Converting machined parts to powder metallurgy manufacturing process is a trend

Q: Can machined products be converted into powder metallurgy products?

A: It depends on the situation.

To convert a machined product into a powder metallurgy product, the first step is to address molding limitations. If the shape of the machined product meets the requirements of powder metallurgy design, then it is OK. However, this OK is not something that every powder metallurgy manufacturer can easily draw conclusions. It is necessary to combine technology and experienced precipitation to effectively determine whether it is feasible. So whether it meets this requirement is closely related to the design technology.

When converting machined products to powder metallurgy products, cost considerations should also be considered. It can be said that powder metallurgy has the advantages of high material utilization and less cutting, making it suitable for mass production. Here we need to emphasize mass production. If the quantity is not large and mold making is required, there is no need to switch from machining to powder metallurgy manufacturing, and the cost will be higher.

When converting a machined product to a powder metallurgy product, it ultimately depends on the technical requirements, as it was originally made of materials such as steel that were machined. Later, when it was converted to powder metallurgy production, the strength, hardness, and performance of the material changed. The suitability of the usage conditions is a crucial factor in determining.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of powder metallurgy gears and machined gears:

1. High material utilization rate, up to over 95%.

2. No or minimal cutting is required.

3. Good dimensional consistency, stability, and high accuracy of parts.

4. Comparison of strength: Professional powder metallurgy manufacturers have designed and optimized powder metallurgy molds, and the tensile and compressive strength of the produced gears are close to that of material hobbing gears. For example, the driven gears of automotive gearboxes with high transmission strength are also powder metallurgy gears. It is evident that powder metallurgy gears have a wide range of practical applications.

5. Powder compression molding adopts mold forming, which can produce complex shaped parts that cannot be produced by other cutting and hobbing processes.

6. Due to its suitability for mass production, it has high production efficiency and lower cost compared to cutting processing.

7. It is suitable for mass production and therefore has absolute competitiveness in terms of price.