Metal Injection MouldingMaximum design freedom in geometry and materials
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MIM
REINER® Metal Injection Moulding (MIM)
MIM
Contract work for metal injection moulding in the production of cost-effective precision parts
REINER® offers an opportunity to particularly economically manufacture complex precision steel parts with its innovative MIM technology (Metal Injection Moulding). We can shape metal parts for you with virtually unlimited freedom for your design. We offer a vast range of materials for manufacturing your customised components. Metal injection moulding stands out for being economical and suitable for a wide range of batch sizes as it combines several work steps in a single process.
Metal injection moulding (MIM): overview
Tool clamping surface
400x700 mm
400x700 mm
Part weight
≤ 75 g
≤ 75 g
Materials
Various low-alloy steels (100Cr6 and others), stainless and heat-resistant steels (316LA and others)
Machine type
Arburg 270-MIM
Clamping force 50t
Arburg 270-MIM
Clamping force 50t
Special features of the MIM procedure
- Economical production of highly complex components in large-scale production
- Cost-efficient production of high-volume components
- Use of high-strength metallic materials and stainless steels with high sintering density
- Low material waste and high reusability
- Reduction of cost-intensive assembly processes
- Threads considered in the master mould already
- Detailed reproduction of very small geometries, lettering, reliefs, and structures
Special features of REINER®
- In-house tool design
- In-house mould and tool making
- Many years of experience in parts production
- Mould flow analysis
Special know-how
- Focus on small / technical parts
- 2-component injection moulding as an option
MIM metal injection moulding: We will find the solution to match your needs
Contract work for metal injection moulding always must be customised to the specific project at hand. This is why REINER® closely studies the individual plans, needs, and challenges its customers face in the scope of every order. You are the most closely familiar with your project, and our close cooperation enables us to find the ideal solution for it.
We at REINER® place great importance on expert advice on all aspects of “MIM” technology. In addition to injection-moulded metal production, we will gladly support you in optimising your designs and selecting the materials to match. This allows us to extend the service lives and performance of your components while minimising the metal injection moulding costs incurred. Our long-term employees are on hand to advise you throughout the project.
We at REINER® place great importance on expert advice on all aspects of “MIM” technology. In addition to injection-moulded metal production, we will gladly support you in optimising your designs and selecting the materials to match. This allows us to extend the service lives and performance of your components while minimising the metal injection moulding costs incurred. Our long-term employees are on hand to advise you throughout the project.
Contact & offer
Do you have any questions or need more information?
I look forward to hearing from you!
Matthias Schneider - Regional Sales Manager
+49 7723 657-300
Matthias.Schneider@reiner.de
Request a quote
Special features of powder injection moulding for your project
Just as with plastic injection moulding, the main special feature of metal injection moulding (MIM) is its ability to produce complex components in a single process. However, metal injection moulding results in a high-strength, metallic precision part. The components manufactured this way come out with precisely the desired dimensions and shapes. Undercuts, drill holes, cross holes, threads, lamellas, and even relief-like structures and engravings (e.g., logo, item number) can be implemented easily with the MIM process.
The MIM Metal Injection Moulding Process permits the cost-saving production of very durable parts with consistent quality. The process is suitable for a wide range of applications since the properties of the finished components can be controlled precisely. REINER® specialises in the metal injection manufacturing process for small, technical components with high precision requirements. Thanks to our many years of experience, production of such precision parts is particularly economical and easy.
The MIM Metal Injection Moulding Process permits the cost-saving production of very durable parts with consistent quality. The process is suitable for a wide range of applications since the properties of the finished components can be controlled precisely. REINER® specialises in the metal injection manufacturing process for small, technical components with high precision requirements. Thanks to our many years of experience, production of such precision parts is particularly economical and easy.
Does the MIM process have any disadvantages?
The MIM process is more complex and costly than the production of simple, rotationally symmetrical components using commercially available metals and stainless steels. The production process from feedstock to green part, to brown part, to the sintering of the components requires a high degree of system precision in the handling of metal powders, binders, temperatures, and tools. The larger the batch size, the more economical the metal injection moulding process becomes.
Which metal injection moulding granulate for which part properties?
Strength and tensile strength
Use of stainless steel is recommended for particularly strong and corrosion-resistant components
Hardness and strength
Low-alloy steel produces very hard components that are particularly suitable for mechanically demanding applications.
Fatigue strength and toughness
Heat-treated steel is a suitable material for components that require high fatigue strength and toughness at the same time.
Electronic applications
Soft magnetic materials that are particularly resistant to fatigue and wear under dynamic loads are suitable for use in applications with electric fields
Metal injection moulding process: the MIM process at a glance
The metal injection process returns components with outstanding chemical and mechanical properties. They come with very high densities in excess of 96% and the material used is processed virtually waste-free. This is how the metal injection moulding process works in detail:
Feedstock production
The desired material or powder comprises the first step. The proper powder mix, also called the feedstock, must be produced first in powder injection moulding. Metal powder for the desired alloy is mixed with a thermoplastic material as binder for this. This powder mix will be kneaded under heat to form a viscous mass. The binder has the task of ensuring uniform metal powder transport quality during injection moulding and of guaranteeing high strength of the raw component.
