Designing with metal injection molding (MIM) allows for various technical advantages. MIM allows for the same part design freedom used for plastic parts production, but the final MIM component comprises metal. Metal injection molding allows the design engineers to re-imagine components from fresh perspectives, reducing material and combining multiple components into one.

The feedstock heated in the injection machine, which has the consistency of toothpaste, is injected into the mold under high pressure. The molding process allows the parts to be formed in a single step and does not waste any material.

The obtained part is called a “green” part, and it is about 20-25% larger than the final component to allow the shrinkage during the sintering.

The “green” part is heated in a low-temperature furnace to remove most of the polymer binders, which are only required for the molding, and densify the powders in a controlled manner.

After completing the process, the part is called the “brown” part, and it is ready for the final phase.

The “brown” part is sintered by the diffusion method right below the melting temperature. The sintering phase allows metal particles to be densified.

It removes pores from the material, causing the part to shrink to 75-80% of its molded size. The shrinkage occurs uniformly and can be accurately predicted. The parts that complete the process are obtained as metal parts.

After completing the sintering phase, the part achieves its final dimensions and final geometry, and it is ready for assembly.

No secondary operations may be required to improve tolerance or surface finish. However, components that need secondary operations, such as adding features, and improving material properties are processed at this stage.