7 1 0 2 E N U J 2 . o N 1 1 . l o V in this issue MIM developments in Asia AP&C: Titanium powder production 3DEO: Prototyping for MIM Published by Inovar Communications Ltd www.pim-international.com CataMIM® the next generation of MIM/PIM Feedstocks CataMIM® AquaMIM® • A direct replacement for all • Water Debind current commercially available • Custom scale-up factors catalytic debind feedstocks available • Improved flow • Large selection of available • Stronger green and brown materials parts See us at • More materials available SolvMIM® Booth 226 • Better surface finish • Custom scale-up factors • Solvent, Super Critical Fluid available Extraction (SFE) or Thermal Debind methods RYER, Inc. • Faster cycle times 42625 Rio Nedo Unit B • Hundreds of materials • 65°C / 150°F mold Temecula, CA 92590 available USA temperature Tel: +1 951 296 2203 • Custom scale-up factors Email: [email protected] available www.ryerinc.com • At RYER, all our feedstocks are manufactured to the highest level of quality, with excellent batch-to-batch repeatability. • RYER is the ONLY commercially available feedstock manufacturer to offer all five debind methods. • RYER offers the largest material selections of any commercially available feedstock manufacturer. • RYER offers technical support for feedstock selection, injection molding, debinding and sintering. 2016 September Ryer ad.indd 6 24/04/2017 12:52:04 Publisher & editorial offices Inovar Communications Ltd 11 Park Plaza Battlefield Enterprise Park Shrewsbury SY1 3AF, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1743 211991 Fax: +44 (0)1743 469909 Email: [email protected] www.pim-international.com Managing Director and Editor Nick Williams Tel: +44 (0)1743 211993 For the metal, ceramic and carbide injection moulding industries Email: [email protected] Publishing Director Paul Whittaker Tel: +44 (0)1743 211992 Email: [email protected] Assistant Editor Emily-Jo Hopson Tel: +44 (0)1743 211994 Email: [email protected] New applications drive Consulting Editors Professor Randall M German Associate Dean of Engineering, Professor of capacity expansion Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, USA Within the pages of this issue of PIM International, readers will Dr Yoshiyuki Kato Kato Professional Engineer Office, Yokohama, Japan find much to be optimistic about. Investments in production Professor Dr Frank Petzoldt capacity for MIM components are being made worldwide, whilst Deputy Director, Fraunhofer IFAM, Bremen, Germany powder producers expand their operations to keep up with Dr David Whittaker demand from both the MIM and metal Additive Manufacturing DWA Consulting, Wolverhampton, UK industries Bernard Williams Consultant, Shrewsbury, UK Asia is the world’s largest region for MIM component Production production and whilst the industry there has experienced Hugo Ribeiro, Production Manager Tel: +44 (0)1743 211991 dramatic growth on the back of applications for consumer Email: [email protected] electronics, many producers are exposed to the fluctuations in demand that are an inherent risk when operating in this sector. Advertising Jon Craxford, Advertising Director As Sandvik Osprey’s Paul Davies reveals in his review of MIM in Tel: +44 (0) 207 1939 749, Fax: +44 (0) 1743 469909 Asia (page 45), there is optimism that MIM smartphone frames E-mail: [email protected] will usher in the next growth phase for the technology. Subscriptions Powder Injection Moulding International is Since the establishment of the Asian Powder Metallurgy published on a quarterly basis as either a free digital Association (APMA) in 2008, the organisation’s biennial publication or via a paid print subscription. The annual print subscription charge for four issues is conference series has steadily grown in importance to become £145.00 including shipping. a must-attend event for anyone involved in the Asian PM Accuracy of contents and PIM sectors. This year we present our first technical Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the review from the series, with Prof Jai-Sung Lee reporting on accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors developments which will strengthen the competitiveness and or omissions or for any consequences arising applications of MIM technology (page 75). there from. Inovar Communications Ltd cannot be held responsible for views or claims expressed by Looking ahead to 2018, the PM World Congress will return contributors or advertisers, which are not necessarily those of the publisher. to Asia, where the flagship industry event series will be held in China for the first time. Given the size and importance of Advertisements Although all advertising material is