Question 1

What is mass production?

Accepted Answer

Mass production is making large quantities of the same part at the lowest possible per-part cost, using tooling and repeatable processes like injection molding, die casting, and metal stamping. It is the high-volume end of manufacturing, where a one-time tooling investment is spread across thousands to millions of identical parts. On OpenSpindle it is the same thing as high-volume manufacturing: upload your part and get matched to independent shops set up to run it at scale.

Question 2

What counts as high volume?

Accepted Answer

High volume generally starts around 1,000 parts and runs into the millions. Below that, a process with no or low tooling cost, like CNC machining or 3D printing, usually beats paying for a mold or die. Once your annual volume clears roughly 1,000 to 10,000 units depending on the part, tooling starts to pay for itself through a much lower per-part price.

Question 3

Which process has the lowest per-part cost?

Accepted Answer

Injection molding and metal stamping both hit the lowest per-part cost at scale, once their tooling is amortized. Molding wins for plastic parts, stamping for flat or formed sheet-metal parts at very high volumes (commonly 10,000+ units). Die casting is the metal equivalent of molding for net-shape parts. The right answer depends on your material and geometry, not just volume, so quote more than one process.

Question 4

How does tooling amortize over a run?

Accepted Answer

Tooling is a fixed, one-time cost. Divide it across the number of parts you run, and the tooling contribution to each part drops as volume rises. A mold that adds a few dollars per part at 1,000 units might add only cents per part at 100,000. That is why shops quote both a tooling price and a separate per-part price, so you can see the total cost at different volumes.

Question 5

How do I scale from prototype to production?

Accepted Answer

Most programs start with a low-cost prototype process (3D printing, CNC machining, or a soft prototype tool) to validate the design, then move to production tooling once the design is locked. For molded or cast parts, that often means a prototype aluminum tool first, followed by a hardened production tool once volume is confirmed. Tell shops your prototype process and target production volume so they can plan the tooling transition.

Question 6

Can I rely on ongoing supply and reorders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Production programs are built for repeat orders: your tooling stays with the shop that runs it, parts are saved to your OpenSpindle parts library for quick reorders, and larger or ongoing programs can be planned around your release schedule. If a program needs redundancy, we can help line up more than one qualified shop.

Process	Typical lead time	Volume	Why it fits
Injection Molding	4-8 weeks tooling	1,000+	Lowest per-part cost for plastic parts once the mold is cut.
Die Casting	6-10 weeks tooling	1,000+	Net-shape metal parts at volume, in aluminum and zinc.
Metal Stamping	6-12 weeks tooling	10,000+	Flat and formed metal parts at the lowest cost at high volume.
CNC Machining	1-3 weeks	100-10,000	No tooling required, so it fits precision production without a mold.
Swiss Machining	2-4 weeks	1,000+	Small turned parts held tight and produced fast at volume.

Approach	Best for	Lead time	Cost
Injection molding	Plastic parts at scale	4-8 wk tool	lowest/part
Die casting	Metal parts at scale	6-10 wk tool	low/part
Metal stamping	Flat and formed metal	6-12 wk tool	lowest/part at 10k+
CNC	No tooling, precision	1-3 wk	$$$/part

High-volume manufacturing from independent shops

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Which process for high volume

High-volume processes compared

Scaling to volume

Tooling is a fixed cost

Match process to material and geometry

Quote at your real volume and the next break point

Quality systems matter at volume

Frequently asked questions

Other ways to make your part

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