Production of the green part
The feedstock is now injected into an injection moulding machine under high pressure. This produces the “green part”, as the blank is also called in
investment casting. The binder content of 10 – 20% leaves the blank somewhat larger than the end product. The geometric properties of the desired component are already precisely defined, however. The sprue remains at the material inlet of the injection moulding machine. Once removed, it can be completely returned to the production process as material.
investment casting. The binder content of 10 – 20% leaves the blank somewhat larger than the end product. The geometric properties of the desired component are already precisely defined, however. The sprue remains at the material inlet of the injection moulding machine. Once removed, it can be completely returned to the production process as material.
Removing binder to form the brown part
In the next step, the binder must be removed from the blank. This is done either with solvents, catalytically, or thermally, depending on feedstock. Catalytic binder removal, for example, thermally vaporises a catalyst that will react with the binder and escape from the component as a gas. The remaining part is called the “brown part”. The final material is now present as an open-pored structure.
Sintering to produce the end product
Sintering is the final step of metal injection moulding/MIM. The components are exposed to temperatures just below the melting point. Sintering will “shrink” the parts to the desired target size and give them their precise dimensions as specified. Metal powder injection moulding is, therefore, generally referred to as a near-net-shape or near-net-shape manufacturing process.
Post-processing
Metal powder injection moulded parts can be subjected to a vast range of heat and surface treatments in order to optimally adapt them to customer requirements. These include, among other things:
- Surface finish: Sandblasting, vibratory grinding, polishing, lapping
- Coating technology: Thin-film technology, electroplating, enamel painting
- Connection technology: Laser welding, soldering, assembly
- Heat treatment: Hardening, HIP (hot isostatic pressing)
- Machining: Turning, milling, drilling, grinding, reaming, honing, thread cutting
- Forming technology: Calibration
Reasons for customers to rely on metal injection moulded parts from REINER®
Ernst REINER® from the Black Forest has its own tool design department, enabling it to respond precisely to individual customer requirements. Our employees in mould and tool making have acquired particular expertise in the planning and design of small and technical parts. Your MIM components will be finished in state-of-the-art CNC machining centres for complete and final machining.
As an experienced manufacturer of injection moulded parts, we are familiar with all challenges connected to the MIM process. We take a close look at each new order to find the right customised solution. Our production is economical, safe, resource-saving, and flexible.
As an experienced manufacturer of injection moulded parts, we are familiar with all challenges connected to the MIM process. We take a close look at each new order to find the right customised solution. Our production is economical, safe, resource-saving, and flexible.
Long experience as an injection moulding manufacturer in Germany
REINER® has always had special requirements to the precision components needed for its manufacture of durable mechanical hand and electric stamps. This is why REINER® acquired the tools and expertise for metal powder injection moulding back in 2000.
Today, in 2022, it is not only REINER®’s own product portfolio that benefits from this experience. A large number of customers from a wide range of industries also rely on the consistently high quality of our metal injection moulding contract work: Medicine, hand, and power tools, aerospace, defence industry, sensor technology, locking technology, and many more. REINER® is the first choice for engineers as a manufacturer of injection moulded parts whenever innovative precision parts are required to solve technical challenges.
Today, in 2022, it is not only REINER®’s own product portfolio that benefits from this experience. A large number of customers from a wide range of industries also rely on the consistently high quality of our metal injection moulding contract work: Medicine, hand, and power tools, aerospace, defence industry, sensor technology, locking technology, and many more. REINER® is the first choice for engineers as a manufacturer of injection moulded parts whenever innovative precision parts are required to solve technical challenges.
VIDEO: Presentation of REINER® precision technology
Contact & offer
Do you have any questions or need more information?
I look forward to hearing from you!
Matthias Schneider - Regional Sales Manager
+49 7723 657-300
Matthias.Schneider@reiner.de
Request a quote
REINER® has been headquartered in Furtwangen in the Black Forest since 1913. It numbers among the market leaders for hand stamps in Europe and for mobile inkjet printers and scanning systems in Germany.
Many customers value proximity to their injection-moulded parts manufacturer. Manufacturing companies in Baden-Württemberg (BW) and southern Germany, but also in adjacent France / Alsace, Switzerland, and Austria, rely on REINER®’s expertise in injection moulding tools and MIM production.
REINER® precision technology - ideas brought into shape precisely
Many customers value proximity to their injection-moulded parts manufacturer. Manufacturing companies in Baden-Württemberg (BW) and southern Germany, but also in adjacent France / Alsace, Switzerland, and Austria, rely on REINER®’s expertise in injection moulding tools and MIM production.
REINER® precision technology - ideas brought into shape precisely
