Everything from a single source.
Everything from OESTERLE^®.

We master the complete process chain.

Grün-weißes Zertifikat der DEKRA für Qualitäts- und Umweltmanagement

Injection Molding for Hard Materials – MIM Technology

The MIM process, also known as metal injection molding, is a primary molding process for producing metal components with complex geometries and is based on the principle of injection molding technology, which is the undisputed leader in the series production of plastic components. MIM (Metal Injection Molding) combines the advantages of injection molding with the properties of metal materials.

Manufacturing process

Metal powder

The raw materials of the metallic alloy are processed into a fine powder. BASF is the world's largest manufacturer.

Mixing

The metallic powder is mixed with the binder to form the feedstock.

Dosing and plasticizing

The feedstock is dosed into an injection molding machine and plasticized using heating bands.

Spraying

The molding compound is injected into the closed mold.

Cooling

The workpiece cools in the mold and gains its dimensional stability. The pressure is maintained to compensate for the material shrinkage.

Ejection

After cooling, the mold is opened and the green part is ejected.

Debinding

The binder which is required for shaping is being removed. This creates the porous brown part, which has very low strength.

Sintering

Only with the sintering step does the component receive its final properties. The powder particles combine near the melting point.

Finishing

For example, drilling, milling, tumbling, polishing, coating, etc.

Quality control

The component is checked for compliance with the drawing specifications and material properties.

Abbildung des Fertigungsverfahrens Sintern in 10 Schritten, jeweils textlich erläutert & mit blauen Zahlen nummeriert

Metal powder

The raw materials of the metallic alloy are processed into a fine powder. BASF is the world's largest manufacturer.

Mixing

The metallic powder is mixed with the binder to form the feedstock.

Dosing and plasticizing

The feedstock is dosed into an injection molding machine and plasticized using heating bands.

Spraying

The molding compound is injected into the closed mold.

Cooling

The workpiece cools in the mold and gains its dimensional stability. The pressure is maintained to compensate for the material shrinkage.

Ejection

After cooling, the mold is opened and the green part is ejected.

Debinding

The binder which is required for shaping is being removed. This creates the porous brown part, which has very low strength.

Sintering

Only with the sintering step does the component receive its final properties. The powder particles combine near the melting point.

Finishing

For example, drilling, milling, tumbling, polishing, coating, etc.

Quality control

The component is checked for compliance with the drawing specifications and material properties.

Metal powder

The starting materials of the metallic alloy are processed into a powder. The world's largest manufacturing company is BASF.

Mixing

The metallic powder is mixed with the binder to form the feedstock.

Dosing and plasticizing

The feedstock is dosed in an injection molding machine and plasticized by heating bands.

Spraying

The molding compound is injected into the closed mold by axial displacement of the screw.

Cooling

The workpiece cools in the mold and gains its dimensional stability in the process. Pressure is maintained to compensate for shrinkage of the material.

Ejection

After cooling, the mold is opened and the green part is ejected.

Debinding

The binder necessary for shaping is dissolved out again. The result is the porous brown part, which has very low strength.

Sintering

Only with the sintering step does the component increase its final properties. The powder particles grow together near the melting point.

Finishing

For example, drilling, milling, barrel finishing, polishing, coating, etc.

Quality control

The component is checked for compliance with the drawing specifications and material properties.

Advantages of the MIM Process
The production of components using MIM technology has various advantages.

The process enables the economical production of highly complex components in large-scale production.
It also enables cost-effective production of components in large quantities.
The MIM process allows the use of high-strength metallic materials and stainless steels with high sintering density, resulting in low material waste and high material reusability.
Costly assembly processes can be eliminated, and threads can be incorporated into the original mold, depending on requirements and size.
Thanks to MIM technology, even the smallest geometries, fonts, reliefs, and structures can be reproduced with great detail.