In-House MIM Facility

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) Parts

Custom precision components from our in-house powdered metal manufacturing facility. From prototype to mass production — 2 million parts per month.

What is Metal Injection Molding?

MIM (Metal Injection Molding) — also known as powdered metal manufacturing — is an advanced process that combines the shape-making capability of plastic injection molding with the material properties of powder metallurgy. As experienced powdered metal manufacturers, we use this technology to produce complex precision components at scale. It produces complex, high-density metal parts that are impossible or prohibitively expensive to make with traditional machining.

Metal powder + polymer binder mixed into injectable feedstock

Injection molded into precision molds — complex geometries in one shot

Debinding + sintering at 1,300°C+ to achieve 96-99% theoretical density

40-60% cheaper than CNC at production volumes — with comparable material properties

Want to see MIM in action? Read our detailed guide:How Clipper Blades Are Made: MIM Process [18 Steps]

Zhafir MIM injection molding machines at SUMTHIN facility
Hiper vacuum sintering furnaces for MIM parts
SUMTHIN MIM production floor with automated machinery

MIM Capabilities

Complete specifications for our in-house MIM powder metallurgy facility.

Materials316L SS, 17-4PH SS, Fe-2Ni, Fe-8Ni, Low Alloy Steel, Titanium Alloys
Part Weight Range0.1g - 200g
Dimensional Tolerance±0.3% - ±0.5% (as-sintered)
Surface FinishRa 0.8-1.6 μm (as-sintered); mirror polish, bead blast, brushed available
Achievable HardnessHRC 20-65 (controllable via heat treatment)
Sintered Density96-99% theoretical density
Monthly Capacity2,000,000+ parts
Minimum Order500 pieces
Prototype Lead Time15-20 business days
Surface TreatmentsDLC nano coating, PVD, electroplating, polishing, bead blasting
CertificationsISO 9001, ISO 14001, SGS, National High-Tech Enterprise
Experience20+ years in powder metallurgy manufacturing

Industries We Serve

Our MIM expertise extends far beyond blades. We manufacture precision components for six major industries.

Automotive

Gears, turbocharger vanes, fuel injector nozzles, lock cylinders, oil pump rotors, sensor housings, shift lever components

Medical Devices

Surgical instruments, orthodontic brackets, endoscopic tools, bone screws, dental implant abutments, biopsy forceps

Electronics

SIM card trays, USB-C connectors, heat sinks, RF shielding cans, fiber optic ferrules, camera module brackets

Tools & Hardware

Lock cylinders, padlock shackles, power tool gears, ratchet mechanisms, wrench heads, hinge components, cam followers

Consumer Products

Watch cases, buckles, eyeglass hinges, zipper pulls, jewelry clasps, luxury pen clips, small appliance components

Grooming & Blades

Clipper blades, trimmer blades, razor heads, shearing combs — our core business. Blade-tested MIM quality applied to every industry.

See detailed MIM applications across all industries:50+ MIM Parts Across 6 Industries

MIM vs Other Manufacturing Methods

How Metal Injection Molding compares to alternative manufacturing processes for complex metal parts.

MethodGeometric ComplexityUnit Cost (10K+ pcs)ToleranceSurface Quality
MIMWe offer this★★★★★★★★★☆±0.3%Excellent
CNC Machining★★★★★★★☆☆☆±0.01mmExcellent
Investment Casting★★★★☆★★★☆☆±0.5%Good
Die Casting★★★☆☆★★★★★±0.1mmGood
Stamping★★☆☆☆★★★★★±0.05mmFair

40-60%

Lower cost vs CNC at 10K+ volume

96-99%

Sintered density (near-wrought)

Net-shape

Minimal secondary machining needed

Our MIM Process

Five stages from metal powder to finished precision component — all in-house.

Step 01

Feedstock Preparation

Fine metal powder (2-20μm) mixed with polymer binder at precise ratios. Material selected for your application requirements.

Step 02

Injection Molding

Feedstock injected into precision steel molds at high pressure. Complex geometries achieved in a single shot.

