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Awards:
2004
2003

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PM 2004 Awards for Innovation in Powder Metallurgy

In Vienna (Austria) EPMA has highly commended Parmaco Metal Injection Molding AG for its innovation in Powder Metallugy.

Nut E420 for tightener assembly
End-User Company: SFS intec AG Composition of PM Product: The Feedstock is made from 93% elemental Fe-and 7% elemental Ni-powder, mixed with wax based binder materials.. Component weight: starting weight: 6.36 g, finished weight: 5.77g Finishing : 1. case hardening, 2. anti friction coating Annual production quantity: 20'000 pcs. Date of first production: 2002	Powder consolidation technique: MIM technology Type of tooling used: 2 cavity injection mould Consolidation pressure: 1400 bar Temperature for sintering: Sintered in reducing atmosphere. Top temperature is 1200°C. Final density: >7.8 g/cm³ Final prodruct properties: Surface hardness; HV1 600+100, case depth 0.3+0.2 mm, Above properties are after case hardening

The Nuts belongs into a new tightener system for special self drilling flat head screws for facade construction. Two nuts are mounted into a sleeve and form the clamp which encloses the flat head screw. The flat head screws have a special contour for the transmission of the tightening force. The negative of this contour is built into the nuts in order to allow for optimal grip. This negative contour is very fin and requires a highly wear resistant material.

During the initial phase of the project the nuts had been machined. When the project entered into its second stage volumes increased and a cheaper production method had to be found. Only MIM was able to cost effectively reproduce the intricate and precise contours that are required to guarantee the function for the specified service life of 2000-5000 tightening operations.

For cost reasons the Nuts are made from 7% NiFe. In order to achieve the required service life it is important that the density is above 7,8g/cm³. Furthermore close attention to the hardening procedure and the subsequent anti friction coating procedure is required.

In comparison to the manufacture by machining MIM results in cost savings of 85%. Although the annual production volumes of today about 20'000 pieces are relatively small, MIM is able to generate big cost savings.

The Nuts are a good example for MIM's ability to give very cost effectively shape to designer's imagination and to produce highly wear resistant components even from materials which are conventionally not thought for such applications.

Mr Georg Breitenmoser
Parmaco Metal Injection Molding AG

Mr Dr. Cesar Molins
Präsident EPMA