• Uniform wall thicknesses between cross sections are ideal (wall thicknesses can change, as long as gradual transitions are applied)
  • Coring (material equals cost, so reduce material by coring thick sections that are non-functional with gradual transitions;  coring perpendicular to parting line will not increase tool cost drastically; coring parallel to parting line is possible, but will increase tool cost)
  • Sintering supports (large flat sections are preferred for sinter staging; if there is not a large flat section, APG does offer custom setters for sintering)
  • Draft (plastic injection molding principles apply; 2° of draft is ideal, but sections of 0° draft are achievable)
  • Radii & Fillets (radii & fillets are achieved in the tool; radii greater than 0.008” are preferred on outside corners; fillets are preferred on internal corners to aid material flow)
  • Holes & Slots (both can easily be added to the mold; holes or slots perpendicular to parting line will not increase tool cost drastically; holes or slots parallel to parting line are possible, but will increase tool cost and process time; hex, square, and D shaped holes are all welcome)
  • Undercuts (external and internal undercuts are both possible; external are easily produced; internal are more of a challenge; if undercut is open on one side it can be formed with a slide; if not, it would need formed with a collapsible core which is not preferable in the MIM process)
  • Threads (internal and external are both moldable; external threads require parting line flats (0.005” –0.015” will typically suffice); internal threads require an unscrewing core and significant mold cost; machining internal threads is the preferred process)
  • Texturing, Lettering, & Logos (all are possible either perpendicular or parallel to parting line)

Material Options

  • Stainless Steel (303, 304, 310, 316, 430, 410, 416, 420, 440C, 17-4PH, 465)
  • Low Carbon Steel (1010, 4140, 4605, 4630, 8620)
  • Specialty Steel (inconel, cobalt chrome, titanium, tool steels)

MIM Process

Casting

Relative Cost

MIM combines two existing technologies:

  • Plastic Injection Molding
  • Powder Metallurgy

Machining

MIM

  1. Feedstock Compounding (pelletized from raw metal powders and polymer binders dry mixed to form a homogenous blend)
  2. Molding (standard injection molding machine with upgrades)
  3. Debinding (solvent; thermal, catalytic)
  4. Sintering (large batch, small batch, continuous pusher furnaces)
  5. Post Sintering (machining; heat treating; passivating; plating; hot isostatic pressing; deburring; grinding)

Complexity

Powdered Metal

"We represent the manufacturer"

Relative Cost vs Complexity

MIM Guidelines

Monday - Friday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Metal Injection Molding Services

P.O. Box 1819

West Chester, OH  45071

The goal with MIM is to eliminate as many post secondary operations as possible.

Phone

419.708.5313

MIM is capable of  making parts with:

  • The flexibility and detail of plastic injection molding
  • Similar material properties to wrought machined products
  • Complex features that are difficult to machine
  • Precision tolerances (±0.5% inch per inch)
  • Cost effective customer pricing
D&D Engineered Components