LAB READY
1
Select tooling for the current program stage
Bridge tooling supports validation and early quantities without treating every prototype as a full production-tool investment.
Production-Representative Plastics
Injection molding and overmolding for medical devices
Move a validated plastic component toward repeatable production material, finish and assembly through bridge or production tooling.
Capability Overview
Injection Molding & Overmolding built around the application
Injection molding becomes appropriate when a device team needs production-representative resin, repeatable parts and quantities that justify tooling. Bridge tooling can support design validation and early demand while production tooling is prepared. Overmolding adds a second material to a rigid substrate for grip, comfort, sealing or multi-durometer function.
Bridge toolingEarly production-representative runs
Production toolingStable designs and sustained quantities
OvermoldingSoft-touch and multi-material components
DFM reviewMaterial, geometry and tooling considered together
Planning the Work
What matters before manufacturing starts
Process selection should follow the drawing, application, material, critical features and the condition in which the part needs to arrive.
2
Design overmolds around real material compatibility
Substrate and elastomer selection, bond strategy, wall thickness, shutoffs and mechanical retention all affect whether a multi-material part performs as intended.
3
Connect prototypes to the molded design
Machined and printed iterations can be used to settle geometry and fit before the team commits to tooling and production-representative resin.
Typical Applications
Where this capability fits
Instrument grips
Production-representative housings
Multi-material handles
Functional plastic components
Validation builds
Low-volume bridge production
Related Guidance
Continue planning the part
Use these pages to connect the process with the device category, material and next project decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Injection Molding & Overmolding questions
What is bridge tooling?
Bridge tooling is intended to produce production-representative parts for validation or early demand before a long-life production tool is justified or ready.
When should a team move from 3D printing to molding?
The move makes sense when geometry is sufficiently stable and the program needs repeatable parts in a production-representative resin and quantity.
What does overmolding add?
Overmolding bonds or mechanically retains a second material on a substrate to create soft-touch grips, multi-durometer parts or other combined functions.
Have a part ready to review?
Send the CAD, quantity, material, finish and target date for a process review and quote.