Development, Prototype and Bridge tooling, how long does it take and what are the costs?
This is the 'how long is a piece of string?' question!
Firstly, time: Development tools and moulding parts can be produced in a few days (say 5), but this will be subject to a string of conditions relating to the geometry, material, finishes etc. Quoted times will only apply to T1 (first trial), so any tweaks will increase the leadtime. Additionally, this leadtime will almost certainly carry a substantial financial penalty. More typical timescales would be around the 3 - 4 week mark.
Secondly, costs: Costs are driven by part complexity, size and time. It is unusual to see any mould tool offered for less than say £2,000 and in this case the parts may well carry a substantial premium. Reducing the leadtime by 75% could double (or more) the price depending on the vendor. A wide variety of tools could be produced for £5,000 - £7,000 although large complex items can see this exceed £30,000. The only way to accurately quantify this is to obtain a quotation against the specific data involved. (STEP data is advised as not all toolmakers can read STL files.)