Aluminum Molds vs. Steel Molds: Five Critical Points of Comparison for Product Designers and Engineers
Choosing between steel and aluminum tooling is a critical decision for product designers. This is because the tool impacts part quality, cycle time, cost, and even time-to-market.
Therefore, understanding how each material will perform during the injection molding process will help you to make more informed decisions—for today and future needs.
In this blog we provide a critical comparison between P20 Steel and QC-10 Aluminum for five key areas:
- USA vs China: Where you quote tooling impacts the cost/time to create and change molds
- Tool life comparison: how many parts can be produced with steel vs. aluminum molds?
- Thermal conductivity and the ability to control the temperature of each mold type can influence fill, form, and cycle time
- Part size and complexity by mold type
- Material and surface finish options for aluminum and steel
Where you quote tooling matters: USA vs. China
Deciding between an overseas and domestic supplier for tooling can influence your entire injection molding project—from supply chain management and production cost to the time it takes to build and change your mold.
For one, vast discrepancies in material cost between the USA and other countries, notably for this discussion, between aluminum and steel as raw material.*
In the USA, for example, aluminum is the default material used to create molds because it is cheaper than steel. Conversely, in China raw steel is used as the default material because it is cheaper than aluminum. One country uses a soft material while the other uses a hard material.
Therefore, if you quote tooling in different locations, chances are you will not be looking at an apples-to-apples comparison. This is because soft and hard materials perform differently during the injection molding process. Which can impact cycle time, cost, and time-to-market.
Cost and time to create or change steel molds vs. aluminum molds
When quoting tooling there are two critical costs to consider. First, the initial cost to create the mold. And second, the cost to make changes to the mold. Below is a comparison of cost and time for steel vs. aluminum tooling.
Cost to create or change steel molds vs. aluminum molds
The cost to create an aluminum mold is about ¼ to ½ the cost of creating a steel mold. In general, aluminum tooling will prove to be the most cost-effective option even when comparing a quote from a China-based vendor for steel tooling to a USA aluminum quote.
The type of mold you choose can also impact the cost of making changes. For example, aluminum tooling is roughly 1/10 the cost of changing a steel tool—regardless of where it is manufactured. This is because it takes much longer and is harder to machine steel versus aluminum.
Time to create or change steel molds vs. aluminum molds
The time required to create an aluminum tool, on average, is about 15-25 business days. In contrast, the average time required to create a steel tool is about 35-60 business days.
On average, the time required to change an aluminum tool is about 5 business days. Compared to an average of 20 business days required to change a steel tool.
What is the tool life of P20 Steel Tooling vs. QC-10 Aluminum Tooling?
(And how much volume can I produce with each tool before investing more money to keep it running?)
Please note, the estimated volume for steel and aluminum molds will depend on material selection for use during the injection molding process:
- P20 Steel tooling, average life of 50,000-100,000 parts
- QC-10 Aluminum tooling, average life of 10,000-25,000 parts
According to Taylor Foster, Account Executive at Xcentric, quantity often determines whether to choose steel or aluminum tooling.
“Simply put, steel tooling will always offer a longer tool life than aluminum tooling,” Taylor said. “This means, it can produce a higher volume of parts before the mold requires maintenance due to wear and tear, or total replacement.”
Therefore, if you are going to need hundreds of thousands—or millions of parts in a year, steel tooling is likely going to be the best option.
Alternatively, Taylor said “if you do not anticipate this level of production volume, and instead plan to stay in the 10s of thousands over the next year or so, then aluminum will be the best option.”
When moving parts to production, product designers are faced with a choice: steel or aluminum tooling? Watch the webinar to learn common misconceptions between the two along with a side-by-side comparison that will help you to make more informed decisions.
Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum is 5 times greater than Steel
Thermal conductivity is a material’s intrinsic ability to transfer heat. The thermal conductivity of aluminum is about five times greater than steel. This is important because it directly impacts the fill, flow, and cycle time of aluminum molds.
Fill, flow, and cycle time: benefits of aluminum molds
- Material fills the mold faster and more evenly than steel molds
- Plastic can flow longer distances with less injection pressure in aluminum
- Cycle time is less due to quicker heating and cooling, meaning faster creation of your parts using aluminum molds
- Parts have minimal warp and much better dimensional stability – giving a higher acceptance rate on parts
Aluminum molds’ superior thermal control can reduce cycle time up to 40%
In an article published in Moldmaking Technology1, Douglas Bryce provides details about an IBM tooling study of aluminum molds for high-volume production. The five-year study used identical steel and aluminum molds to produce identical plastic parts.
