Starting material
In addition to the pure metal powder used in the L-PBF process, the starting material consists of metal powders that are mixed with thermoplastics and additives in special mixing plants.
Compounding is complete when the metal particles in the binder are fully homogenised. After the process is complete, the material is either "granulated" into fine powder or mixed into a paste.
3D Printing
The respective base material is either applied layer by layer and melted locally with the help of a laser beam.
Or embedded in a layer-by-layer printed negative mould of the component.
Debinding
Depending on the printing process, debinding is solvent-based. In this process, the binder is removed from the component with the exception of a residual binder content of 2-3% (backbone). The residual binder guarantees the stability of the so-called browning for the subsequent process.
Sintering
In the final step, the components are sintered at temperatures between 1200°C and 1400°C, depending on the material. During this step, the remaining binder is completely removed.
During sintering, the parts shrink isotropically to the desired dimensions. Sintered parts are completely metallic and have densities of >97%. This means that they have similar properties to components that have been produced by machining.
Post-processing
Additively manufactured parts can be heat treated and further processed like all other metal parts, for example to achieve better tolerances for critical dimensions.
MIMplus Technologies offers a wide range of fifinishing technologies such as hardening, CNC machining, laser machining, surface technologies and joining techniques, including the assembly of complete subassemblies.