Publication Abstract
Sintered Tolerances and the Concomitant Demands on Green Body Homogeneity
German, R., Suri, P., Blaine, D., & Campbell, L. (2004). Sintered Tolerances and the Concomitant Demands on Green Body Homogeneity. Advances in Powder Metallurgy and Particulate Materials - 2004, Part 5. Princeton, NJ: Metal Powder Industries Federation. 1-10.
Abstract
Sintered materials are being projected into applications with total dimensional variations of 5 to
15 micrometers, for used in fiber optics, metal cutting, automotive fuel injectors, computer
peripherals, transmission gears, and biomedical implants. These dimensional targets greatly tax
the current production routes. Accordingly, new insight is needed in how to operate and control
production processes to ensure net-shaping with tight dimensional control. This study invokes a
mathematical link between green body mass homogeneity and sintered component dimensional
scatter. In light of the model, data from die pressed and injection molded powders are analyzed
for green mass variations and sintered size variations. The model provides guidelines for
assessing research needs for process control, green body inspection, and computer simulation
with respect to dimensional tolerance goals. Without attention to an improved infrastructure, the
only means to hold tight tolerances is through secondary operations.