Choose between LSR injection and compression molding based on volume, geometry, and budget. Compression molding offers lower tooling cost ($1.5k–8k), slower cycles (3–8 min), and moderate tolerances (±0.15–0.50 mm), making it ideal for simple parts, fast T0 samples, and volumes under 50,000 pcs/year. LSR injection has higher tooling cost ($8k–30k+), much faster cycles (30–90 sec), and tighter tolerances (±0.05–0.15 mm), suiting complex or thin-wall parts, medical/FDA needs, and volumes above 50,000–100,000 pcs/year. Many OEMs start with compression for prototypes, freeze the design, then switch to LSR for mass production.
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