A typical MIM program budget: tooling ($10k-25k), qualification/PPAP ($5k-15k), first article samples ($500-2k), and production at $0.50-2.00/part depending on complexity. Total initial investment: $15k-40k for tooling and qualification. Per-part cost then follows the volume economics.
Detailed MIM program budget template:
| Budget Item | Typical Range | Example (Automotive, 316L, 4-cavity) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Tooling | |||
| Mold design and DFM | $1,000-3,000 | $2,000 | Included in some tooling quotes |
| Mold fabrication (4-cavity) | $10,000-18,000 | $14,000 | H13 steel, cold runner |
| Side actions (if needed) | $3,000-8,000 each | $0 | None for this example |
| Mold texturing (if needed) | $500-2,000 | $0 | |
| Tooling contingency (10%) | $1,400 | For mold modifications during qualification | |
| Phase 1 subtotal | $10,000-30,000 | $17,400 | |
| Phase 2 — Qualification | |||
| First article samples | $500-2,000 | $1,000 | 50-100 molded parts for validation |
| Dimensional FAIR report | $500-2,000 | $1,000 | CMM program + report |
| Material certification | $300-1,000 | $500 | Chemistry, density, mechanicals |
| PPAP Level 3 (automotive) | $3,000-8,000 | $5,000 | Includes PFMEA, control plan, CpK, MSA |
| Phase 2 subtotal | $4,000-13,000 | $7,500 | |
| Phase 3 — Production (Year 1) | |||
| Per-part production cost | $0.50-2.00 | $0.85 | For 50,000 parts/yr |
| Annual production total | — | $42,500 | |
| Year 1 Total Program Cost | $67,400 | (tooling + qual + production) | |
| Year 2+ Annual Cost | $42,500 | (production only) |
- Tooling is a capital expense — amortize over 2-3 years in your cost analysis
- Qualification is often overlooked — budget $5k-15k for PPAP
- Contingency: add 10-15% for the first year to cover unexpected mold modifications or process development
- Volume projections: be conservative — lower actual volumes extend the tooling payback period