, from bridge tooling through to full production, without starting over.
Why Gemini
In-house toolmaking is where Gemini started. Every tool is cut here, so you deal directly with the people building it.
Nothing is bought in or sent overseas, so there is no wait on a third-party toolmaker.
Your tool is tried and moulded on the presses on the same site.
Aluminium tools leave more scope to modify the tool if the design moves on.
The same tool room cuts your production tooling, so what is learned on the rapid tool carries straight through.
Tools are programmed in Power Mill, Power Shape and FeatureCAM and cut on our CNC machining centre, with EDM and wire erosion for finer detail.
FAQ
Yes. Our rapid tooling services compress the timeline by cutting a simpler tool in-house, usually in aluminium, so you get moulded parts quickly for trials or low volume runs. Because it is rapid tooling in the UK rather than bought in overseas, there is no external lead time waiting on a third-party supplier.
Usually aluminium, or aluminium and epoxy resin for very low volume work. Both are quicker and cheaper to cut than production steel and leave more scope to modify the tool.
We guarantee an aluminium tool for up to 10,000 parts while we run it. For higher volumes we cut production tooling in P20 steel, guaranteed into the hundreds of thousands of parts.
Usually four to six weeks for an aluminium tool, compared with six to eight weeks for a production tool in P20 steel. The time depends on the complexity of the part, the number of cavities and any extra mechanisms in the tool.
Yes, for low volume production. A rapid tool gives moulded parts for trial runs, early market feedback or low volume production, and aluminium tooling can keep producing parts while a longer-life production tool is prepared.
Yes. We offer rapid tooling for injection and blow moulding, and every injection mould tool and blow mould tool is cut in our own tool room.
Yes. An aluminium tool leaves more scope to modify the tool later than a production steel tool, which is one reason to use it while a design is still settling.
It depends on the part geometry, cavity numbers, tolerances and finish. An aluminium tool is quicker and cheaper to cut than a production tool in P20 steel. We don't publish a typical price, because tooling costs vary widely from part to part and material prices, including aluminium, have risen sharply recently. Send us your drawing or CAD file and we'll quote for your part.
From a signed-off design to moulded parts, you deal with one accountable UK tool room. Here is how it works.
Send a STEP or IGES file, or a 2D drawing, with the material and volume you have in mind.
We confirm whether a rapid tool suits your volume and come back within one business day.
Your tool is designed, cut and tried in our own UK tool room, then moulded on the presses next door.
Send us details about your part and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
