When to use MIM?
Rules and tips for the design of a part

Suitable materials

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel alloys, such as 316L and 17-4 PH, are frequently utilized in MIM due to their excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and durability.

Low Alloy Steels: MIM is well-suited for producing components using low alloy steels, including materials like 4140, 4340, and 4605. These steels offer enhanced mechanical properties and are often chosen for their strength and wear resistance.

Tool Steels: Tool steels like M2, H13, and A2 are commonly employed in MIM for manufacturing parts that require high hardness, toughness, and wear resistance. These materials are ideal for tooling applications and components subject to harsh operating conditions.

Soft Magnetic Alloys: MIM is also suitable for producing soft magnetic alloys, such as magnetic stainless steels (e.g., 430F), that exhibit excellent magnetic properties and are widely used in industries like electronics and automotive. Titanium Alloys: MIM is increasingly being utilized for manufacturing titanium alloy components, such as Ti-6Al-4V, due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. These alloys find applications in aerospace, medical, and automotive industries.

Tungsten Alloys: MIM is capable of producing high-density tungsten alloy components, such as tungsten heavy alloys (W-Ni-Fe), which are known for their exceptional density, strength, and radiation shielding properties.

Size and Weight

Size plays a crucial role in MIM production, impacting both the weight of the parts and the sintering capacity. Our MIM process utilizes molybdenum trays with a size of 200*200, and maximizing the number of parts processed per box is essential for cost efficiency in continuous and batch furnace operations. Based on our historical data, the optimal size range for MIM parts falls between 0.5 grams and 40 grams. However, we have successfully manufactured parts exceeding 150 grams, which, thanks to their configuration and the resulting savings in machining, remain cost-effective compared to alternative technologies.

Equally important is the part's design, as it needs to be tailored to the technology's limitations and minimize the need for secondary operations such as machining, ultimately reducing costs. Design considerations include avoiding sharp edges and incorporating as many radii as possible to facilitate material injection, prevent segregation during the injection process, and minimize the occurrence of cracks after sintering.

Additionally, providing adequate space for injection points and ensuring homogeneous wall thickness is crucial for proper material flow during injection. It's important to note that injecting steel powder presents unique challenges due to its nature as a difficult material to inject. By carefully considering these design factors, we can optimize the MIM process and ensure the successful production of high-quality components.

Discover the key principles of Design Rules and Tolerances with our informative guide

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