Small Batch Injection Molding — No Factory Minimums
Small Batch Injection Molding from 50 Units
Real injection-molded plastic parts without factory minimums. Aluminum molds machined in-house and a desktop injection machine. 50 to 500 units.
Aluminum mold vs. steel mold — which is right for you?
| Aluminum mold (this service) | Steel mold (mass production) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mold cost | From $500/mold | From $3,000 |
| Lead time | 2 to 4 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Shot life | 1,000 to 10,000 shots | 100,000+ shots |
| Minimum quantity | 50 units | 500+ units typical |
| Machine | Desktop injection machine | Industrial 120T to 450T |
| Best for | Market validation, Kickstarter | Confirmed demand, volume |
⚠ Desktop injection machine — smaller parts only
Our small batch service uses a desktop injection molding machine. Part footprint limit: ~200mm × 200mm. Mold size limit: 300mm × 300mm. Shot weight limit: 200g. Parts outside these limits use our steel mold service.
How it works
Send your design files and fill out our questionnaire
CAD files, drawings, or a sample product. Target material, quantity, surface finish, and timeline. We confirm if your part qualifies for the desktop machine.
Brief confirmed within 24 hours
Receive your injection mold quote within 48 hours
Itemized quote: aluminum mold design, machining, material, and per-unit production cost quoted separately.
Itemized quote with per-unit cost
Approve quote, pay deposit, production begins
50% deposit locks in your project. Aluminum mold machined, first article samples approved, then full production run. Mold is yours once paid.
Parts delivered in 3 to 5 weeks
What our clients say
Worked with PrototyperLab from design through to prototyping and the experience was excellent throughout. Their engineers were rigorous, communication was clear, and they took the time to answer every technical question properly rather than rushing. The final prototypes exceeded my expectations. Would happily work with them again.
Marwane BTrustpilot review, FrancePrototyperLab were quick and efficient — had our first prototype ready in just two weeks. The whole process was low-risk, making it easy to test new products with our existing customers. At first, I thought we’d use them for development and then move mass production to our factory in China, but their pricing was very competitive. Keeping production with PrototyperLab meant better quality control and ongoing improvements, so there was no reason to take the risk of moving it elsewhere.
Jared StephensUNICONFETTI, Entrepreneur, UKWe found PrototyperLab through a recommendation from another brand, and to be honest, we weren’t sure what to expect. We shared one of our new product ideas and its use case, and within a few days, they had a physical plastic prototype ready. I was seriously impressed. The pricing is super reasonable, which means we can test out even more product ideas, especially those with electronics or automation. It’s a huge time-saver for us, letting our team focus more on launching and marketing instead of getting stuck in long development cycles.
DanneOWLHAUS, Founder, USSuperb company and service. Tai and his team have been super helpful, responsive and hands on in assisting with prototype design and production, rapid turnaround on queries and fairly priced. I continue to use them beyond the initial services I engaged them on. Trust worthy and reliable. Highly recommend.
Chico HuntEntrepreneur, DubaiWe wanted a functional, expandable robot that didn’t blow our budget. PrototyperLab helped us make it real — fast. 690 engineering hours covering hardware, firmware, and a 150-hour STEM curriculum developed alongside the product. The 20-unit production run validated demand before we committed to scaling.
Torotic FounderTOROTIC, Education Hardware, Vietnam…From day one, they’ve treated my project with professionalism, honesty, and genuine enthusiasm. Communication has been outstanding, they’re upfront about costs and timelines, and they’ve made the entire process feel approachable for a solo entrepreneur… They can help with the entire journey—from an idea, to design, prototyping, manufacturing, and even guidance on e-commerce and fulfillment. If you’re a small business owner, inventor, or entrepreneur looking for a team that truly supports you, I highly recommend them. I’m already looking forward to working with them on my next product.
KaiKai Land Press LLC, Atlanta, GAOur Guarantee
What we promise on every project
We believe in fair, transparent, and results-driven partnerships. Here’s what you can count on.
