CNC Machining
CNC Machining for Injection Molds, Tooling & Prototypes
GoodTech builds molds and produces prototype parts with precision CNC machining. Prototypes let us validate a design before cutting steel, which lowers the overall cost and shortens new product development time. Engineering drives every program: our engineers review moldability and machinability before a cutter touches steel. With teams in Chicago and Shenzhen working as one loop, CNC runs inside a single chain — prototype, mold, tryout, production — and your inquiry gets an answer within 24 hours.
ISO 9001 · ISO 13485 · ISO 14001 · IATF 16949
Cavity / core tolerance ±0.003 mm
3-axis · 4-axis · 5-axis CNC + EDM
Prototypes in 2–7 days
Certifications, Capabilities & Working Advantages
Six Things That Stay Constant on Every Project
GoodTech is a mold and tooling manufacturer with a certified quality system, an engineering-led process, and a dual-base team that covers U.S. and China time zones. Six things stay constant on every project:
Engineering-driven
Tooling programs open with a DFM and moldability review. Engineers in Chicago and Shenzhen own the design decisions from prototype through tryout.
Quality control
A certified system (ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, UL 746D / QMMY2) backed by FMEA, control plans, SPC, PPAP, and IQ/OQ/PQ validation for medical work.
IP protection / NDA
IP protection is a standing commitment. We engage under NDA, keep customer drawings under controlled handling, and track material at batch level with full documentation.
Cross-culture communication
One team, one conversation: our engineers combine deep cross-cultural experience with fluent international communication, so nothing is lost between support and production.
Quick response
A 24-hour working handoff means questions sent at the end of your day are answered by the start of the next.
Fast turnover
Prototype parts typically ship 2–7 days after CAD is received, and 45 injection machines (60–1000 tons) sit ready for production once the mold is proven.
60+
Molds produced each month
8M+
Plastic parts produced each month
45
Injection machines, 60–1000 tons
24h
Working handoff, Chicago ↔ Shenzhen
Underpinning all six: 60+ molds and 8M+ plastic parts produced each month, and a quality system you can inspect here: Quality System.
Scope of CNC Work
What We Machine with CNC
Our CNC capacity exists to serve two jobs: making the steel that becomes your mold, and machining the prototype parts that validate your design. Both feed directly into the molding and tooling work we do in-house.
Mold Components Machined by CNC
CNC machining builds the core of every mold we fabricate. Typical work includes:
- Cavities and cores (large face areas machined to form)
- Inserts, slides, and lifters
- Mold bases
- Copper and graphite electrodes for EDM
Our mold fabrication page covers the full tooling scope, from cold and hot runner systems to conformal cooling and high-polish texture: Plastic Mold Fabrication.
CNC milling of a mold base — the steel that becomes your tool.
ABS plastic part — engineering plastics such as ABS, POM and PC are machined for prototypes.
CNC for Rapid Prototypes (Plastic & Metal)
For prototyping, 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machines cut precision parts from stock so you can test fit, function, and assembly before committing to tooling. Materials we machine for prototypes include steel, aluminum, copper, and engineering plastics such as ABS, POM, PC, PA, and PET.
CNC sits alongside our other prototype processes — 3D printing (SLA/SLS/MJF/DLP), reaction injection molding, metal stamping, and vacuum casting: High Fidelity Prototyping.
Tooling Expertise
CNC Machining for Injection Molds & Tooling
CNC machining for injection mold making is where our tooling expertise shows. The same machines that cut mold bases and cavities also produce the electrodes our EDM process uses to reach fine detail — so the mold you receive is built and finished under one roof.
Cavities, cores, and mold bases built in-house
Mirror-finish EDM for fine mold detail
Precision Wire Cutting for Inserts and Sliders
Cavities, Cores, Inserts & Slides
Cavities and cores define the shape, surface, and dimensional accuracy of every molded part. Inserts, slides, and lifters add undercuts, threads, and side actions. Dimensional stability at this stage determines how consistently the final plastic parts come out of the press.
Mold Bases & Electrodes (Copper / Graphite)
We machine mold bases to print and produce the copper and graphite electrodes used in mirror-finish EDM and precision wire cutting. Keeping electrodes in-house shortens the loop between a design change and a corrected mold.
Mirror Polish & Texture Finishes
Tooling surfaces carry through to the molded part. We apply high-polish and textured finishes on molds and support EDM-finished surfaces as part of the fabrication process. Polish grades and texture standards follow SPI classes: SPI Plastic Mold Finishing Standard.
From CNC Tooling to Tryout to Production
CNC machining does not end at a finished block of steel. The mold moves to tryout, then into our injection molding lines for validation and production. That is fast turnover without skipping verification.
Specifications
Tolerances & Specifications
The table below summarizes CNC capability for mold and tooling work.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cavity / core tolerance | ±0.003 mm |
| Minimum machinable feature | Minimum tool diameter 0.5 mm |
| Maximum mold base size | 960 × 960 × 950 mm |
| Maximum cavity size | 500 × 500 × 500 mm |
| Standard machine axes | 3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis CNC; EDM; precision wire cutting |
| Supporting equipment | High-speed CNC, mirror-finish EDM, precision wire cutters, CMM |
Our measurement equipment is detailed here: Quality Equipment.
