|
Pros / Cons
Advantages:
- The major advantage
of metal injection molding over conventional compaction is that
relatively complex shapes, with wall thickness as small as 0.5
mm (0.02 in.), can be molded and removed easily from the dies.
- Metal/ceramic injection
molding is well suited for high production rates of small complex
parts.
- Good dimensional
accuracy can be achieved in metal/ceramic injection molding.
Thus, post-process machining is reduced or eliminated.
- No material is
wasted. This is particularly important when expensive materials
are involved. It makes it possible to use more costly materials
without the increasing the overall cost of the process.
For a quickview chart
outlining the applications and advantages of metal injection molding
versus traditional methods: investment casting, die casting, machining,
and conventional press and sinter of metal powder, see Injectamax,
Metal Injection Molding.
Disadvantages:
- Die design and manufacturing
are sufficiently costly that large production volumes are generally
required to justify the process.
- Thick ceramic sections
are hard to produce. They require careful control of the materials
used and processing parameters to avoid internal voids and cracks,
such as those due to shrinkage.
- In general, powder
metallurgy parts have mechanical properties that are less than
wrought or cast products of the same material. This can be corrected
by employing different materials or secondary processing techniques
if additional expense is justified.
|
