Overview
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ABSTRACT
The development and industrialization of microsystems require the emergence of new techniques to go beyond processes that only use polymers or silicon. The microPIM process has a prominent place there. This technique is a hybridization between thermoplastic injection and pressing / sintering of powder metallurgy. This process has the great advantage of making it possible to obtain, at low cost, ceramic or metal multi-material components, directly net-shape, without re-machining, exhibiting a complex shape. There are many applications for this new shaping process, especially in the automotive industry, household appliances, electronics, watchmaking and the pharmaceutical industry.
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Read the articleAUTHOR
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Luc FEDERZONI: Engineer, Technological Research Programs Department, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Grenoble, France
INTRODUCTION
The microPIM or "micropowder injection molding" process is a variation on the PIM or "powder injection molding" process, for the manufacture of micro-parts (millimeter size). This process has become an industrial standard for the manufacture of micro-parts. It enables components to be produced directly to dimensions, without the need for reworking, and in a very wide range of materials. Industrial players such as micro-MIM ® , in Japan, or Donatelle, in the United States, market a wide variety of products in a wide range of materials.
With the current high demand for the development of microsystems and micro-parts, new applications are regularly emerging. The manufacturing techniques most commonly used in industry are isotropic or anisotropic volume micromachining, by liquid or ion bombardment, or surface micromachining.
These "classic" manufacturing techniques have their limitations, as the choice of materials that can be used is limited. They can only be used to shape silicon objects or electrolyzable materials. These processes also have the disadvantage of being complex and relatively costly.
The microPIM process is one of a number of new shaping processes for the manufacture of micro-components and, potentially, MEMS. It is a "net-shape" process that enables components to be manufactured directly to dimensions, without the need for reworking, and in any type of material.
The aim of this article is to give the reader a basic understanding of the microPIM process, enabling him or her to grasp the broad outlines of its implementation, the applications for which the process is relevant, and finally the trends for the future, enabling the reader to project future developments in this process.
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KEYWORDS
process | ceramic | metal | fabrication | injection
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Metal forming and foundry
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Manufacturing parts without machining: microPIM
Bibliography
Bibliography
- (1) - - https://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/?page=crm-list-2020-e294f6
- (2) - NISHIYABU (K.), MATSUZAKI (S.), TANAKA (S.), PIOTTER (V.) - Micro Evaluation Methodology for Micro...
Standards and norms
- Sintered metallic materials for injection molding – Specifications - ISO 22068 - 2012-07
Directory
Manufacturers – Suppliers – Distributors (non-exhaustive list)
Wittman Battenfeld https://www.wittmann-group.com/fr
Organizations – Federations – Associations (non-exhaustive list)
European Powder Metallurgy Association, EPMA http://www.epma.com
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