Metal injection molding is filling new niches

Metal injection molding (MIM) has been around for nearly 30 years, but it’s only been in the last decade that its use has picked up steam, particularly in the manufacture of dental devices, medical instrumentation, firearms and other industrial parts.
MIM makes use of injection-molding technology by combining fine powder metals (P/M) with a polymer binder to create parts that offer the advantages of injection molding and the strength and integrity of metal, typically 17-4 stainless steel, iron, copper or titanium.
Though MIM is injection molding, it presents some unique challenges. Injecting P/M combined with a polymeric binder into a mold is quite a different animal than injecting plastic. That’s because metals are not typically injection molding-friendly.