Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is a powder metalworking production process that involves four steps: blending, injection molding, de-binding and sintering.
Fine metal powder blended together with an organic binder forms the initial material (feedstock). Further processing of the feedstock is carried out using the injection molding process. This molding process makes it possible to produce parts in complex forms with tight tolerances, thin wall thicknesses and excellent surfaces at a large scale. Due to the special characteristics of the process, hard or difficult-to-machine materials can be processed without limitations.
The only difference in sinter-based 3D printing compared to MIM is the shaping technology. Sinter-based 3D printing is a toolless manufacturing technology. MIMplus offers 2 different sinter-based AM processes (Cold Metal Fusion, MoldJet). For both technologies green parts are printed which are then debinded and sintered to get a fully metallic part - analogous to the MIM process.
