Rapid prototype molds made by using lower cost steels or aluminum with simple configuration in order to make the plastic or metal parts. Prototypes made in this way can be made from the same material as final mass production but in shorter time and lower cost than production molds. This process can also be used as short term bridge molds to run parts for production purposes until long term tooling is constructed.
These types of molds are useful to verify material selection, part design, and molds concept.