Materials
Materials We Machine
We separate mold-steel machining from prototype-material machining so each is specified correctly.
| Application | Materials |
|---|---|
| Mold steel (tooling) | P20, H13, S136, NAK80 |
| Prototype parts | Steel, aluminum, copper, engineering plastics — ABS, POM, PC, PA, PET |
Prototype material options are covered in full on the prototyping page: High Fidelity Prototyping.
Choose the Right Process
CNC vs 3D Printing vs Injection Molding
Choosing the right process early saves cost and rework. The short version:
| Process | Best for | Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC prototype machining | Functional parts, tight tolerance, real materials | Single to low volume | Fast proof before tooling |
| 3D printing (SLA/SLS/MJF/DLP) | Complex geometry, visual models | Single to low volume | Geometry freedom, slower on volume |
| RIM / vacuum casting | Bridge volume, flexible parts | Low to bridge volume | Between prototype and production |
| Injection molding | Repeatable production | Production volume | Requires a mold we build and run |
Not sure which fits your stage? Contact an engineer.
Finishing
Surface Finishes
Finished CNC surfaces can be left as-machined or taken further, depending on the part or mold requirement.
As-machined
Direct from the cutter
Mirror polish
Mold surfaces
Texture / EDM finish
Grain & spark-eroded detail
Bead blasting · anodizing · plating
Prototype parts
Painting · printing · coating
Post-machining, incl. laser marking
Finishing is part of our prototyping and production services: High Fidelity Prototyping.
One Integrated Chain
From Prototype to Mold to Production
Most projects do not start at the mold. They start at a drawing that has to be proven.
1
Prototype
CNC (or 3D printing / RIM) produces functional parts in 2–7 days after CAD is received, so design and fit are verified early.
2–7 days after CAD
2
Mold
Proven geometry moves into steel; CNC machines bases, cavities, cores, and electrodes.
DFM → tooling → tryout
3
Production
The finished mold runs on our 45 injection machines (60–1000 tons) for validation and volume output.
60–1000 ton presses
One partner carries the part from concept to production, which removes the handoff risk between a prototype shop, a mold shop, and a molder — and it is why turnaround stays short.
Engineering Support
DFM & Engineering Support
Engineering comes before cutting. GoodTech engineers review designs for moldability and machinability before steel is ordered, checking draft angles, wall thickness, tool-accessibility for deep cavities, and how tolerances should be called out so the mold and the molded part both meet intent.
Our blog expands on these topics — for example, medical insert molding validation under ISO 13485: Medical Insert Molding: ISO 13485 & IQ/OQ/PQ, and a root-cause guide to overmolding defects: Overmolding Defects & Troubleshooting.
CNC machining centers running mold and prototype programs in-house.
Quality & Inspection
Precision Is Measured, Not Claimed
Precision claims mean little without measurement. Our inspection lab runs 12 categories of measurement and testing instruments, including:
- CMM (coordinate measuring machine)
- AOI (automated optical inspection)
- Instron (tensile / compression testing)
- Laser scanner
- Optical projector
- Torque tester
- UV aging tester
- Vibration testing table
- Temperature / humidity chamber
Material is tracked by batch with full documentation, and quality is controlled with FMEA, control plans, SPC, and PPAP. Medical programs add IQ/OQ/PQ validation. Continuous improvement follows a Six Sigma approach: Continuous Improvement.
CMM dimensional inspection — measured before delivery.
Industries We Serve
Industries We Serve
CNC-machined tooling and prototypes support the same industries our molding serves.
Medical
ISO 13485 tooling and validated processes for device components.
Automotive
Thin-wall and structural molded parts.
Consumer electronics & electrical
Enclosures and precision housings.
Food equipment
Components such as dispensing faucets and containers.
Background on our molding work across these sectors: Custom Plastic Injection Molding: Process & Supplier Guide.
How to Get a Quote
From Drawing to a Numbered Quote in Three Steps
1
Upload CAD
Send your model and basic requirements.
2
DFM review
Our engineers check moldability and machinability and flag risks.
3
Quote
You receive a quote scoped to your mold, prototype, or tooling program.
Working across two time zones keeps this moving — a 24-hour handoff between our Chicago and Shenzhen teams means questions sent at the end of your day are answered by the start of the next. Quotation response time: 24 hours, minimum order quantity: 1.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cavities, cores, inserts, slides, lifters, mold bases, and copper or graphite electrodes for EDM.
It depends on the size and material. In general we hold ±0.003 mm for small features and ±0.005 mm for large features.
Steel, aluminum, copper, and engineering plastics including ABS, POM, PC, PA, and PET.
Yes. We hold ISO 13485 for medical devices, and apply IQ/OQ/PQ validation on medical programs.
Yes. IP protection is a core commitment at GoodTech. We engage under NDA, keep your drawings under controlled handling, and track material at batch level with full documentation.
We reply with any potential questions within 24 hours. You then receive pricing after a further 24–48 hours, depending on the complexity of the product.
Prototype parts are typically produced 2–7 days after CAD is received, using CNC, 3D printing, RIM, or vacuum casting.
Get Started
Start Your Mold or Prototype with GoodTech
Bring us the CAD and we will handle the rest — prototype, mold, tryout, and production under one roof. Engineering-led from the first DFM note, controlled by a certified quality system, protected under NDA, and answered within the working day by engineers who share your time zone.
Email: sales@goodtech-mfg.com