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Optimark Fiber Optics

Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

Photographs by Aaron Z Snyder, Optimark Fiber Optics

This is where MIM takes place.

Powdered metal (stainless steel shown above)	is mixed with an organic binding agent
The mixture is then stirred in a heated mixer,	producing a viscous slurry.
The slurry is scraped into a pan,	in which it cools and hardens
The cool hardened slurry	is then granulated into a feedstock
The feedstock is then heated and pressed in a mold tool,	which produces oversized "green" products.
The binding agent is vaporized in an oven (rightmost cabinet in picture above), producing  a debound, porous "brown" product.	The "brown" product  is then sintered at a high temperature in a furnace. The metal particles are fused together to produce a finished product of correct size and shape. (Note: The controller for the furnace is shown in the middle of the picture above left.)
The sintered products can be plated, heat treated, surface-finished, etc.