TTBy Tonetron Engineering Team · Dongguan Taitron Electronic Limited
How is tooling cost for a custom cable determined?
It follows the number of new tools, not the quantity — new housings, new moulds, new fixtures, new test programs.
Answer: tooling is priced by how many new tools the change creates, not by order quantity.
New housing or overmould — a new mould.
New connector combination — possibly new fixtures and a new test program.
New print or laser marking — new artwork setup.
Colour change only — often no tooling at all.
Split the quote into "tooling" and "unit price" and ask which tools are new. Amortisation and ownership (who keeps the mould if you leave) belong in the contract.