No upfront payment until you approve the quote
Getting a quote is fast, hassle-free, and completely risk-free. You won’t pay a dime until you approve the full project estimate.
No extra charges for delays on our end
If we take longer than the quoted hours to complete your project, you won’t pay for the extra time. The quoted hours are the ceiling, not an estimate.
A fully tested, working product
We don’t just build prototypes — we ensure they function as intended before delivery. You receive a working product, not a visual model.
On-time delivery
Your prototype will be in your hands within the agreed timeline. If something changes on our end, we tell you immediately — not after the fact.
No hidden fees in production
We don’t mark up material or production costs. Our entire profit margin comes only from our engineers’ $25/hr rate. Materials are passed through at cost.
US-based contracts and legal protection
We are a US-registered company. All contracts and payments are handled within the US, so there’s no risk of dealing with international disputes or unenforceable agreements.
Milestone approval, every step
You approve CAD designs, prototype photos, and production samples before we proceed to the next stage. No stage begins without your sign-off. No black boxes, no surprises.
Direct engineer access on every project
Your project gets one or two dedicated engineers from start to finish. No sales reps, no account managers, no communication layers — just you and the people actually building your product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum quantity for small batch injection molding?
50 units per mold. Aluminum molds are machined in-house specifically for runs of 50 to a few hundred units.
Are these real injection-molded parts or just 3D prints?
Real injection-molded parts. The plastic is melted and injected into a machined aluminum mold under pressure, producing the same material properties and surface finish as factory-produced parts.
Who owns the aluminum mold?
You do. The aluminum mold belongs to you from the moment the final invoice is settled. We can ship it to any factory you choose at any time.
Can my part be made on your desktop injection machine?
Parts must fit within a ~200mm × 200mm footprint with a mold size under 300mm × 300mm and shot weight under 200g. Send us your dimensions and we will confirm within 24 hours.
Can I upgrade from aluminum to a steel mold later?
Yes. Once you have validated demand with your aluminum mold run, we build a steel mold for your production-scale volume. Your part design and CAD files transfer directly.
How long does small batch injection molding take?
2 to 4 weeks for aluminum mold machining plus 1 to 2 weeks for first article sample approval and production run. Total: 3 to 5 weeks from brief confirmation to parts shipped.
Have questions about payment terms, refunds, or shipping? Visit our full FAQ page.
Explore all our services
Service
Small Batch Manufacturing
20 to 100 units. Production price per unit, quoted per project.
Quoted per project
Service
Steel Mold Tooling and Injection Molding
Production-scale steel molds for volume manufacturing.
From $3,000
Service
Wood Products and Furniture
CNC hardwood, flatpack design, and electronics in wood.
From $1,000
Service
IoT Products Development
PCB, firmware, wireless connectivity, and enclosure in one team.
From $3,000
Service
Consumer Electronics and Embedded Systems
Full-stack electronics: hardware, firmware, and enclosure.
From $3,000
Service
Children's Products and Toys
Concept to tested, CPSC-compliant prototype and small batch production.
From $2,500
Service
Universal FAQ
Payment terms, refunds, shipping, and process questions.
prototyperlab.com/faq/
Additional services
Additional Service
Flatpack and Packaging Design
Engineer your product to ship flat, reduce dimensional weight, and cut Amazon FBA fees.
Quoted per project
Additional Service
Industrial Design and DFM
Turn a concept sketch into a production-ready design reviewed for manufacturability.
Quoted per project
Additional Service
Production Cost Optimization
Already in production but the per-unit cost is too high? We find savings without touching quality.
Quoted per project
Additional Service
Market Validation and Research
Amazon niche and competitor analysis, customer survey design, and demand validation.
Quoted per project
Additional Service
Packaging Design and Production
Retail-ready packaging, mailer boxes, custom inserts, and FBA-compliant prep.
From $1,000
Additional Service
Patent Research and IP Strategy
Prior art search, patentability assessment, design-around strategy, and US patent filing guidance.
Quoted per project