• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2002

In this paper we presented numerical method for the simulation of powder injection molding filling process, which is one of the key processes in powder injection molding. Rheological properties of powder binder mixture such as slip phenomena and yield stress were introduced into the numerical analysis model of powder injection molding filling simulation. Numerical model can be classified into two types. One is 2.5D model which can be introduced to a arbitrary thin geometry and the other is full 3D model which can be applied to a general 3D shape. For 2.5D model we showed the validity of our CAE system with several verification examples. Finally we suggested flow analysis model for 3D powder injection molding filling simulation.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

Powder injection molding is an important manufacturing technology to mass produce superalloy components with complex shape. Injection molding step is particularly important for realizing a desired shape, which requires much time and efforts finding the optimum process condition. Therefore computer aided engineering can be very useful to find proper injection molding conditions. In this study, we have conducted a finite element method based simulation for the spiral mold test of superalloy feedstock and compared the results with experimental ones. Sensitivity analysis with both of simulation and experiment reveals that the melt temperature of superalloy feedstock is the most important factor for the full filling of mold cavity. The FEM based simulation matches well the experimental results. This study contributes to the optimization of superalloy powder injection molding process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.505-506
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• 2006

This study is focused on the manufacturing technique of powder injection molding of watch case made from zirconia powder. A series of computer simulation processes were applied to the prediction of the flow pattern in the inside of the mould and defects as weld-line. The material properties of melted feedstock, including the PVT graph and thermal viscosity flowage properties were measured to obtain the input data to be used in a computer simulation. Also, a molding experiment was conducted and the results of the experiment showed a good agreement with the simulation results for flow pattern and weld line location. On the other hand, gravity and inertia effects have an influence on the velocity of the melt front because of the high density of ceramic powder particles during powder injection molding in comparison with polymer's injection molding process. In the experiment, the position of the melt front was compared with the upper gate and lower gate positions. The gravity and inertia effect could be confirmed in the experimental results.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.16 no.1 s.91
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• pp.61-66
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• 2007

Powder injection molding(PIM) is widely used for many parts in the field of automotives, electronics and medical industries, due to the capability of net shaping for complex 3-D geometry. Powder injection mold design for the dental scaler tip, a component of medical appliance, was presented. In comparison with conventional machining process, powder injection molding has many advantages, specially in price and dimensional stability, for molding dental scaler tip which has complex geometry. Both product design and mold design for dental scaler tip were presented. A PIM feedstock was made of stainless series(17-4PH, 316L, 440C) powder and a wax based binder. The 'rapid mold' concept was applied to manufacture the various forms and materials of dental scaler tip including vibration characteristics.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2007

We present a powder injection molding technique of fabricating cemented tungsten carbide(WC) balls for milling and dispersing nano-powder in this paper. The conventional powder metallurgy approach is investigated to reveal its drawbacks of density non-homogeneity. New procedures of powder injection molding for the homogeneous high-precision WC balls, involving the binding process, powder injection molding process and sintering process, are presented in detail. Each process is investigated empirically and numerically to obtain its engineering information, which can used for process optimization.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2012

Gas-assisted injection molding(GAIM) produces parts with hollow internal sections. The technique offers benefits to powder injection molding(PIM), with lower material usage and reduced time for de-binding processes. In this study, the effects of processing parameters on gas penetration length of gas-assisted powder injection molding(GAPIM) were investigated for SUS316L stainless steel powder feedstock. Experiments were planned based on the Taguchi method, involving processing variables such as melt temperature, shot size, gas pressure, and gas delay time. The most significant parameters affecting gas penetration length were gas delay time and shot size, while the effects of melt temperature and gas pressure was relatively insignificant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.270-274
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• 2005

The capability of net shaping for complex 3-D geometry, powder injection molding(PIM) is widely used for parts in the field of automotives, electronics and medical industry. Powder injection mold design for dental scaler tip, a component of medical appliance, was presented. In comparison with conventional machining process, powder injection molding has many advantages, specially in price and dimensional stability, for molding dental scaler tip. Product design and mold design for dental scaler tip was presented. Short shot experiment with scaler tip PIM mold and several defect (flash etc.) during injection molding process was discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.227-228
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• 2006

Powder injection molding (PIM) is a suitable technology for the fabrication of complex shape titanium and its alloys, and has a great potential in many applications. This paper dealt with the injection molding of hydride dehydrogenization (HDH) titanium powder, spheroidized HDH titanium powder and gas atomized titanium powder. Rheological and thermalgravimetric behaviors were compared between the feedstocks of the three powders, and a tentative application of Ti PIM to eye frame temple and bridge was briefed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1465-1477
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• 1993

Powder Injection Molding(PM) is an advanced and complicated technology for manufacturing ceramic or metal products making use of a conventional injection molding process, which is generally used for plastic products. Among many technologies involved in the successful PIM, injection molding process is one of the key steps to form a desired shape out of powder/binder mixtures. Thus, it is of great importance to have a numerical tool to predict the powder injection molding filling process. In this regard, a finite element analysis system has been developed for numerical simulations of filling process of powder injection molding. Powder/polymer mixtures during the filling pro cess of injection molding can be rheologically characterized as Non-Newtonian fluids with a so called yield phenomena and have a peculiar feature of apparent slip phenomena on the wall boundaries surrounding mold cavity. Therefore, in the present study, a physical modeling of the filling process of powder/polymer mixtures was developed to take into account both the yield stress and slip phenomena and a finite element formulation was developed accordingly. The numerical analysis scheme for filling simulation is accomplished by combining a finite element method with control volume technique to simulate the movement of flow front and a finite difference method to calculate the temperature distribution. The present study presents the modeling, numerical scheme and some numerical analysis results showing the effect of the yield stress and slip phenomena.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.211-212
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• 2006

Production components fabricated by metal powder injection molding are analyzed for features to identify the design window for this powder technology. This reverse approach lets the designer see where PIM has a high probability to succeed. The findings show that the most suitable components tend to be less than 25 mm in size and less than 10 g in mass, are slender, and have high complexity.