MEMBERS NEWS New member Metal Injection Mouldings Ltd wins prestigious guided missile contract.
When a manufacturer of guided missiles needed some small complex components with particularly good magnetic properties, they turned to Metal Injection Mouldings Ltd of Altrincham, Cheshire to provide the solution.
The “MIM” process uses extremely fine powder metals, to which a special binder is added. Parts are moulded into the desired shape using similar techniques to plastic injection moulding. The binder is subsequently removed and the pure metal part is fired at high temperature (sintering), resulting in a component with 95 to 98% density.
The high density achieved, results in excellent magnetic properties for Pure Iron, 50%Nickel 50% Iron, or Iron/Silicon materials. MIM parts in these alloys have also been used for Aircraft Actuators, Dot-Matrix Printer Heads, Seat-Belt electronic controls, Water & Blood Measuring devices and other equipment requiring small parts with specific magnetic responses.
The high density of metal injection mouldings also results in good mechanical strengths for alloy steels, stainless and tool steels or Nickel/Cobalt alloys.
Metal Injection Mouldings are ideal for small components with complex shapes or intricate detail, such as blind holes, odd-shaped holes, internal and external threads, fine teeth and lettering, which can all be moulded in saving time additional machining and money.
The “MIM” process uses the same design philosophies as plastic injection moulding, but with the superior strengths of steels – a great attraction for designers and engineers alike!
