High speed mixing of MIM feedstock

The cost of converting metal powder into feedstock suitable for MIM is a significant part of the manufacturing cost, says Yancey Smith. When he set up his MIM-Con consultancy business in Escondido, California, USA it was one of the first projects he tackled. By developing a more efficient mixing process he hopes to reduce conversion costs from 20% of the manufacturing cost to between 5% and 10%. This, says Smith, will result in a significant reduction in the price of MIM parts, and should lead to wider usage.