Business Details
31 Years
experience
Precision Plastic Injection Mold Manufacturing Services
Vector Tool & Engineering was founded in 1995 with a clear mission to deliver precision manufacturing of injection molds and components that meet the highest standards of the plastics industry. Over nearly three decades, we have grown from a small two-employee operation to a 33-member team operating in a 30,000-square-foot facility equipped with cutting-edge technology. Our commitment to reinvesting in advanced machinery, such as the Yasda YMC 430 5-Axis High Speed Machining Center, ensures we maintain industry-leading accuracy and efficiency. We specialize in serving diverse markets including automotive, medical, industrial, and home appliance sectors, providing tailored solutions that combine technical expertise with innovative engineering. Our collaborative approach spans the entire project lifecycle, from initial design and moldflow analysis to manufacturing, inspection, and in-house sampling through our sister company.With certifications like membership in the American Mold Builders Association, we uphold rigorous quality standards while offering cost-effective domestic and global outsourcing options. Our team of experienced engineers and toolmakers delivers single/multi-cavity molds, family molds, prototype molds, and complex component manufacturing with tolerances as tight as .0001. By maintaining control over every production phase and owning customer 3D models post-project, we ensure traceability and continuous improvement. Our sister companies, Mission Plastics North and Mission Plastics Arkansas, provide additional operational synergies that enhance our service capabilities. As a subsidiary of Peterson Manufacturing, a global leader in vehicle safety lighting since 1945, we leverage decades of industrial expertise to solve complex manufacturing challenges while adhering to strict delivery timelines.
Services
Plastic Injection Molds
Mold Repairs
Custom Components
Design Engineering
Outsourcing Services
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have 29 years of specialized experience in plastic injection mold manufacturing since 1995
- Our Yasda YMC 430 5-Axis Machining Center achieves tolerances under .0001 with 40,000 RPM spindle speed
- We maintain complete in-house control over design, manufacturing, and quality inspection processes
- Our team of 33 experienced professionals delivers complex molds with single/multi-cavity and 2-shot configurations
- We offer integrated sampling services through our sister company Mission Plastics North
Associations and certifications
- American Mold Builders Association
Services
Plastic Injection Molds
We design and produce precision plastic injection molds including single/multi-cavity, family, 2-shot, and prototype configurations. Our engineers use Siemens NX software for 3D modeling and perform moldflow analysis to ensure manufacturability. With advanced machinery like the Yasda YMC 430 5-Axis Machining Center, we achieve surface finishes requiring minimal polishing and maintain tolerances under .0001. All molds undergo comprehensive inspection before sampling through our sister company Mission Plastics North.
Mold Repairs
Our experienced toolmakers perform precision repairs on damaged molds using sinker EDM, wire EDM, and micro-machining techniques. We restore molds to original specifications through processes including welding, inserting, and surface polishing. When repairing non-Vector molds, we require customer-supplied designs to ensure accuracy. All repairs undergo fit testing and dimensional verification using coordinate measuring machines to guarantee functionality before returning to service.
Custom Components
We manufacture high-tolerance custom components for prototyping and production applications. Our capabilities include machining complex geometries with tight tolerances using 5-axis technology and producing difficult-to-machine parts from specialized materials. Each component undergoes rigorous in-process inspections and final verification using Zeiss Contura CMM equipment. We specialize in small-batch production while maintaining the same quality standards as large-scale manufacturing operations.
Design Engineering
Our engineering team creates detailed 3D models and 2D prints for molds and components using Siemens NX software. We accept multiple file formats including Parasolid, Step, and Solidworks. For mold projects, we collaborate with customers to determine shrink factors and complete specification sheets. All designs incorporate manufacturability considerations and undergo customer review before production. We maintain digital archives of completed projects for future reference and revision purposes.
Outsourcing Services
We provide cost-effective outsourcing solutions for mold production while maintaining quality control through dedicated project management. Our established vendor network supports global manufacturing requirements with continuous process improvement feedback. All outsourced projects receive the same engineering oversight and quality assurance as domestically produced molds. We manage the entire outsourcing process from initial quoting to final inspection and delivery coordination.
Questions
What CAD software do you use for mold design?
We use Siemens NX (Unigraphics) software for 3D modeling and accept file types including Parasolid (.x_t), Step (.stp), and Solidworks native files.
Who owns the 3D models after project completion?
Customers retain full ownership of final 3D models. We maintain project archives for reference but customers are responsible for long-term model management.
How are plastic shrink factors determined for molds?
Customers are responsible for specifying shrink factors. We provide guidance when needed but final responsibility rests with the customer.
What mold sizes can you accommodate?
We can build molds fitting presses up to 600 tons. Specific size limitations depend on various factors, so please contact us for detailed requirements.
Do you offer in-house mold sampling?
Yes, we provide in-house sampling through our sister company Mission Plastics North upon request as part of our quality verification process.
How do you handle mold revisions?
We evaluate requested revisions, provide quotes, and design changes using our engineering capabilities. Original customer designs are required for non-Vector molds before revision work begins.
