OEM Customized Stainless Steel Watch Parts, Watch Case, Watch Bands

Step 1:  Feedstock 

• Very fine metal powders are combined with thermoplastic and wax binders in a precise recipe. A proprietary compounding process creates a homogenous pelletized feedstock that can be injection molded just like plastic. This achieves ultra-high density and close tolerances over high-production runs. 

• Unlike standard powder metallurgy, which can achieve only 80-90% of theoretical density, MIM results in 95-100%. This means we can achieve close tolerances and reduce costs by producing small, complex parts over high production runs.

Step 2: Molding

• The feedstock is heated and injected into a mold cavity under high pressure. This enables us to produce extremely complex shapes and allows for shorter cycle times.
• Once molded, the component is referred to as a "green" part. Its geometry is identical to the finished piece but is about 20% larger to allow for shrinkage during the final sintering phase.

Step 3: Debinding

• Binder removal (debinding) involves a controlled process to remove most of the binders and prepare the part for the final step - sintering.
• Once debinding is complete, the component is referred to as "brown."

Step 4: Sintering 

• The brown part is held together by a small amount of the binder, and is very fragile.
• Sintering eliminates the remaining binder and gives the part its final geometry and strength.
• During sintering, the part is subjected to temperatures near the melting point of the material.