expected to China’s MIM industry and the prestigious event venue located in conform to ethical standards, inclusion in this the Olympic Park complex, World PM2018 will present a unique publication does not constitute a guarantee or opportunity to both do business and discover contemporary endorsement of the quality or value of such product or of the claims made by its manufacturer. Beijing. Reproduction, storage and usage Single photocopies of articles may be made for Nick Williams, personal use in accordance with national copyright laws. All rights reserved. Except as outlined above, Managing Director & Editor no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. Cover image Printed by Plasma torches during a titanium Cambrian Printers, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom powder atomisation run at AP&C ISSN 1753-1497 (print) (Courtesy AP&C) ISSN 2055-6667 (online) Vol. 11. No. 2 June 2017 This magazine is also available for free download from www.pim-international.com © 2017 Inovar Communications Ltd June 2017 Powder Injection Moulding International 1 June 2017 47 52 60 67 73 AP&C explains the attraction of MIM for titanium In this issue components, outlines the company’s plasma atomisation process and presents its growing range 45 Metal Injection Moulding in Asia: of products specifically suited to the MIM process. A story of continuing success for the world’s largest MIM region 73 APMA 2017: MIM strengthens its The MIM industry in Asia is the world’s largest, competitiveness with novel technologies whether considered in terms of number of and new applications parts produced, sales turnover or production Advances in MIM applications, materials and volume. China alone claims to have half of the processing featured prominently at APMA 2017, world’s available MIM capacity, with production the 4th International Conference on PM in Asia, predominantly focused on 3C applications. In this held in Taiwan, April 9-11 2017. In this report report, Dr Paul A Davies, Sandvik Osprey Ltd, Prof Jai-Sung Lee, Hanyang University ERICA, provides an overview of the evolution of the region’s focuses on developments which will strengthen the MIM industry from a powder producer’s perspective. competitiveness of MIM and broaden its applications. 57 Ceramic Injection Moulding: Baselworld 83 Prototyping for Metal Injection Moulding: 2017 sees luxury watch brands launch new 3DEO’s AM solution matches the density offerings and chemistry of MIM parts Baselword 2017 was the 100th anniversary of this, the The nature of MIM technology means that creating most important marketplace for the global watch and functional prototypes that match the density and jewellery industries. Over 106,000 visitors came to chemistry of the final parts can be both expensive see the latest collections, including the most recent and time consuming. 3DEO’s Matt Sand presents a offerings in watches using CIM cases, bezels and new service that promises to deliver prototype and bracelet parts. Bernard Williams reports on some of low to medium volume runs of components that the launches from leading players. match the performance of MIM parts. 65 Titanium MIM moves into the mainstream with plasma atomised powders from AP&C Regular features When it was announced earlier this year that Canada’s AP&C had received an order for 30 tons 5 Industry news of plasma atomised titanium powder for a Metal 91 Event guide Injection Moulding application, it became clear that titanium MIM had reached the mainstream. 92 Advertisers’ index Vol. 11 No. 2 © 2017 Inovar Communications Ltd June 2017 Powder Injection Moulding International 3 The NEW formulation Catamold® evo High fl owability – High volume – Fast supply Catamold® evo 17-4PH Catamold® evo 316L Catamold® evo 304 evo 316L evo 17-4PH evo 304 2000 1500 1000 fl owability g/10min fl 500 194226_OnePager_Catamold_evo.indd 1 03.02.17 07:58 | contents page | news | events | advertisers’ index | contact | Industry News Industry News To submit news for inclusion in Powder Injection Moulding International please contact Nick Williams, [email protected] Ford uses MIM valve rockers dual-mass flywheel and a vibration-damping clutch disc help neutralise engine oscillations when running on two in its new EcoBoost engine cylinders, especially at lower rpm, and enable a wider operating range. Intake and exhaust valves are closed Ford has announced that its multi-award-winning when the system is active, trapping gases to provide a 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine will feature valve rockers spring effect that helps balance forces across the three produced by Metal Injection Moulding. MIM valve train cylinders for