Metal injection molding

Injection molding is most commonly used to manufacture plastic parts, but manufacturers also use injection molding services for metal parts. Even high-precision large-scale projects have cost-effectiveness. Although it is very suitable for projects that require small parts, metal injection molding or MIM is actually suitable for any size of part.
Operation mode
Unlike die casting, metal injection molding uses a polymer metal mixture feed, where the melted plastic allows the material to flow during heating. During this process, the material is also pressurized, and the machine injects the liquid material into the mold. The material is cooled and the parts are manufactured in the form of the mold.
After forming, the part is in a "blank shape", which means its shape is correct but very fragile. The post sintering process completely erodes the plastic, leaving only molten metal. This firing process is usually completed in a vacuum furnace, and the shrinkage component of the parts is quite large.
MIM materials
Metal injection molding can be used in conjunction with other commonly used metals in manufacturing processes, but this process requires these metals to be made into powder and mixed with injection polymers, so that parts can be quickly formed and produced in large quantities.
Use Cases and Industry
Metal injection molding is similar to the plastic injection molding process used for manufacturing parts, but the high-pressure characteristics of injection molding add key advantages. It is effective for parts with small and complex details, but the cost is too high for large-scale standard CNC machining processes. That's why metal injection molding is an ideal choice for the medical, aerospace, automotive, and defense industries.
Compared to die-casting and other metal manufacturing methods, injection molds have a longer service life, allowing for the production of a larger number of parts before replacement or maintenance. In mass production or when finer part details are required, MIM typically outperforms die castings, which not only makes it suitable for large-scale repetitive processes, but also provides manufacturers with greater flexibility in terms of strength and its unique characteristics.