Sinter Metal, located in Zeeland, MI, is a manufacturer of powder metal products. There parts are used in many different applications, including: cars, trucks, lawn equipment and computers. This memo will focus on the different process that are required to produce a quality powder metal part.
The process starts with a very fine powder metal which is similar in consistency to flour. The powder is usually purchased from outside venders. Reject parts can be ground and mix in with the virgin powder. The powder is then mixed using a specific recipe. The mixed powder can contain different amounts of iron, copper, or nickel depending on the desired physical properties. Following the mixing the powder has to be pressed in shape (briquette). The shape is produced by filling a die with the desired powder and then applying a force to the punch. The resulting part is the net desired shape. The part however is fragile. To finish the process, the parts are sintered. A sintering operation raises the part to an elevated temperature. (slightly below the melting point.) This sintering allows the part to develop strong bonds in the powder. The sintering process also can involve impregnation of different metals into the part. The impregnated metal has a lower melting then that of the base material. Following the sintering the parts can have secondary operations, machining, done or packaged and shipped.
Powder Metal has a broad range of uses. Sinter Metal capitalizes on this using to stay on top in the powder metal market.