Arburg GmbH + Co KG, Lossburg, Germany, a pioneer in the use of
sustainable energy in its own operations, is now leveraging that expertise
to support its customers in their mission to reduce energy consumption
and improve the sustainability of injection moulding operations. Here,
the company reports on its ‘Action Plan: Energy’, launched earlier this
year, which has the specific goal of identifying and implementing a broad
range of energy- and cost-saving opportunities.
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From the creation of increasingly elaborate high-strength components with complex geometries to decorative elements, Metal Injection Molding 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.
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Over the last decade, the Metal Injection Molding 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 Metal Injection Molding’s post-smartphone era.
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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 so doing, established itself as a leading service provider in ceramic AM.
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This study analyses the potential for large-scale production of Metal Injection Molding (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.
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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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Die casting is a widely used process for the production of Metal Injection Molding-sized parts, but its application is typically for components with lower strength requirements. When the mechanical performance specifications for a die cast component increase, opportunities arise for alternative processes such as MIM to step in. In this case study, Ecrimesa’s Manuel Caballero reviews such a conversion process in which a zinc die cast hinge set is redesigned for production by Metal Injection Molding in 316L stainless steel in order to significantly improve mechanical properties.
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How has the global Metal Injection Molding industry weathered the most turbulent years in recent history, and what has the impact been on MIM’s key markets worldwide? In this overview, PIM International’s Nick Williams reports on market data presented at World PM2022, the first Powder Metallurgy World Congress since the COVID pandemic, held in Lyon, France from October 9-13. This is supplemented by other available data sources and insight from conversations with industry leaders at the event.
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HP’s Metal Jet has undergone significant refinement in the years since it was first unveiled in 2018. Now, by incorporating nearly the whole Binder Jetting workflow in one solution, HP hopes that the Metal Jet S100 – commercially launched at IMTS 2022 and showcased at Formnext 2022 – will tempt the wider manufacturing community into the world of AM. As Binder Jetting’s evolution moves from the intricacies of process optimisation to real application development and growth, Emily-Jo Hopson-VandenBos reports on a recent visit to HP’s Barcelona 3D Printing campus and the company’s progress and growing momentum since 2018.
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Tritone’s MoldJet is unique as an Additive Manufacturing process – not Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, nor Material Jetting, the MoldJet process involves a number of steps that share features with common sinter-based AM technologies, but don’t quite fall under their definitions. But this isn’t simply a novel fringe technology: Tritone’s founders have drawn on extensive experience within Israel’s 2D and 3D printing ecosystem to build a robust AM platform that is very simple, yet highly sophisticated. Joseph Kowen visited Tritone and here reports on the MoldJet process and its potential applications.
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