5 1 0 2 R E B M E T P E S 3 . o N 9 . l o V in this issue Company profile: Inmatec Ceramics in luxury watches Additive Manufacturing of ceramics Published by Inovar Communications Ltd www.pim-international.com Publisher & editorial offices Inovar Communications Ltd 2 The Rural Enterprise Centre Battlefield Enterprise Park Shrewsbury SY1 3FE, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1743 454990 Fax: +44 (0)1743 469909 Email: [email protected] Web: www.pim-international.com Managing Director and Editor Nick Williams Tel: +44 (0)1743 454991 For the metal, ceramic and carbide injection moulding industries Email: [email protected] Publishing Director Paul Whittaker Tel: +44 (0)1743 454992 Email: [email protected] Consulting Editors Professor Randall M German A bright future for Ceramic Associate Dean of Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, USA Injection Moulding Dr Yoshiyuki Kato Kato Professional Engineer Office, Yokohama, Japan Professor Dr Frank Petzoldt In the world of product design and engineering, the Metal Deputy Director, Fraunhofer IFAM, Bremen, Germany Injection Moulding (MIM) industry still has a long way to go in Dr David Whittaker order to achieve high levels of awareness amongst designers DWA Consulting, Wolverhampton, UK and engineers. The situation is in some respects even more Bernard Williams challenging for Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM), where there is Consultant, Shrewsbury, UK not only a limited awareness of the process itself, but also a more Production general misunderstanding of the properties and capabilities of Hugo Ribeiro, Production Manager technical ceramics. Tel: +44 (0)1743 454990 Email: [email protected] With this issue of PIM International, which will be distributed Advertising widely at Ceramitec, the leading international ceramics exhibition Jon Craxford, Advertising Director held in Munich, Germany, October 20-23, we hope to make a Tel: +44 (0) 207 1939 749, Fax: +44 (0) 1743 469 909 E-mail: [email protected] small contribution towards addressing this issue. For those who are new to Ceramic Injection Moulding, the technology is by no Subscriptions means new. Early versions of the process date back to the 1930s Powder Injection Moulding International is published on a quarterly basis as either a free digital and 1940s, however since the late 1970s technical advances have publication or via a paid print subscription. The enabled a much wider use of the technology. annual print subscription charge for four issues is £135.00 including shipping. Rates in € and US$ are Today CIM applications can be found in the automotive, aerospace, available on application. 3C, medical and dental sectors, to name just a few. Wherever Accuracy of contents high precision, complex shaped components are required in high Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the volumes and with unique properties such as high wear, corrosion accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or heat resistance, CIM products can be used. or omissions or for any consequences arising there from. Inovar Communications Ltd cannot be As we discover in this issue, the appeal of CIM has rapidly spread held responsible for views or claims expressed by beyond industrial applications. CIM watch cases and components contributors or advertisers, which are not necessarily those of the publisher. have become hugely popular with many of the world’s finest watchmakers thanks to the material’s high strength, toughness Advertisements and hardness combined with the precision and net-shape abilities Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, inclusion in this of the CIM process. Additionally, the material’s low thermal publication does not constitute a guarantee or conductivity makes it very comfortable against the skin, and a endorsement of the quality or value of such product high refractive index allows for beautiful surface finishes to be or of the claims made by its manufacturer. achieved. Reproduction, storage and usage Worldwide Single photocopies of articles may be made for Nick Williams Global manufacturer of nodular and spherical aluminum powders, personal use in accordance with national copyright Managing Editor pre-alloyed aluminum powders, and aluminum premixes for PM laws. All rights reserved. Except as outlined above, no part of this publication may be reproduced or www.ampal-inc.com www.poudres-hermillon.com transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. Cover image In the Americas Compounded CIM feedstock Supplier of carbonyl iron and atomized stainless steel powders for Printed by (Photo courtesy Inmatec Cambrian