MIM: Metal Injection Molding

Process

The MIM technology is the most efficient technique when it comes to high tolerances and complex

The metal injection uses feedstock which consists of a metal
compound made with binders and powdered metals.

Once the feedstock has been injected into the mould, there
comes both a debiding and sintering phase.

This allows for the reduction or elimination of “non value added”
machining process such as filleting, embossments, helical geometries,
etc.

What is achieved is a high level of precision at the lowest cost to
production.

Sectors

MIM technology is mostly applied when it concerns:

  • MEDICAL
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • INDUSTRIAL
  • TEXTILE
  • EYEWEAR
  • MICRO-MECHANICS

PRODUCTS

Why use Metal Injection Molding?

PROCESS TYPE LIMITATIONS MIM ADVANTAGES
Lost wax casting Textile
Medical
Valves
Devices for weapons
Watchmaking
tolerances
joint quantity with an elaborate and long work cycle
additional processing
excessive roughness
costs
high precision
high repeatability
low roughness
elimination of mechanical machining
complex shapes
low costs
Diecasting Mechanical parts in general very low mechanical characteristics
expensive molds
limitation of complex shapes
excellent mechanical characteristics (density 95-97%)
wide choice of materials
mechanical processing Mechanical parts in general waste processing material
cost of tools and equipment
limitation of complex shapes
all the material is recycled for production
the low tolerances allow in most cases to immediately use the details
no additional tooling costs
synthesizing igear
trees mechanical parts
very low mechanical characteristics
very low density
limitation of complex shapes
excellent mechanical characteristics (density 95-97%)
high density
complex shapes

Technical specifications

DIMENSIONS
Max Length 100 mm
Sections 0.2 - 5 mm
Optimal weight < 50 g
Surface finish(Ra) 0.8 - 1.6 μm
TOLERANCE
DIMENSIONS TOLERANCE
5 mm ± 0.03mm
10 mm ± 0.05mm
20 mm ± 0.10mm
40 mm ± 0.15mm
50 mm ± 0.20mm
imm-mim

Materiali

Material Group Alloy Name UTS MPa YS (0,2%) MPa Elong % Hardness Density g/cm3
Low Alloy Steels 8% Ni-Steel MIM 4605 as sintered MIM 4605 heat treated 413 689 1653 255 482 1446 26 15 4 60 HRB 90 HRB 48 HRC 7,6 7,5 7,5
Austenitic Steinless Steel AISI 316L AISI 304L 482 241 30 65 HRB 7,7 7,7
Ferrite SS Stainless Steel AISI 340 413 241 30 65 HRB 7,5
Martens Tic Stainless Steel AISI 420 AISI 420 (Premium) AISI 440C (Premium) 1033 1929 1584 1643 1343 8 4 50 HRC 52 HRC 59 HRC 7,3 7,6 7,5
Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel 17-4 has sintered 17-4 PH H900 827 1240 640 1102 12 7 25 HRC 36 HRC 7,6 7,6
Duplex Structure Stainless Steel ASTM A276 (2205) 620 516 27 93 HRB 7,5
Soft Magnetic Materials Fe-Si Alloy 50 427 448 262 158 20 33 68 HRB 58 HRB 7,5 7,7
Copper Based Cu 100% 8,3
Titanium TI-GAI-4V (Annealed) TI-GAI-4V (AGED) 744 923 716 827 10 4 4,2 4,2
High Speed Steel M2 1200 800 65 HRC 7,9
Tungsten Heavy Alloy WHA 320Hv1 17,8