Contract manufacturing
Opening page: Advanced Powder Products’ MIM technology at work.
upon the technology capabilities of the processor, rather than established industry practices. The MIM process is very much a science and, like any scientific discipline, it operates according to a set of principles. First, a hypothesis is created, which in the case of MIM is characterised as a set of rules to design experiments around. These principles lead to the creation of a stable and scalable production process that includes feedstock compounding, the injection moulding process itself, catalytic or solvent debinding, sintering, and secondary processing. The parameters of each processing stage must be fully characterised when designing an MIM part.
The MIM process can be used to manufacture a wide variety of materials and alloys. Once a material is selected, the process starts with formulating feedstock – a combination of fine metal powders and binders, such as waxes and different polymers. Once cooled, the feedstock is granulated into pellets to prepare for injection moulding. To ensure reliability and repeatability during processing, the feedstock compounding process is tightly controlled.
0,1 mm Custom Etched Components
Lancets, blades, needles...
www.micrometal.de
Custom-designed medical components: - Extremely high precision
- From prototype to high-volume production - as continuous strips, sheets or single parts
The MIM sintering stage occurs when the moulded parts are placed in a high-temperature furnace. The part is heated near its melting point, all the remaining binder is completely removed and the metal particles are bonded together. The part then shrinks and densifies, and the final strength and geometry of the metal part are formed. This stage is where part geometry is most important. Because the moulded part is heated near its melting point and shrinks up to 20%, gravity greatly impacts the component. For this reason, component designers must consult with MIM experts to factor the shrink and distortion into the form, fit, and function. This can be easily overcome with the use of sintering fixtures, and dimensional capability remains excellent, with tolerances plus or minus 0.5% on average.
What makes a good medical MIM part?
- Innovative design options - Burr- and stress-free parts
We provide the realization of your optimal design without the limitations of other technologies.
Get involved in a new dimension! Contact us today: +1 603585 3325
karl.martinson@
micrometal.de
When evaluating and designing a component for metal injection moulding, one of the most common questions asked is ‘what materials can you MIM’? A good part is typically made from ferrous alloys such as carbon steels, stainless steels, and tool steels. If a material has a high enough melting temperature and the powders are available in the appropriate size, it can most likely be created using MIM. This rules out non-ferrous alloys such as zinc and aluminium. Medical device engineers need to ensure alloys will pass FDA and biocompatibility testing. Fortunately, MIM can process a wide variety of nickel-based and cobalt-chrome alloys that are widely accepted and have a documented track record within the FDA.
micrometal GmbH | Renkenrunsstrasse 24 | 79379 Muellheim | Germany 0,1 mm
0,1 mm 30
After material selection, the next characteristic to consider when designing for metal injection moulding
Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
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