Although MIM is called the fifth generation of metal forming technology, not all metal parts are suitable for MIM or have economic value for MIM. Only small, fine, complex three-dimensional geometric shapes and special requirements of metal parts produced in large quantities are suitable for MIM and have economic value.
| Characteristics | Minimum | Typical | Maximum |
| Part weight (g) | 0.03 | 10~15 | 300 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 2 | 25 | 150 |
| Wall thickness (mm) | 0.025 | 1~3 | 15 |
| Tolerance | 0.20% | 0.50% | 1% |
| Batch (per year) | 1000 | 100,000 | 1,000,000,000 |
More suitable for metal parts with small weight. The most typical MIM part weight is usually around 10~15g, less than 50g is the most economical, and the maximum does not exceed 300g.
Size MIM is more suitable for small metal parts. The most typical MIM part size is around 25mm, and the maximum does not exceed 150mm.
Why is MIM process not suitable for large-sized parts? This is mainly because the tolerance of MIM parts is generally 0.3%~0.5% of the size. If the size is too large, the tolerance of the part will become larger. If the tolerance is too large, it may not meet the design requirements, or additional secondary processing such as machining is required, which increases the cost. Thickness The typical thickness of MIM parts is 1.0~3.0mm.
It has complex three-dimensional geometric shapes such as external grooves, external threads, tapered external surfaces, cross holes, blind holes, concave platforms, key pins, reinforcing ribs, surface knurling, etc. If it is a simple shape, it may be more economically valuable to use processes such as sheet metal stamping, forging and powder forming.
It needs to be formed by molds, and molds have costs, so the MIM process requires metal parts to have economic value under the premise of a certain batch. Generally speaking, the annual batch requirement suitable for the MIM process is more than 100,000.
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