What is the appropriate size for products manufactured by MIM?

The dimensional tolerance of MIM products is 0.3~0.5% of the injection-molded size, with net-shape accuracy reaching ±0.5%. MIM is especially suitable for complex precision components weighing less than 100 grams, enabling high-quality manufacturing through shrinkage compensation.

MIM smart wearable devices will dominate the market in the future.

The Apple Watch drove the rise of the wearable device market. Five major trends: smarter fashion glasses, smart jewelry gaining popularity (Intel MICA bracelet), clothing with built-in sensors (3D-printed smart clothing), wristbands for precise health data monitoring, and manufacturers targeting female consumers. MIM technology provides critical support for the manufacturing of micro precision structural components.

MIM debinding methods

MIM debinding processes include the Wiech method, the Injectamax method, the water-soluble method, and the Catamold catalytic method. Debinding time has been reduced from the initial days to just a few hours. The catalytic debinding method is currently the most advanced and efficient mainstream solution, but it requires high equipment investment and presents corrosion issues.

Technical manufacturing methods for metal 3D printing filament/wire processes

Metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) uses a layer-by-layer additive approach to fabricate complex structural parts. The mainstream metal additive manufacturing technologies include Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), and Electron Beam Melting (EBM). The first two utilize lasers for melting, offering high flexibility and short process cycles. EBM operates with an electron beam under high vacuum, resulting in parts with good density and high strength.

The new characteristics of titanium materials have opened up promising new application prospects.

Titanium possesses excellent biocompatibility. Porous Ni-Ti shape memory alloys can be made into implantable stents to expand blocked arterial lumens and restore blood flow, making them suitable for multiple organs such as the esophagus and trachea. This alloy, prepared by the elemental powder mixing and sintering method, offers high porosity, favorable mechanical properties, shape memory performance, and biocompatibility.

Three factors affecting the flowability of MIM stainless steel

The flowability of MIM stainless steel feedstock is influenced by three main factors: the higher the powder loading, the greater the viscosity and the poorer the rheological behavior; the higher the shear rate, the stronger the flowability due to heat generation and viscosity reduction; the higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity and the better the flowability. These three factors need to be balanced, as an excessively high binder ratio or temperature may affect subsequent processes.