MIM Technology

The Metal Injection Molding (MIM) or Powder Injection Molding (PIM) technology is a net shape process for manufacturing highly complex metal or ceramic parts for medium to high annual quantities.

Metal Injection Molding combines the design freedom of plastic injection molding with material properties of metals. MIM is a cost-effective alternative to traditional metal forming techniques such as machining, investment casting, and in some cases powder metallurgy.

The MIM Process:

• Eliminates traditional metalworking technology limitations and allows significant shape sophistication and combination of multiple parts in one component.
• Entails the most cost effective manufacturing method for small metal parts in medium to high annual quantities, requiring limited set-ups when manufactured by machining.

The MIM process begins with mixing and granulating the proprietary metal powder with organic binders; typically wax, thermoplastic resins and other materials. The compounded material is then loaded into a molding machine where the parts are formed; these molded parts are known as "green" and are typically 15-25% larger than the finished product. The parts then go through a de-binding process to remove the organic binders. Lastly there is sintering, where the parts shrink to their final dimensions and density. The parts can then undergo various surface and other required treatments, resulting in a finished ready-to-assemble component, or a final product.

This method for producing powdered metal parts is optimum where complex shapes are required to be manufactured in high volumes.

These features are what make the MIM technology the best solution for manufacturing high volume complicated parts.

Pressing Technology

Pressing is one of the unique manufacturing technologies used for producing complicated parts. MICROTOOLS apply this technology to manufacture very accurate parts from tungsten carbide and ceramic powders.
The Tungsten Carbide RTP (Ready-To-Press) powder is a composite of tungsten carbide and binders. The most common binders are cobalt or nickel. The percentage of the binder in the composition determines the grade of the RTP powder and the features of the finished part. The most important features are the hardness and wear resistance. The pressing process is along the Y-axis. The forms of the parts are determined by punch & die cutting processes. The most sophisticated presses possess single-degree tolerances, which allow pressing complicated parts. We have developed presses with a tolerance of 5 degrees. With such presses, we are able to produce very complicated parts close to their precise and final dimensions.
Our know-how and experience saves secondary operations and reduces the manufacturing cycle time and costs.

Finishing Technology

MICROTOOLS manufactures the most accurate and complicated parts according to drawings and specifications from customers around the globe. Accuracy is not “mission impossible” for MICROTOOLS; tolerance of 1 μm is not an exceptional demand from our customers.
Today, in the world of micro and nano technologies, the parts become smaller and smaller and the tolerances are tighter and tighter. To achieve these demands we continuously develop unique technologies; machines and tools alike. Our unique technologies, together with state of the art machines, are the tools that enable our customers’ engineers to design parts with very few limitations.

Unlike other MIM manufacturers who obtain sintered parts with tolerances of about ±0.5% from nominal sizes, MIRCORTOOLS has the ability and capacity to obtain high volume parts with tolerances less than 1μm.