Metal Injection Mouldings Ltd - Metal Injection Mouldings

Although Metal Injection Moulding is a well-established process, it is still relatively new to many people. Our staff at Metal Injection Mouldings Ltd have a long experience with MIM products, having been involved since the early days of the process and will be pleased to assist with design, technical or commercial matters. This page will give you most of the information you need to know when considering the advantages that Metal Injection Mouldings can offer you.

The MIM process reduces or eliminates machining operations and is ideal for small components in medium to high quantities, offering economic and technical advantages over alternative manufacturing methods. MIM components can be made in a wide range of metals including low alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels, magnetic alloys, Invar and Kovar, with excellent properties.

Read More

Almost any fine particle metal that can be sintered is suitable for Metal Injection Moulding, the main exceptions being aluminium and zinc. Metallurgical properties are similar to castings and mechanical strengths and ductility are superior to conventionally sintered parts.

Conventional sintering/powder metallurgy results in numerous large interconnected voids, which are angular in shape, leading to weaker, brittle parts. MIM components are more dense and any remaining pores are small, spherical and not connected, resulting in superior tensile strength, impact strength and elongation.

Heat treatment can be carried out on metal Injection mouldings in a conventional manner, including surface hardening, whilst other secondary operations such as polishing, grinding, plating, bending and even welding can be undertaken in the normal way. As may be expected, specifications of materials for MIM parts are slightly different to wrought materials, but may be adjusted to meet the mechanical properties required.

A selection of metal Injection moulding materials is given below, but others can be supplied and we would be pleased to discuss your requirements.

Metal Injection Moulding is a manufacturing process in which fine metal powder is mixed with a special binder and injected into a die to form the required shape. The binder is then removed and the part is finally sintered, to produce a high-density metal component. The design principles are similar to those for plastic injection mouldings and pressure die-castings, but the MIM process offers far superior mechanical properties to either of these.