bigluc - I'll refer them to you. But I'm still wondering about molding.

n23d - I have also gotten requests like this, usually associated with a request for a sample part to show quality. They usually baulk when I ask them for the regular price for the "sample" with a promise of a lower cost for higher volume after I have printed the sample and worked out the actual printing cost. My guess is they are fishing for some free/low cost work. Hoping you will make them a free sample expecting to get paid for a large volume order. Once they get the sample they will say sorry the quality is not good enough.
I'm sure some of these are legit requests I have not gotten one yet.

sd3dprinting - bigluc - It will be cheaper to go with 3D printing rather than molding at those quantities. However, if the customer prefers molding we can provide that as well. If you want to check another well known manufacturer for low volume molding, check out Protomold. But again, their costs will be much higher for those quantities.

n23d - Some of those request are indeed legit. Our biggest clients have actually found us through makeXYZ to get a few samples (paid) and then worked with us from there to get low cost parts for "protoduction" at quantities of 250-5000.

j1ceasar@yahoo.com - I do custom importing for 30 -35 years now . In general a mold overseas for a small part will run $ 500 -2,000 depending on complexity etc. - The actual part may be 0.01 to 25 cents as an example for a tiny pice to 1/2 x 1 x 4 "
in abs etc .

The true import cost will add freight /duty - usually air for small qty and add 10 -20 cents a part . for under 1 -5,000

TIME FRAME

mold 4 -6 weeks in reality - don't beleive anything else.
production 4 -6 weeks for 1 -50,000 units
air freight- 3 --7 days
sea freight if its a BIG part / heavy - 5 weeks
total 8 - 16 weeks in reality -

I have done parts and complete items -calculators - bicycles - pens , tape measures , toys , flashlights - clips - molded metal and plastic anything ....

everything except clothing and soft goods!

what I need from you =
jpg pdf and stl or 3d files
quantity to quote
delivery expected
realistic expectations
your clients idea price so I can see what they want
quality levels
packaging ?

Just remember charge them for their parts !
jules

ipguy - RTV or urethane molding is often times more affordable for med- large format parts once you hit volumes above 10 and below 50 per mold. It requires finishing a master printed part, creating a silicone mold (other options are available), and pouring color and durometer specific urethanes into the mold to create your parts. This still has a place in the prototyping and low volume arena despite 3D printing now being more affordable and offering color and durometer options as well.

bone - Buy more printers :D