Case Study: DipJar reduces time-to-market with Protolabs' quick-turn injection molding

DipJar Puts New Twist on Cashless Tipping

DipJar, a startup creating a card-based tipping device that lets customers “dip” a card to leave a tip, faced a time-to-market crisis moving from 3D-printed cast-urethane prototypes to production parts. After a supplier failed to deliver tooling and injection-molded components for more than three months, DipJar turned to Protolabs for quick-turn injection molding and tooling to meet an urgent 500-unit run.

Protolabs used its automated quoting and online design feedback to iterate parts quickly, then produced tooling and injection-molded ABS caps, faceplates and bases in under 15 days—cutting what had been a months-long wait to days. The fast delivery let DipJar ship the 500-unit run (350 units pre-sold), enabled the LED-readable thin ABS cap and durable branding, and allowed DipJar to plan larger U.S. production runs thanks to Protolabs’ speed, quality and competitive pricing.

DipJar

Jon Fraser

Director of Hardware