According to the study, the aluminum molds cost up to 50% less to build than steel molds and produced higher-quality parts. Further, the aluminum molds’ superior thermal control made it easier to manipulate areas of the tooling which resulted in cycle times up to 25-40% less than the steel molds.
Achieve better temperature control with aluminum molds, reduce cost and cycle time
Controlling the temperature of a mold is often a challenge because it depends on variables such as the material, design, ejection process, and other issues within the tool.
Still, achieving better temperature control can help to optimize cost and reduce cycle time. This has been tested and proven in studies like the one featured in Flow Front by Claudia Zironi2. (Table 1)
QC-10 Aluminum vs. P20 Steel; Polystyrene vs. Nylon
In this study, Claudia Zironi conducted a side-by-side comparison of two materials, polystyrene and nylon, being injected into a QC-10 aluminum mold and a P20 steel mold.
Both materials were run in the same process to showcase a completed part within the same spiral tool design. When completed, the overall cycle time for QC-10 Aluminum was much faster than that of the P20 Steel.
Per the study, the P20 steel molds retain more temperature during the molding process than the QC-10 aluminum molds.
Also, recovery after each shot does not come down as fast as the temperature in aluminum tooling. This is because thermal temperature releases out of aluminum faster than steel. Because of this, there was a 20-second freeze time in the P20 steel to ensure the part was cooled for ejection.
Table 1 Claudia Zironi, Flowfront Magazine, “Competitive Advantages of Aluminum Molds for Injection Molding Applications: Process Simulation Used to Evaluate Cycle Times,” April 2005.
Part size and complexity by mold type
Based on the data discussed so far, aluminum has more to offer than prototyping and low-volume production. Though it is softer than steel, aluminum molds can be a cost- and time-efficient option for high-volume production and larger parts.
Of course, there are applications where a steel mold would be a more optimal choice.
Will the type of tooling limit material selection, surface finish, or secondary operations?
Choosing aluminum tooling instead of steel tooling will not drastically—if at all, compromise your options for material, finish, or secondary operations. Here is a brief overview when comparing P20 steel and QC-10 Aluminum tooling.
Plastic Material Selection
In general, you can expect the same material options for both steel and aluminum tooling. Please note two exceptions where steel tooling is likely to be the best option due to wear and tear:
- Exotic materials like Ultem which requires very high heat
- Abrasive material such as glass fill or other ad
For more detailed information about materials, visit Xcentric’s plastic material selection guide.
Surface finish options
Whether using steel or aluminum, your options for surface finish will be the same. Please note, to achieve an SPI A-1 finish, you need special facilities and/or equipment.
Also, Finish and clarity are reliant on the material you choose; some materials are not capable of achieving an optically clear finish no matter the level of polish used.
Choosing the optimal surface finish for your material is critical when designing plastic parts for injection molding. Our 8-piece surface finish plaques can help you to make more informed decisions early in the process.
Aluminum molds advantage: flow and fill rates
Aluminum molds demonstrate better thermal conductivity, flow rate, and fill advantages over steel molds. Which makes aluminum a better option when you are producing long, large parts.
Also, considering the superior temperature control, aluminum is a better option for part designs with complex geometries that could cause fill issues.
Steel molds advantage: thin walls and complex features
In contrast to aluminum, steel tooling proves to be a more effective for injection-molded parts and tooling that require extremely thin walls. This is because of the increased hardness of the mold material. The thin features and areas in the tool will hold up much better to the pressure during the molding process when using steel.
Conclusion: Steel Molds vs. Aluminum Molds
In conclusion, aluminum molds provide value beyond prototyping. Instead of choosing steel molds for high-volume production, consider aluminum molds instead. They prove to be a cost- and time-effective solution for plastic injection molding.
Xcentric is located entirely in the USA with two production facilities in Michigan. Though we specialize in aluminum tooling, we also offer steel tooling. Our on-site material experts are eager to help you make the most informed decision for your next injection molding project. Please contact an Xcentric Application Engineer with questions or concerns. We are here to help bring your concept to market on time and on budget.
Taylor Foster is an Account Executive at Xcentric. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering and Business, attended the University of Kentucky, and has been working in the manufacturing industry, specializing in injection molding consultation and education as well as customer experience for the past 2 years. Get connected on LinkedIn with Taylor Foster
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References
- Douglas Bryce, Moldmaking Technology, “Why Offer Aluminum Molds for Production”, April 2002
- Claudia Zironi, Flowfront Magazine, “Competitive Advantages of Aluminum Molds for Injection Molding Applications: Process Simulation Used to Evaluate Cycle Times”, April 2005
* While steel as a raw material is cheaper than aluminum in both geographies, several other factors including market share, labor, and production costs must be factored into the material of choice in each country.