 |
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is a process that combines thermoplastic injection molding with powder metallurgy to produce complex, high-density, high-performance metal parts. MIM breaks through the limitations of traditional powder metallurgy products, the strength limit of breakthrough die casting, the material flow limitation of stamping die forming, the mass production limit of precision casting and the high cost limit of turned parts. A variety of smart mobile devices are changing the world at incredible speeds, and these products require small size, light weight and perfect appearance. As a metal forming process, metal injection molding (MIM) combines the flexibility of design flexibility of powder metallurgy materials and plastic molds.
|
MIM Compared with other processes
Characteristic |
Metal injection molding(MIM) |
Traditional powder metallurgy |
Die casting (zinc, aluminum) |
Precision casting |
Machining |
Shape complexity |
high |
Low |
high |
medium |
high |
Minimum thickness |
0.5 mm |
1mm |
0.8mm |
2mm |
0.5mm |
Surface roughness |
thin
1μm Ra |
crude |
medium |
medium
5μm Ra |
thin |
Mechanical strength |
high |
medium |
Low |
medium |
high |
Material selection |
many |
medium |
few |
medium |
many |
density |
95~99% |
< 95% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Precision |
medium |
high |
medium |
medium |
high |
Electroplatability |
excellent |
Low |
medium |
excellent |
excellent |
Mass production |
high |
high |
high |
medium |
Low |
cost |
medium |
Low |
medium |
medium |
high |
|