Miniature Precision Components
The fabrication of miniature precision components with intricate features and micron-level tolerances not only requires specialized manufacturing techniques, but a high level of competence in using them. Tiny metal gears, sprockets, cams, and other small parts are used in everything from advanced medical devices to high-voltage circuit breakers. In addition to requiring less material and energy to produce, these tiny metal parts help support trends toward smaller, lighter devices and machinery.
Using powder metallurgy, Allied Sinterings, Inc. produces tight-tolerance, small-profile custom metal components and assemblies used in sensitive applications across the medical, automotive, telecommunications, and industrial equipment sectors. These parts are manufactured to exact technical specifications and high quality standards to facilitate safe and dependable performance by the critical devices and equipment they support.
Small Metals Parts Fabrication
Powder metallurgy has become an attractive solution for creating small, highly intricate parts that would be difficult or impossible to achieve through other metal-forming methods. The shapes and geometric features that can be produced using this metal-forming process are nearly unlimited.
Some advantages of powder metallurgy for small part production include:
- Tight tolerances. The powder metallurgy process can produce parts with extraordinarily complex designs within extremely tight tolerances. Producing accurate parts during initial production reduces or eliminates the need to refine tolerances through secondary machining.
- Net-shape process. As a net- or near-net shape process technology, powder metallurgy allows small components to be directly formed into their final size and shape. This means the component can be market-ready after just a single process, eliminating or reducing the need for machining and other secondary operations.
- Good surface finish. The powder metallurgy process delivers uniform surfaces that can be further enhanced or customized through finishing treatments. A good surface finish improves a part’s durability, performance, and wearability within its application.
- Long-term performance reliability. By tightly controlling dimensional tolerances and physical properties, powder metallurgy produces parts that exhibit consistent performance and long-term reliability in their intended applications.
- Material diversity. Powder metallurgy is compatible with an impressive range of materials, including stainless steels, iron, copper, and nickel-based alloys. Powder metallurgy also allows materials to be combined in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
- Low manufacturing costs. Because it produces near-net shape parts, powder metallurgy allows for relatively short processing times and eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming finishing operations. This leads to improved turnaround times and reduced labor and production costs, even for complicated parts and moderate-to-high production volumes. The ability of powder metallurgy to mass produce precision parts in a cost-effective way makes it an attractive production method.
- Low tooling investment. When compared with conventional metal forming methods, the powder metallurgy process is generally associated with a much lower tooling investment. The overall tooling cost will depend on the size and complexity of the part.
