MIM
MIM is a new metal processing technology which combines advantages of both plastic injection & powder metallurgy, it is a rapidly developing PIM tech in the industry.
Application
With advantages compared to traditional powder metallurgy, machining or investment casting , MIM as a new technology is free of geometry design limitation and can provide batch production of complicated parts similar as that of plastic injection. MIM has a lot of applications such as automobile, consumer electronics, medical parts, tool parts, lock parts, telecommunications, etc…
Product Feature
1、MIM parts has high degree of freedom in shapes like plastic products, and complex metal parts can be produced at one time.
2、MIM products has uniform density, good finish, the surface roughness can be achieved Ra 0.80 ~ 1.6μm, weight range of 0.1 ~ 200g. Dimensional accuracy (± 0.1% ~ ± 0.3%), generally it has no follow-up processing.
3、MIM is applicable to a wide range of materials, wide application areas, high utilization of raw materials, a high degree of automation, simple process can achieve continuous mass production.
4、Stable quality, reliable performance, the relative density of products up to 95% to 98%, which can be carburizing, quenching, tempering and other heat treatment. Product strength, hardness, elongation are good.
Process
Firstly, the metal powder and the organic binder are mixed into the homogeneous feed under certain temperature; then feedstock is injected into the cavity of the mold by the injection molding machine in the state of heating and plasticizing. Forming billet, and then through chemical or solvent extraction method degreasing treatment, the final densification by sintering to be the final product.
Process Feature
Dimension |
MIM |
Powdered Metal |
Investment Casting |
Machining |
density |
98% |
88% |
98% |
100% |
tensile strength |
High |
Low |
High |
High |
surface finish |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
miniaturization |
High |
Medium |
Low |
Medium |
thin wall ability |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
complexity |
High |
Low |
Medium |
High |
design flexibility |
High |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
range of materials |
High |
High |
Medium |
High |