MIM - Metal Injection Molding
MIM - metal powder injection moulding offers a wide range of design possibilities. A major advantage of this process is that components with demanding geometries, which can only be produced in multiple parts using conventional methods, can be manufactured in a single piece.
Available Materials
Steel - Titanium - Cu alloys - Silver - Gold
Typical Component Sizes
- Weight from 1.0 gr to approx. 100 gr / heavier parts also possible
Sizes: 5 mm - ca 100 mm
Quantities: starting from 1000 pcs per lot
Production Examples |
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| Impact lever for Pistol Material MIM-FeNi8 Weight 19.9 g L= 38 mm |
Gear with shaft Material 16MnCr5 Weight 10.0 g Ø 18.0 mm |
Shutter block for Pistol Material MIM-16MnCr5 Weight 31.85 g L= 53 mm |
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| Drive - fine adjustment for Binoculars Material MIM-316L, Weight 5.81 g, L = 17 mm |
Lock Part "Nut" Material 1.4542 Weight ca 12 gr Wall Thickness 2,6 mm |
Door Latch Material 1.4542 Weight ca 19 g Length 32 mm |
MIM - Method
Applications
| Application Fields | |
|---|---|
| Microtechnology: | Housing / Micro-Precision Parts |
| Automotive: | Transmission parts / Functional components |
| Medical: | Chir. Tools / Arthroscopy Instruments |
| Optical Industry: | Parts for Cameras and Laser Systems |
| Consumer Electronics: | Drive parts for CD players |
| Electrical Industry: | Device connectors, Contacts, Magnetic Applications |
| Textile Machinery Industry: | Components for embroidery and Sewing Machines |
| Fitting and Lock Industry: | Parts for Micro-Locks and Visible Parts |
| Watch Industry: | Watch cases, bracelets, gears |
| Jewelry industry: | Chains, Pendants, Rings |
| Gun Components: | Whip, Lock Block |
Tolerances
Achievable Tolerances and Surfaces Finishes
Nominal Dimension (mm)
| < | 3 | 0.05 | ||||
| 3 | - | 6 | 0,06 | |||
| 6 | - | 15 | 0,075 | mm | ||
| 15 | - | 30 | 0,15 | mm | ||
| 30 | - | 60 | 0,25 | mm | ||
| > | 60 | 0,5 % | of the nominal dimension |
Tolerances for MIM Precision
| < | 0,5% | of the measure of length | |
| Angle | +/- | 0° 30' |
Surface roughness MIM [micrometer]
| Rz | > | 4 | - | 20 |
Typical component-Characteristics
| Dimension | 5,0 | mm | to | 10 | mm |
| Wall Thickness | 0,5 | mm | to | 3 | mm |
| Weight | 0,1 | g | to | 100 | g |
Materials
| Type | M.-No. | Short Description | Characteristics | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Alloyed Steels | ||||
| Fes1 | - | FeC | Cabonyle Iron + C | Components with lower mech. characteristics |
| FN02 | - | FeNi2 | Cabonyle Iron + Nickel | General components with a very good surface quality |
| FN02C | - | FeNi2+0.6C | Cabonyle Iron + Nickel + C | General components, hardenable |
| FN08 | - | FeNi8 | Cabonyle Iron + Nickel | General machine components requesting high ductility |
| FN08C | - | FeNi8+0.6C | Cabonyle Iron + Nickel + C | General machine components, hardenable |
| Fe2Cu | - | FeCu2-5 | Cabonyle Iron + Cu | General machine components, higher strengths than FeNi basic materials |
| 42CrMo4 | 1.7225 | 42CrMo4 | Tempering steel, parts with high strength and toughness, large compensation gauge | Gears, Shafts, Automotive parts |
| 21NiCrMo2 | 1.6523 | 21NiCrMo2 | Case-hardening steel, parts subject to extreme stress, cold forming | Disc wheels, Camshafts |
| Stainless and acid resistant steels | ||||
| 316L | 1.4404 / 1.4435 | 316L / VA4 | austenitic, nonmagnetizable, good corrosion resistance. low hardness, high toughness | Watches & Jewelery, medical instruments, polished parts, general equipment , chem. Industry. |
| 17-4PH | 1.4542/ 1.4548 | 17-4PH | nonmartensitic, ferromagnetic, corrosion-resistant. can be hardened by precipitation hardening | Pump parts, medical parts, automotive parts, machine components, aviation and marine parts |
| X15CrNiSi25.20 | 1.4841 | X15CrNiSi25.20 | heat resistant up to 1150 ° C | Catalyzers, industrial furnaces |
| X12CrNiMoNb20.15 | 1.4885 | X12CrNiMoNb20.15 | heat resistant up to 1000 ° C | Brackets of blank annealing furnace, industrial furnace parts |
| 420 | 1.4021 | X20Cr13 | martensitic, ferromagnetic, low corrosion resistance, high hardness, can be tempered | Pump parts, medical engineering parts, turbine blades, knives, cutting parts |
| 430 | 1.4016 | X6Cr17 | martensitic, ferromagnetic, corrosion resistant | for ferromagnetic, stainless components, cutlery, automotive parts |
| Tool Steels | ||||
| M2 | 1.3343/ 1.3342 | S-6-5-2 | High-Speed Steel | Reamers, Spiral Drills, Drills, Taps, Countersinks, Precision Tools |
| 100Cr6 | 1.2067 | - | Alloyed High-Speed Steel, high hardness and wear resistance | Gauges, mandrels, punches, woodworking tools, flanging rollers, drawing mandrels |
| Steels with spec phys properties | ||||
| FeN | FeN | carbon-free carbonyl iron, magnetizable | magnetic components | |
| FeSi3 | 1.0884 | FeSi3 | high saturation magnetization | |
| FeCo | FeCo48 | very high saturation magnetization | magnetic components | |
| FeCoV | FeCo49V2 | very high saturation magnetization | ||
| Kovar | Kovar | Magnetic material | magnetic components | |
| Invar | 1.3912 | Invar | Expansion alloy, smallest thermal expansion | bimetallic |
| Copper Base Materials | ||||
| Cu | Cu | pure Copper | Electrical engineering, contacts | |
| CuNixx | CuNi3-30 | Coin alloy, plating material, contacts | ||
| CuNiH | CuNiH | high hardness | Electrical engineering, contacts, fittings, tribological properties | |
| CuFe | CuFe | average hardness | Electrical engineering, contacts, fittings, tribological properties | |
| Heavy Metals | ||||
| WNiFe/A | WNi4Fe3 | shields radioactive radiation | Medical technology, sensor technology | |
| WCu10/A | WCu10 | excellent burn-off resistance | Electrical engineering, contacts | |
| WCu20/A | WCu20 | excellent burn-off resistance | Electrical engineering, contacts | |
| Carbides | ||||
| WCCo6 | WCCo6 | Medical technology | ||
| WCCo10 | WCCo10 | Cutters, hard metal moldings and components | ||
| Light Metals | ||||
| Ti / B | 3.7065 | Ti ( Grad4) | ASTM Grade 4, non-magnetizable, high corrosion resistance, light | Watches, jewelery, medical technology, food technology, aviation |