Printers, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom the PM and MIM industries Technologies, Germany) ISSN 1753-1497 (print) United States Metal Powders, Incorporated ISSN 2055-6667 (online) 408 U.S. Highway 202, Flemington, New Jersey 08822 USA Vol. 9. No. 3 September 2015 Tel: +1 (908) 782 5454 Fax: +1 (908) 782 3489 email: [email protected] © 2015 Inovar Communications Ltd September 2015 Powder Injection Moulding International 1 USM 2013 PM Review and PIMI.indd 2 16/01/2013 10:41:40 YOUR ONE-SOURCE for METAL INJECTION MOLDING September 2015 Rapid Prototyping through Mass Production 8 49 57 63 76 In this issue 43 Inmatec Technologies: A feedstock 73 Additive Manufacturing of Ceramics: supplier at the forefront of CIM technology Opportunities and solutions for the CIM Ceramic Injection Moulding has come a long way industry in recent years, with the industry blossoming from The Additive Manufacturing of ceramics has the the manufacture of simple engineering components potential to not only transform the way the ceramic to the production of advanced dental implants industry addresses prototype development, but also and beautiful watch components for the world’s presents an opportunity to open up new applications Complex precision components. most prestigious luxury brands. As Dr Georg that until now were impossible to produce with Schlieper reveals, behind this success are specialist conventional ceramic technology. Dr Johannes Homa feedstock producers such as Germany’s Inmatec and Dr Martin Schwentenwein present the state of Technologies. the art in ceramic AM and review the technical and commercial considerations with specific relevance to 53 Ceramic Injection Moulding adds to the CIM community. the allure of luxury watches Recent years have seen an increasing number of 81 POWDERMET 2015: Advances in MIM leading luxury watchmakers embracing Ceramic materials and processing highlighted Injection Moulding for watchcases, bezels, bracelet in San Diego segments and even movement parts. We report on POWDERMET2015, which took place in San Deigo, ISO 9001:2008-Certified From concept through design and development, to prototypes and, finally, mass ISO/TS 16949-Certified recent Ceramic Injection Moulded applications from California, from May 17-20, continues to encourage production, ARCMIM utilizes advanced manufacturing technologies to provide full-service, AS 9100-Certified the luxury market. MIM producers, industry suppliers and researchers ISO 13485-Certified from around the world to share their latest research quality solutions with accelerated timelines. 63 Micro Powder Injection Moulding: and developments. Dr David Whittaker reviews a As a full-service MIM provider, ARCMIM offers its customers the convenience, efficiency, quality Processes, materials and applications selection of papers that reflect a number of key and cost advantages inherent with a one-source partner. As a MIM veteran – and technology Micro Powder Injection Moulding (MicroPIM) areas for MIM process enhancement and industry leader – ARCMIM ensures the precision, ingenuity, product efficacy and superior quality necessary continues to attract attention as a unique process growth. in today’s competitive marketplace. We support and provide our customers with: by which to manufacture metal and ceramic micro > Metal injection molding components in medium to high volumes. In the exclusive review for PIM International magazine Dr > Plastic injection molding Volker Piotter and Dr Tassilo Moritz present a status Regular features > Magnesium injection molding report on the technology, from binder developments > Medical cleanroom molding to best practice in process simulation, injection 4 Industry news > 3D printing in metal and plastic moulding and sintering. A number of innovative 96 Events guide, Advertisers’ index application areas are also reviewed. > State-of-the-art tool center > Custom hermetic seals, flanges and fittings > World-class facilities in USA and Europe Vol. 9 No. 3 © 2015 Inovar Communications Ltd September 2015 Powder Injection Moulding International 3 DiscoverContact us the to day!ARCMIM Europ Advantagee: +36 35 551 – Contact 000 Unit use dtoday! States: 303-833-6000 www.arcmim.com Industry News | contents page | news | events | advertisers’ index | email | Industry News High-Temperature Retort Furnaces To submit news for inclusion in Powder Injection Moulding International please contact Nick Williams, [email protected] Hoeganaes Corporation introduces metal powders for MIM and Additive Manufacturing Hoeganaes Corporation, based in in conjunction with a multi-million Cinnaminson, New Jersey, USA, has dollar expansion of its Innovation launched AncorAM™, a