Step 03

Debinding

Polymer binder removed through solvent or thermal process. Part retains shape as a "brown part" with ~40% porosity.

Step 04

Sintering

Parts heated to 1,300°C+ in vacuum/atmosphere furnaces. Achieves 96-99% density with controlled shrinkage.

Step 05

Finishing

Secondary operations as needed: CNC machining, DLC coating, polishing, bead blasting, plating, heat treatment.

Why Choose SUMTHIN for MIM

What sets our MIM facility apart from generic powder metallurgy suppliers.

20+

years in production

20+ Years MIM Experience

We have been manufacturing MIM parts since 2004. Our clipper blade business produces over 250,000 MIM blades per day — that volume of experience translates to process mastery, yield optimization, and predictable quality for every part we make.

100%

vertically integrated

In-House Everything

From feedstock preparation to sintering to finishing — our entire MIM process runs under one roof. No outsourced steps, no quality gaps between vendors. You deal with one team from prototype to mass production.

HRC 62

max achievable hardness

Blade-Tested Quality Standards

Clipper blades demand extreme precision: edge geometry within microns, hardness uniformity at HRC 60-62, and zero tolerance for porosity at the cutting edge. These quality standards — honed on millions of blades — are applied to every MIM part we produce, regardless of industry.

4

certifications

Certified & Audited

ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management, SGS-verified processes, and National High-Tech Enterprise designation from the Chinese government. Our facility is audit-ready for any customer or regulatory requirement.

Send Us Your Drawing — Free MIM Feasibility Analysis

Share your part design (CAD, drawing, or even a sketch) and our MIM engineering team will assess feasibility, recommend materials, and provide a no-obligation quote within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MIM and how does it work?
MIM (Metal Injection Molding) combines the design flexibility of plastic injection molding with the strength and integrity of wrought metals. Fine metal powder is mixed with a polymer binder to create a feedstock, which is injection-molded into the desired shape. The binder is then removed (debinding), and the part is sintered at 1,300°C+ to achieve near-full density (96-99%). The result is a complex, net-shape metal component with tight tolerances — no secondary machining required for most parts.
What materials can be used in MIM?
We process a wide range of MIM materials: stainless steels (316L for corrosion resistance, 17-4PH for high strength), iron-based alloys (Fe-2Ni, Fe-8Ni), low alloy steels (for hardness up to HRC 65), and titanium alloys (for lightweight, biocompatible applications). Material selection depends on your part's mechanical requirements, environment, and budget. We provide material recommendations based on your application.
What is the minimum order quantity for MIM parts?
Our minimum order is 500 pieces for production runs. For new mold projects, we recommend an initial order of 3,000-5,000 pieces to amortize tooling costs effectively. Prototype quantities (50-100 pieces) can be produced from production molds for testing and approval before committing to full-volume orders.
How does MIM compare to CNC machining in cost?
For complex parts at volumes above 5,000-10,000 pieces, MIM is typically 40-60% cheaper than CNC machining. MIM's cost advantage grows with volume because the per-part cost drops significantly after tooling is paid off, while CNC costs remain relatively constant per piece. However, for simple geometries or very low volumes (under 500 pieces), CNC may be more economical since it requires no mold investment.
Can you produce prototype MIM parts?
Yes. Our prototype lead time is 15-20 business days from mold design approval. We produce prototypes using the same production molds and processes as mass production parts — so your prototype performance is representative of final production quality. We iterate on samples until you approve dimensions, surface finish, and mechanical properties before committing to volume production.
What industries do you serve with MIM?
We manufacture MIM parts for automotive (gears, turbocharger vanes, fuel injector components), medical devices (surgical instruments, orthodontic brackets, endoscopic tools), electronics (SIM card trays, connectors, heatsinks), tools and hardware (lock cylinders, power tool gears), consumer products (watch cases, eyeglass hinges), and grooming/blades — our core expertise. Our 20+ years of blade manufacturing have established quality standards that transfer to any precision MIM application.

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