Over the past three decades, Metal Injection Molding (MIM) has become an increasingly important manufacturing technology for producing not only automotive components but also medical devices, implants, and surgical instruments. Its ability to economically produce large volumes of precise components has made it the ideal choice for manufacturing a wide range of surgical tools, orthopedic implants, and other biomedical products.
Surgical Instruments and Dental Implants
The more complex a component’s geometry, the more justified it is to manufacture it using MIM technology. The process is especially advantageous for high-volume production of small, precision-engineered components. In healthcare, MIM is primarily used for producing surgical forceps, cauterizing instruments, scissors, and small surgical robotic tools—components that are often small, complex, and needed in large quantities since many are disposable.
MIM is also ideal for instruments requiring high strength, wear resistance, and excellent corrosion resistance, making it particularly suitable for surgical tools and implants. For dental implants, MIM components are extremely popular because they significantly reduce the risk of corrosion. MIM-produced implants are manufactured as a single piece, eliminating the need for soldering or welding. Given that corrosion requirements for metal implants are much stricter than for medical instruments, this makes MIM even more advantageous.
Additional Advantages of MIM
Thanks to the flexibility of MIM technology, material compositions can be customized to meet specific client requirements. Popular compositions include stainless steels, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, and tungsten alloys, though AFT’s mixing facility can produce any specialized material. MIM components are strong and, like other forged materials, can be bent, welded, hardened, and heat-treated. MIM remains the most effective method for economically producing miniature components.