PIM International, Vol. 17 No. 1 Spring 2023

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The 120-page Spring 2023 issue of PIM International (Vol. 17 No. 1) features over 40 pages of industry news, plus the following articles and technical reviews:

Visottica Group: Integrated workflows and the value of Metal Injection Moulding in eyewear and beyond

From the creation of increasingly elaborate high-strength components with complex geometries to decorative elements, Metal Injection Moulding has become the go-to manufacturing process for the eyewear industry.

Italy’s Visottica Group is a leading supplier to this sector and, in recent years, has expanded its capabilities through acquisitions, resulting in the optimisation of the entire production chain. Luca van der Heide reports for PIM International.

In MIM’s post-smartphone era, where is China’s Metal Injection Moulding industry going?

Over the last decade, the Metal Injection Moulding industry enjoyed dramatic growth on the back of the rise of applications in smartphones. There are indications, however, that the tide is turning and the industry can no longer rely on the types of components that it once produced by MIM in the tens of millions a month.

Here, Dr Chiou (Dr Q) reflects on the rise of MIM in the consumer electronics industry and explains what Chinese producers are doing to grow their businesses in MIM’s post-smartphone era.

Ceramic AM at scale: The story of how Steinbach AG scaled production to 12,000 parts a year for Da Vinci Surgical Systems

Steinbach AG is considered a pioneer in the use of Additive Manufacturing for the serial production of high-performance technical ceramics. This case study describes its pioneering path to successfully implement the manufacturing of a new type of ceramic tube, with highly complex geometries, to be used in Da Vinci Surgical Systems robotic solutions for endoscopic surgery. With this application, Steinbach has achieved an annual production rate of 12,000 units and, in doing so, established itself as a leading service provider in ceramic AM.

MIM F75 (Co-Cr-Mo) for high-volume production: The impact of sintering conditions on microstructure and properties

This study analyses the potential for large-scale production of Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) F75 Co-Cr-Mo alloys using low-carbon atomised powders sintered in industrial-scale continuous furnaces under various atmospheric combinations. The goal was to achieve the required properties without the need for Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) or conventional heat treatments, promising MIM a competitive advantage for the high volume production of parts for consumer electronics and beyond.

Hao-Ming Chen and colleagues, from Chenming Electronic Technology Corp. (UNEEC), Taiwan, present their findings.

World PM2022: Research into the Binder Jetting of aluminium, Ni-free stainless steel, hardmetals and metallic glass

As exploration of the potential of metal Binder Jetting (BJT) picks up pace, so does the diversity of materials processed using the technology.

At the 2022 World PM Congress, organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) and held in Lyon, October 9-13, a number of presentations reported on developments that looked at a range of materials with commercial potential for BJT, including aluminium alloys, nickel-free stainless steel, hardmetals (cemented carbides) and metallic glass.

Dr David Whittaker reports for PIM International.

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