The Advantages

Producing metal parts by the classical methods of powder technology or investment casting comes up against major problems like :

  • Density limited to 90%
  • Simple forms
  • Loose tolerances
  • Metallurgical risks…

 

The specificity of the process allows the injection of all kind of forms, from the simplest to the most complex one.
In addition, the process offers the capability to realise parts including many functionalities and avoiding subsequent assembly.
The PIM process, based on injection moulding of metallic powders, allows us to realise parts as complex as plastic ones.
Higher the complexity of the part will be, lower the series could be : from 5000 parts per year to many tens of thousand parts per year.

As the process is based on injection, very complex parts with tight tolerances and a density of more then 98% can be considered. In fact, it is easy to produce large numbers of parts at attractive prices. The cost of the part is directly related to its weight and its volume.

One of the interests in this process is to be able to produce parts from 50 to 500 gr. or more, with tight tolerances.
The usual limits are : +/- 0.5% of the dimension and could be reduced to +/- 0.3% on target dimensions.

Radius :

± 1%

Concentricity :

0,50%

Tolerances :

  • usual :
  • tight :
  • minimum :
  • angular :
 .
  • ± 0,5%
  • ± 0,3%
  • ± 0,03 mm
  • ± 0,5 degree

Flatness :

0,30%
Métal Inject Sintering Investment Casting

Density
> 98%
No external porosity

85 à 90%
90 à 95%

Complexity

Mould with many slides and fine details

Very simple, unidirectional removal of mould
Low level of details

Mould
Price equivalent to mould for plastic industry
Low cost mould
Cavity in a matrix

Series
Medium to large series of complex part
Large series of simple parts
Well adapted to low series

Mechanical
characteristics
Same as machined
Low
Good but craks and porosity

Microstructure
Uniform and isotropic
Anisotropic

Foundry defects (microsegregation)