When your prototypes evolve faster than your sourcing chain.

A recent Kickstarter campaign from Texas-based Saltgator Tech, Inc. introduced a desktop soft-gel injection molding machine for just $399.

The campaign is doing very well, to say the least.

Unlike industrial setups, it fits on a workbench and processes TPEs (think fishing lures, cosplay grips, custom caps) — no bulky infrastructure required.

Meanwhile, MicroMolder is winning over makers and design teams with its Evo‘s one-ounce shot capacity, 8.5-ton clamp, and fridge‑quiet servo drive — all powered from a 120 V wall outlet.

It takes functional prototyping from desk to part in hours, not weeks.

Injection molds are normally a huge expense — often thousands to tens of thousands of dollars — because they’re precision-machined from hardened steel or aluminum for high-volume production.

Desktop injection molding flips that model: you can 3D-print or CNC a simple mold for a fraction of the cost, then use real production materials to make functional parts in minutes.

That’s something 3D printing alone can’t possibly match — especially for plastics that need the strength, finish, or durability of injection-molded parts.

Why these advances matter:

• Low barrier to prototyping — Drop a well-designed 3D-printed mold in and you can test real plastic parts instantly.
• Flexibility meets speed — Swap materials, tweak molds, iterate day-of—no tooling long-leads.
• More sustainable prototyping — Less external waste, more in-house control.

This trend is reshaping how small teams iterate — a real leap from idea to tangible feedback.

Want to make YOUR product irresistible? That’s what we do as go-to-market roadmap consultants at Graphos Product, helping innovators turn need-driven ideas into market-ready successes.