The Powder Metal Process: From Raw Material to Finished Part

Step 1:

Team Meeting

After the quotation has been submitted to the Customer, and a Purchase Order placed to Vision for the tools and samples, all new projects begin with an internal team meeting where we go over the print requirements, review the material, the process requirements, the tool design, and the very important quality plan for the production component. This ensures the final product will meet your needs.

Step 4:

Sintering

To begin the process of developing the component’s print size, and physical properties, the next step is Sintering. During this operation the components are subjected to temperature and time at temperature. The parts are conveyed through a controlled-atmosphere furnace where the components are delubed, heated to the appropriate time/temperature of the raw material type, and also cooled for handling at the end of the furnace. The main attribute of sintering is the bonding of the metal particles together to give the component its strength and sintered hardness.

Now, heat treat may be an option to the sintered components to add more strength and to fully harden the component.

Step 5:

Optional Operations like Machining, Grinding, Deburring/Tumbling, and Coating/Plating

At Vision Quality Components we machine both heat treated and non heat treated components.

Not all components need a secondary operation. The reason for a secondary machining operation may be to improve dimensional tolerances, add a feature we cannot compact in, or improve surface finishes. We also offer other secondary processes such as oil impregnation, black oxide, steam treat, plating and chromate, resin impregnation or even ceramic coating. Vision also has vibratory finishing for deburring.