Powder Metal Parts Manufacturing: A Glossary

A |  B |  C |  D |  E |  G |  H |  I |  M |  N |  O |  P |  Q |  R |  S |  T |  U |  V |  W |  Y | 

A

Additive Manufacturing - A process of creating objects by adding material layer by layer. Metal Binder Jetting is an example of additive manufacturing technology used by DSB Technologies for producing metal parts.

Automation - The use of technology to automate manufacturing processes. DSB Technologies integrates automation in various stages, including compaction and sintering, to enhance efficiency and quality.

B

Binder Jetting - A 3D printing process where a liquid binding agent is selectively deposited to join powder particles. Used by DSB Technologies, Binder Jetting enables the production of complex metal parts.

C

CNC Press Technology - Utilizes computer numerical control (CNC) for precision pressing of powder metal components. This technology enables the production of parts with complex shapes and high dimensional accuracy.

Compaction - The process of pressing powdered metal into a dense form before sintering. It's a critical step in powder metallurgy, producing a 'green' part that is then sintered to achieve the final properties of a powder metal part.

Custom Material Blends - Tailored material compositions developed by DSB Technologies to meet specific application requirements. This involves adjusting the chemistry and properties of powder metal materials for optimized performance.

D

Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) - A design approach that optimizes part design for additive manufacturing processes, taking advantage of the unique capabilities of 3D printing technologies.

Dimensional Stability - A property indicating that a part maintains its dimensions through the manufacturing process, critical for applications requiring tight tolerances. DSB Technologies achieves this through optimized material selection and processing conditions.

E

Eject Position - In compaction press technology, the stage where the part is expelled from the press after compaction. It's a critical step ensuring the part's removal without damage.

G

Geometric Design Freedom - An advantage of additive manufacturing processes, like Metal Binder Jetting, enables the creation of complex shapes and designs, like internal structures and fine features, that are challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods.

Green Part - In powder metallurgy, metal injection molding and metal binder jetting, a "green part" refers to the state of a part after compaction but before sintering. It has enough strength to be handled but has not yet reached its final density or strength.

I

Injection Molding (3DM™ Technology) - A manufacturing process used by DSB Technologies to produce complex metal parts through injection molding with low part variability and high precision. This process is notable for its ability to achieve tight tolerances and intricate details.

Isotropic Shrinkage - Uniform shrinkage in all directions of a part during sintering, resulting in the metal part’s final design dimensions. With proprietary feedstock, DSB Technologies manufactures parts in injection molding with 50% less shrinkage than common materials.

M

Material Development - The process of creating and optimizing materials to meet specific application requirements. DSB Technologies specializes in developing custom blends and using a wide range of materials to achieve desired properties.

Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) - An additive manufacturing process employed by DSB Technologies to produce metal parts. It involves depositing a binding agent onto layers of metal powder, which is then sintered to form solid parts. This technique is known for its ability to create parts with complex geometries.

N

Net Shape -A manufacturing term for parts that are manufactured to near-final dimensions, requiring minimal finishing or machining. This term is often associated with processes like Powder Metallurgy (PM), Metal Injection Molding (MIM) and Metal Binder Jetting, where the goal is to minimize post-processing to save on time and cost.

O

Optimization - In the context of metal parts production, optimization refers to the process of enhancing various aspects of manufacturing, including material composition, part design, and processing parameters, to achieve superior performance, cost efficiency, or other desired outcomes.

P

Particle Packing - The arrangement and density of powder particles in a mold before sintering. Improved particle packing can lead to improved properties of the final metal part, such as isotropic characteristics and dimensional stability.

Porous Metal Filters - A specialty type of filter with sintered metal for a consistent filter flow for an application. DSB Technologies enables the production of porous metal filters ranging in pore size from 2 – 200 microns.

Powder Metallurgy (PM) - A manufacturing technology that involves the production of parts from metallic powders. This process includes compacting and sintering of the powder to form a solid component.

Q

Quality Control - Measures and procedures put in place to ensure that the manufactured parts meet predefined quality standards. In the context of DSB Technologies, this would involve the inspection and testing of metal parts for dimensional accuracy, material properties, and overall performance.

R

Reactive Materials - In additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy, reactive materials are those that may react under certain conditions (e.g., with the binder, during sintering, etc.) and require careful handling and processing to achieve the desired part characteristics.

S

Sintering - A heat treatment process applied to powder metal parts after compaction to bond the particles at a temperature below their melting point. Sintering enhances the strength, integrity, and density of the parts.

Sintered Metal Filters - A porous metal part that is manufactured through the process of sintering. DSB Technologies produces filters in the shapes of discs, tubes, or specialty shapes in over 800 different sizes, geometries, and porosities.

Stainless Steels - An alloy of iron, stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant and have enhanced mechnical properties. DSB Technologies specializes in the development and production of stainless steel materials, including ferritic, duplex, austenitic, and martensitic stainless steels.

T

Tooling - Refers to the molds and dies used in manufacturing processes to shape parts. In additive manufacturing processes like Metal Binder Jetting, the advantage is often highlighted by the minimal or no need for tooling, which reduces the cost and time to produce parts.

U

Undercut Features - Design elements in parts that are recessed or overhang relative to a typical mold parting line, challenging to manufacture with conventional methods but achievable through technologies like Powder Metallurgy, Metal Injection Molding (3DM™) and Metal Binder Jetting, which allow for more complex geometries without the need for additional machining.

V

Vacuum Sintering - A sintering process conducted in a vacuum to prevent oxidation and improve the properties of the metal parts. This process is essential for achieving high-density and high-strength components in powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing.

W

Wear Resistance - The ability of a material to resist surface loss under frictional conditions. This property is critical for components in applications where durability and longevity are essential, achieved through material selection and processing techniques in metal parts production.

Y

Yield Strength - The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. Achieving high yield strength is crucial for metal components intended for structural applications, where material properties are optimized through processing techniques like sintering and heat treatment.