Engineering

Sintering supports are essential during the debinding and high-temperature sintering processes, as they prevent distortion of molded parts—also known as green parts.

Draft refers to the slight taper incorporated into the design of molded parts. MIM components are often designed with minimal or no draft.

Fillets and radii enhance the manufacturing process by allowing for smoother transitions at corners and edges to improve part strength.

Ribs and webs are structural features used to enhance part strength while minimizing dimensional variations due to shrinkage during debinding and sintering.

Gating refers to the design and placement of the entry points where material flows into the mold during metal injection molding, and its location is crucial for balancing manufacturability, part function, and aesthetics.

Sink and knitlines ensure even material distribution and minimizes aesthetic defects, leading to enhanced part quality and performance while also addressing potential weak points.

An optimal wall thickness of 0.040” to 0.120” balances material efficiency and production costs while ensuring adequate part strength.

Flash and witness lines arise from the interface between two mold components and can impact both the aesthetics and functionality of a part.

Interchangeable mold inserts minimize tooling fabrication costs and allow for flexibility in design for low to medium volume applications due to potential witness marks from metal-to-metal seal-off areas.

Dimensional tolerances refer to the acceptable variations in part dimensions, typically achievable to ±0.3% of nominal size, though the exact tolerances can vary based on factors like design, material, and inspection techniques.