Rapid Mold Validation for Future Smith Blade Enhancement Using INJEKTO 3
The Challenge
The Hacksmith wanted to create an add-on component for the existing Smith Blade that increases internal thickness and unlocks a modular system for future tools and functional inserts. The final part will be produced in titanium using metal injection molding, but iterating the molds for metal injection is a costly and slow process. The geometry also required a complex 13-part mold. Before sending anything to full scale metal production, The Hacksmith needed a fast and reliable way to prototype the mold design and identify any issues early.
The Solution
The Hacksmith designed a full 13-piece mold and used INJEKTO 3 with mold lifters and mold backers to prototype accurate polypropylene (PP) versions of the part. This allowed him to check clearances and overall flow performance without committing to immediate titanium manufacturing. INJEKTO 3 produced consistent test parts, letting him refine the mold in real time and confirm that the geometry worked exactly as intended before moving forward.
The Results
The plastic prototypes gave The Hacksmith a clear view of how the mold behaved and how each of the 13 components interacted during injection and ejection. This early stage validation helped identify areas for refinement and reduced the risk of costly changes later in the metal tooling stage. With a functioning prototype mold complete, he now has the data needed to advance the project toward titanium production and continue building the modular ecosystem planned for the Smith Blade.
