The PowderMet2023 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy and Particulate Materials took place June 18-21 in Las Vegas, USA. Organised by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), the event opened with a presentation from Rodney Brennen, MPIF president, who reported on the state of the PM industry in North America. Brennen shared insights across the four […]
Read More »There have been a lot of customers asking about the various manufacturing methods of metals used for metal parts. A lot of the resulting replies have been biased or incorrect regarding the materials, so I’ll try to describe the various types to the best of my ability. FORGED: Forgings are made from bar stock which […]
Read More »There is a place for each of the traditional metal-forming processes: each has its own strong suits as well as its limitations. But wherever a component fabrication choice exists between MIM(Metal Injection Molding) and one or more of the other processes, it pays to see how they stack up in a head-to-head comparison. The following […]
Read More »Metal injection molding (MIM) produces relatively small, complex, net or near-net parts which can include features such as holes, radii, logos, and text. Moreover, MIM can make such parts for half the cost of CNC machining or investment casting. Better yet, MIM allows the consolidation of multiple components into a single design, eliminating the need […]
Read More »The powder metallurgy (PM) industry gained in 2017. Metal powder shipments grew modestly. PM tooling and equipment makers reported favorable business levels as well. So did companies producing metal injection molding (MIM) parts. Metal additive manufacturing (AM) the new “cool” in metal component manufacturing continues grabbing headlines internationally. Metal Powder Shipments & Trends Manufacturers of […]
Read More »Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology has grown in sophistication to become a leading manufacturing method for many medical-device OEMs since the commercialization of Metal Injection Molding in the mid-1970s. What is the attraction? Basically, MIM can produce complex parts more quickly and at a lower cost than conventional techniques such as machining and investment casting. The technology […]
Read More »The simplest MIM shape is produced in a mold made of two sections with plane surfaces that meet to seal off the cavity. One section consists of a core which fits into an impression in the other section with uniform clearances that produce shapes with uniform wall thicknesses. The core produces the internal features while […]
Read More »There is a place for each of the traditional metal-forming processes: each has its own strong suits as well as its limitations. But wherever a component fabrication choice exists between MIM and one or more of the other processes, it pays to see how they stack up in a head-to-head comparison. The following table shows […]
Read More »What makes a particular component an ideal candidate for fabrication via Metal Injection Molding (MIM)? We break down our guidelines into four basic areas: complexity, size, production volume, and final properties. Complexity MIM offers the same design freedom as plastic injection molding. The more geometrically complex a part is, the more solid the rationale for […]
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