Sintered parts give competitive edge
Sintered parts in low volumes are used in a wide variety of sectors outside the automotive industry, including for door lock components
Dansk Sintermetal says that even at volumes as low as 5000 parts per year, sintered parts can provide an economic alternative on complex components that require a lot of machining.
Metal parts made by pressing and sintering are well known in the automotive industry where the annual need is very high, but in industries, where the yearly need is very low, the process is often overlooked leaving potential savings unexploited.
Dansk Sintermetal’s Pernille Bonde Christiansen says: “Sintered parts are already an economical alternative at an annual demand starting at 5000 pieces per year. If you have a complex part in massive material, which requires a lot of machining it is very likely that it will be an economic advantage in converting it into a sintered part.”
For more than 50 years the Danish company has offered sintered parts in smaller series for many customers outside the automotive sector, including manufacturers of door locks, pneumatic and electrical hand tools, clutches and brakes, welding equipment and gas equipment to mention a few.
Using conventional powder compaction, Dansk Sintermetal offers parts produced according to customer specifications in iron, steel, stainless steel, different copper based alloys and SMC (Soft Magnetic Composites).
The metal powder is compacted under very high pressure in a tool. The parts are then sintered (heat treated) in a belt conveyor furnace, at a temperature below the melting point of the base material. During the sintering process the parts obtain their mechanical properties. After the parts have been sintered, they can either be ready to use or secondary operations such as sizing (re-pressing), turning, drilling, threading, deburring can be carried out in the same way as on massive materials. Heat treatment or surface treatment of the sintered parts can also be offered.
Ms Bonde adds: “The great advantages by using the sintering technology is that you have a very little material waste as well as having the possibility to produce complex parts in a high quality in a very economical way.”
To overcome customers’ uncertainty when taking the first steps in considering whether to convert an existing part into a sintered part, and for use during new development projects, Dansk Sintermetal offers sintered blanks or machined prototypes in various sintered materials. This gives the customer the chance to test geometry and mechanical properties before actually investing in a tool.
As a special event at this years Subcon in Birmingham from 7 to 9 of June, Dansk Sintermetal
(Exhibiting at stand B5 together with Brusch Engineering) will send a free sintered blank after the exhibition for all customers who hand over their business card at the stand.
“This will give you the opportunity to machine a part from sintered material and eventual carry out some pre tests for evaluation.
“Do not miss out on this great opportunity to improve your competitiveness in your market by taking advantage of the sintering technology that has already been beneficial to the automotive industry for decades,” concludes Ms Bonde.
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