What Do T0, T1, and T2 Mean in Injection Mold Trials?

A Complete Breakdown of Mold Trial Stages and the Production Process

In the development of injection molds and product mass production, terms like T0, T1, and T2 are commonly heard. These codes are not just task markers — they are essential checkpoints for ensuring mold quality and managing lead times.
Understanding each stage helps improve development efficiency, reduce the risk of mold rework, and accelerate time-to-market.

T0 – Initial Mold Trial: Identifying Core Issues

T0 refers to the very first mold trial after mold assembly is completed. The purpose is not to produce final-quality samples, but to inspect the basic mold function and forming feasibility:

• Ensure smooth mold opening/closing and ejection actions

• Verify injection feasibility; check for short shots or poor filling

• Evaluate venting performance; check for flash, burn marks, or air traps

• Inspect interference, uneven wear, or misalignment in cavities or mechanisms

• Assess initial shape formation and compare against flow analysis (Moldflow)

 T0 is for identifying problems — not validating results.
Samples from this stage are for internal use, allowing the engineering team to analyze defects and propose mold corrections or parameter adjustments.

T1 – First Official Trial After Initial Corrections

After resolving the issues found in T0, the mold enters the T1 stage. This is the first trial where parts are reviewed for dimensional accuracy and quality benchmarks:

• Conduct dimensional measurements to verify tolerance compliance

• Inspect whether cosmetic defects (e.g., flow lines, weld lines, sink marks) are reduced

• Perform initial functional testing if applicable

• Confirm mechanical actions and fitting consistency of components

 If T1 results are stable and meet customer requirements, some clients may proceed with low-volume runs or use the parts for quotation samples.

T2 (and Beyond) – Fine-Tuning for Precision and Stability

If parts from T1 still have dimensional deviations, appearance issues, or inconsistent behavior under testing, the process moves into T2:

• Perform localized adjustments: welding, spot-fitting, or insert changes

• Optimize injection parameters to improve yield and consistency

• Fix assembly interference, warpage, or deformation

• Reinforce mold stability for long-term production

 T2 samples are often submitted for final customer approval, certification testing, or trial production runs.

Mold Trial Stage Reference Table

Joumon Strength: Shorter Trial Cycles, Faster Production Start

In mold development, the cycle between T0 and T1 often determines overall lead time. With over 40 years of experience in medium-to-large plastic molds, Joumon Enterprise Co., Ltd. is highly skilled at identifying key trial points and accelerating mold maturity.

Our molds often reach near-production readiness by T1, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing rework. We are experienced in automotive, home appliance, and electronics industries, and provide full-service solutions from mold development to stable mass production.

Contact us to learn more about mold development and trial processes.
Website: www.joumon.com.tw
Location: No. 53, Sande St., Shulin Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan