What Is Draft Angle?

Draft angle is a slight taper added to the walls of a molded part so it can release cleanly from the mold. It sounds like a small detail, but without enough draft, parts stick, drag, and come out damaged. It's one of those design features that's easy to add early and painful to fix late — which is why molders bring it up so often.

Why Draft Matters

Injection-molded parts have to be pushed out of the mold once they cool. A vertical wall wants to grip the mold; a slightly tapered one slides free. Adequate draft means clean release, less wear on the mold, and fewer cosmetic defects — a small change that prevents real problems.

What Happens Without Enough Draft

Design It In Early

Draft is far easier to build into a design from the start than to add after a mold is being made. It's a routine part of designing for molding — and a good example of why part design and the molding process have to be considered together.

Common Mistakes We See

A Good Next Step

A short conversation can help you understand whether your part has adequate draft — and how to work it in without hurting the design.

Please keep your question general — no confidential product details are needed for the introductory consultation. If confidential review is needed later, an NDA can be arranged before a longer engagement.