How to choose Metal Injection Molding or Die Casting?

Actually there are so many similarities between Metal Injection Molding(MIM) and Die Casting, Both of these two metal parts producing methods take use of mould, and their producing process are sort of similar, melt metal injected into mold and forming, manufacturers always like take these two producing methods. Therefore, how to define if a metal components project is suitable for Metal Injection or Die Casting?

1.Raw Materials

Commonly used materials for

Die Casting: Aluminum Alloy, Magnesium Alloy, Zinc Alloy, and Copper Alloy in designated circumstance.

Metal Injection Molding: Varieties of Stainless Steels, Iron based.

If we dig deeper, we would find that the biggest diffence between Metal Injection Molding and Die Casting raw materials is melting point, as the melting point is higher of Metal Injection Molding, in Metal Injection Molding, the shape of raw materials is powder, and we would add binders into MIM process, and then sintering process, which is like “oven” process.

As Die Casting usually take formed materials, so we can see that Metal Injection Molding have higher raw materials requirements but more complicated producing process.

2.Size and Weight

The range of Die Casting size is much wider than Metal Injection Molding. It also means Metal Injection Molding have limitation in size nowadays, usually can produce metal parts under 200g.

For the product’s weight of these two manufacturing methods, due to the “binders” wouldn’t remove completely in MIM process, whereby the MIM components would be lighter. In the “lose weight” stream of many industies today, it’s an very important way to achive.

3.Quantity and Costing

Costing is always an important fector when choosing manufacuring process. While the quantity is always an important factor need to be consider. And both of Metal Injection Molding and Die Casting must make mold.

But in generally, when quantity is exceed one specific number, Metal Injection Molding would cheaper than Die Casting.

In any way, the best important reason to choose Metal Injection or Die Casting is raw materials, and specific individual requirements of each metal part project. Last but not the least, take consideration about the quantity for budget control.

ZCMIM, the advanced Metal Injection Molding Manufacturer in China, always offer the best choice for customers not just MIM.

Analysis of powder metallurgy technology and its application

The application of powder metallurgy technology in ancient times, the first method of making iron is essentially used in powder metallurgy. And the development of modern powder metallurgy technology, there are three important signs:

1, to overcome the difficulties produced in the process of refractory metal casting, in 1923 powdermetallurgy cemented carbide was hailed as a revolution in machining.

2, thirty years, the successful preparation of porous oil bearing; and then the development of powder metallurgy iron based machinery parts, and give full play to the advantages of powder metallurgy less cutting and cutting.

3, in the 1940s, metal ceramic, dispersion strengthened materials such as, from the late 1960s to early 1970s, high-speed steel powder, Powder Superalloy have appeared, and the powder metallurgy forging and hot pressing technology gradually large-scale manufacturing parts with complicated shape and high strength.