Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Powder metallurgy is the process of compacting powdered metals and sintering them at high temperatures to form durable, precise components. It offers several advantages over machining: it is faster, repeatable for high-volume production, and generates next to no waste.

PM can be used to manufacture a wide variety of small and miniature parts, such as:

Yes. PM parts can undergo secondary processes to enhance performance. Heat treating improves hardness, strength, and wear resistance, while plating options can provide corrosion resistance or specialized surface finishes. Allied Sinterings offers in-house finishing and can tailor parts to meet customer specifications.

Yes. Powder metallurgy can produce components that perform reliably in high-load and high-stress environments when engineered with the right materials and processes. At Allied Sinterings, we use stainless steels, sinter-hardened alloys, and nickel steels to achieve the necessary strength and durability. Controlled compaction and sintering ensure mechanical integrity, while our testing and inspection procedures confirm performance before parts leave our facility.

Lead times vary depending on the order:

• Tooling orders: 6–8 weeks
• Secondary or multi-level processes: 10–14 days
• Simple repeat orders: 4 weeks
• Complex parts: approximately 8 weeks

We work with a range of powdered metals, including:

All materials can be heat treated or plated to meet performance requirements.

Our parts maintain tolerances of ±0.001 inches for tooling dimensions with IDs and ODs up to 1.25 inches and heights up to 1 inch. We can hold pressing dimensions of ±0.003. We also produce fine-pitch gearing up to 120 diametral pitch. To ensure accuracy, we use Red-Line double flank gear checking, statistical process control, and calibrated inspection equipment in a climate-controlled facility.

Yes. We support design changes and can review CAD files or hand drawings. We also provide resources like our Design Guide eBook to help teams optimize their parts before submitting an RFQ.

Yes. Allied provides a torque calculator to help estimate torque requirements for powdered metal gears. Torque is the rotational force that drives a gear. When torque is multiplied by RPM, it determines horsepower, which reflects the overall power available in the system. Service factor adds another layer, accounting for load variations, operating conditions, and safety margins. Together, these values guide the correct sizing and selection of gear components. While the calculator is a good starting point, you can also consult our experts to aid in final product selection.

Allied Sinterings is ISO 9001:2015 certified and ISO 13485 compliant, ensuring that all components meet strict industry standards.

We specialize in medium- and high-volume production of high-precision miniature and small-sized parts. We do not produce the following:

• One-off or low-volume orders
• Bronze components (we can recommend alternative powder metals for similar results)
• Parts larger than a quarter in surface area
• Components that have extremely intricate geometries

Allied’s quality systems are ISO-certified and emphasize repeatability and precision. Our process monitoring includes:

• Computer-supported SPC
• Fully calibrated measurement equipment
• Hardness testing and density checks
• Red-Line double flank gear verification

All inspections are performed in environmentally controlled facilities, ensuring consistent results and confidence in every order. For more information, visit our Quality Assurance page here.