Knowing the qualities of a metal part is crucial to understanding its behavior in diverse situations, especially when you are in an automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing company. You learn about strength, durability, flexibility, toughness, melting point, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and even malleability. However, keep in mind that these compositions can vary depending on the manufacturing or processing methods.
Powder metallurgy, which uses pressure and heat to make metal parts from powder, has become extremely popular in the last few years. Multiple steps are involved, including mixing and binding of metal powder, compacting, and sintering, to achieve the desired results. Today, we will discuss the pros and cons of this technique of manufacturing metal parts.
- Pros of the PM method
If you are looking for a mass-producing parts process in an eco-friendly manner then you should opt for PM. The best part about this process is that there is little scrap metal to eliminate. As per studies, the metal loss caused through the PM process is only 1 to 5% as compared to 80% in the case of other methods. This makes this process a cost-effective one.
PM is also a popular method because the precision is unparalleled. It is possible to change the properties of metals using distinct powder, binder quantity, particle size, and sintering conditions. This, in turn, makes it the most reliable manufacturing process. You can rely on this method to manufacture different metal parts in precise shape and size. At times, the parts produced have a smooth finish; thanks to sintering that, you don’t need to opt for the finishing stage. At the same time, automation helps to expedite the process. You can get your supply faster without having to worry about the consistency of the density.
- Cons of the PM method
Although PM is an efficient manufacturing process for creating simple metal parts in suitable sizes, the fluidity of metal powder does not allow it to build large and complex structures.
This process is cost-effective only when used for industrial production. It is not that effective with small batches. Your profit margin will be adversely affected. Moreover, the equipment used in manufacturing powder metallurgy parts is expensive. Don’t forget the labor and material costs.
- Where can you purchase powder metallurgy parts?
There are many companies that are dealing in these parts. We recommend that you choose a reliable dealer. A trusted company that can build original designs should be chosen. It is a great idea to explore different ideas with them whether you are in China or elsewhere. These companies often opt for different techniques, including traditional PM process, powder forging, powder rolling, spray forming, hot pressing, etc. Each method has a specific method and can be used to create different metal parts and components.
It is best to contact the experts in the company and have a detailed discussion about what you want. Let them know about your specifications so that they can come up with the desired results. Adress all your queries, right at the start.
