1. MIM technology definition?

MIM technology is the technology that introduce plastic injection molding technology to metal formation. It is a new customized metal processing technology.

2. What is the usual production process for MIM?

First, MIM technology binds and heats laboratory prepared metal powder and adhesive to make out a raw material tablets. Second, when heated, the material will become a viscous paddle-like substance, and put them into the injection mold in high-pressure injection machine so as to get the required parts model. Third, take out the parts from the mold and remove the burrs. Then degrease to remove the binder component (called degreasing). The final step is sintering that put the parts into the high-temperature sintering equipment then the metal powder melting together and become high-density high-performance products.

3. Is the metal melt during the forming process?

No, only the plastic binder is melted, so that the powder flows like a binder. Cooling adhesive makes parts with a certain strength. The parts are then sintered to remove the binder to get a high density to meet the mechanical properties.

4. What is the difference between MIM and traditional powder metallurgy (PM) processes?

Traditional PM uses unidirectional high pressure to press the rough metal powder into a fixed mold position to create parts. However, there is no further improvement in the density during sintering, and the density value is between 80 and 90%, which limits its physical properties as alloys. Due to the flexibility of MIM, there is no restriction on the manufacture of complex products. Fine metal powder combined with high temperature sintering enables MIM to produce a final product with a high density of 98% to 99%. This makes MIM products have similar characteristics with bar molding materials.

5. Will the parts shrink during the removal of the adhesive?

No, the volume of the part does not change during the degreasing process. In the sintering process, parts will shrink 17% 20%, which is based on material properties and engineering technology.

6. Why use MIM?

MIM has the advantage of making fine, highly complex non-standard components that are difficult to manufacture when using traditional machining or casting techniques. MIM process is most suitable to make special requirements parts..

7. What materials can be used to produce?

Almost all metal alloys can be used in the MIM process. The typical alloy includes high-strength steel, stainless steel and nickel-stainless steel. We can select the correct materials according to customers’ requirements. Such as the need for high wear resistance, we can add nickel elements. Shandong No.2 Machinery Co.,Ltd can usd MIM to make cemented carbide parts like tungsten alloy which are widely used in military industry. 

8. What is the delivery time for MIM samples?

The processing and delivery times for samples are normally 35-40 days, but the corresponding lead times are appropriately changed according to the specific engineering requirements.

9. What is the average annual demand?

In general, the typical annual demand for products should be more than 10K, but we will be happy to cooperate in the development phase until the project smoothly.

10. What products are suitable for MIM?

There are no particularly strict limits. Products as light as 1 gram, up to 500 grams, can be, especially suitable for complex, high-precision and non-standard parts. The thinnest wall thickness can be 0.3mm, and the thickest should not more than 7-8cm.

11. What kind of tolerance will be done?

Typical MIM tolerances are 0.3% to 0.5%. Tolerance, however, to a large extent, depends on the geometrical properties of the product. Tolerance beyond MIM technology can be achieved by post machining or fixture control.

12. What equipment is used in the process?

In MIM process, there are material mixing machine, plastic injection molding machine, degreasing - sintering machine, and also some post-processing equipment like CNC machines, heat treatment furnace and drilling machines etc..

13. Can MIM be heat treated or surface treated?

MIM parts have similar property performance as CNC machining products which can be heat treated, electroplated, chemical blacken, polished, similar to the heat treatment can be, surface treatment such as electroplating, oxidized etc..