Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is an effective way to manufacture precision components from a variety of materials. The MIM process can produce complex shapes with excellent strength for up to 50% less than the cost of CNC machining or casting for high volume manufacturing. The ability to impart a superior surface finish upon these complicated shapes is a challenge that REM’s isotropic superfinishing technology (the REM® Process) can address for cost-conscious high volume manufacturing.
Industries such as Automotive, Electronics, Medical, Orthodontics, Industrial, Firearms, and Defense utilize metal injection molding to meet product functionality and specification. The REM Process allows the end-user to achieve an unmatched final surface quality removing parting lines, injection points, and improving the overall surface finish while maintaining part geometry. Traditional, abrasive mass finishing processes are time-consuming, generate copious amounts of sludge, and are a bottleneck for production throughput. Metal parts with complex geometries are difficult to hand polish. Both of these techniques can result in high overhead costs and quality challenges leading to lower than desired first pass yield. Via the use of chemically accelerated finishing technology, the REM Process solves these problems by reducing labor, cycle times, and maintenance costs while increasing the first-pass yield and producing a smooth defect-free surface, perfect for end-use or painting, coating, and the like.
Common MIM Applications for the REM Process:
- Firearm Trigger Components
- Power Tool Accessory Clamps
- Consumer Goods
Component Benefits for MIM Applications:
- Removed Parting Lines
- Removed Injection Point Flaws
- Bright, Shiny Surface
- Improved Aesthetic Appearance
- Flat, Low Roughness Surface Optimal for Plating or PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) Coating
- Improved Corrosion Resistance
Component Benefits for MIM Applications:
- Eliminate Handwork, Blasting, and Other Manufacturing Steps
- Improve Finish Consistency and Quality
- Reduce Cycle Time and Increased Throughput
- Eliminate Solid Waste Generation from Abrasive Mass Finishing Processes
Common MIM Alloys that REM can Assist with:
- Superalloys (ex. Hastelloy® X , Inconel® 625)
- Stainless Steels (ex. 17-4 PH, 316/316L, 420)
- Low Alloy Steels (ex. 4140)
- Controlled Expansion Alloys (ex. Invar 36 ®)
Interested in learning more, ready to start a project, or have an application that you don’t see listed here? Contact us today to see how we can help solve your surface finishing/polishing needs.