Metal Injection molding and machining of medical devices

Small complex medical equipment components can be produced in large quantities with stable quality using micro metal injection molding (MIM).

Today, a wide range of industries, including  mim automotive, mim consumer electronics, mim aerospace and defense, orthodontics, and mim medical devices, are seeing an increase in demand for compact, lightweight, highly durable, complicated shaped parts.

When creating components for medical devices, both conventional machining and injection molding offer benefits and drawbacks, particularly when the components may be smaller and require greater mobility. A hybrid process known as metal injection molding (MIM) combines the material flexibility of conventional powder metallurgy with the molding capabilities of plastic injection molding. The decision-making process involves many essential considerations, including material choice, part size, volume, and tolerance.

material

Micro MIM metal injection molding is a procedure that uses metal raw materials and is comparable to plastic injection molding. To effectively and efficiently mass produce small, precise, and high performance parts, powder metal raw materials are treated under high pressure and temperature. High-quality mechanical qualities, as well as exceptional strength, ductility, and magnetic responsiveness, are produced by this tested method. It is perfect for producing smaller, very precise pieces with distinctive geometry for surgical instruments, artificial joints, and pacemakers.

Size of parts

MIM can reach 95 to 98 percent of its theoretical density at a far cheaper cost than equivalent machined components, making it better suited for mass production of small complicated geometric pieces made of various materials.

volume

For automating mass production with reliable quality, MIM is perfect. Because machining often has longer cycle times, it is better suited to low yields that call for intricate shapes with precise tolerances. On the other hand, practically little can be done with MIM as long as the application has less crucial tolerances. The MIM mold requires an initial capital expenditure, but if this expense is amortized throughout mass production, it can be quickly recovered.

Engineer JIEHUANG CHIYANG focuses on MIM technology and processing companies to solve development problems together. Regardless of the technology ultimately used, engineers with expertise in both processes can suggest design changes and provide input to get the best performance out of the product. While you can certainly switch operations mid-stream, taking design considerations into account upfront can save time and cost.