Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies on size accuracy of microgear wheels produced by powder injection molding of zirconia feedstocks

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two-component micropowder injection molding allows two different materials and, hence, two different functions to be integrated in one microdevice. This requires both components to be matched precisely. Therefore, high dimensional accuracy is essential in the successful development of a two-component micropart. This paper is about studies of the accuracy of the diameters of the inner hole of a gear wheel to be used as the first component of a shaft-to-collar connection. Diameters were measured in two defined directions, oriented 90° relative to each other. Items discussed are the size accuracy of green bodies and sintered specimens as well as the effects of different gating concepts. Sometimes, the inner hole is eccentric, depending on the gating concept employed. It was shown that a point-shaped gate can exert pressure on the feedstock nearby, thus causing deformation and reducing the diameter in these areas compared to the diameter in areas far from the gating system. The results also show that the eccentricity of the inner hole after sintering differs from that measured on green bodies, which is an indication of anisotropy in sintering. Moreover, the types of powder were seen to have an effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Beck M, Piotter V, Ruprecht R, Haußelt J (2006) Dimensional tolerances of micro precision parts made by ceramic injection moulding. 4M 2006 Conference, 20th–22nd September 2006. Grenoble, France, pp 135–138

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beck M, Piotter V, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Hausselt J (2008) Statistical analysis on the quality of precision parts in ceramic injection moulding. Proc. 10th Euspen Conference, 18th–22nd May 2008, Zurich, Switzerland, vol. 2, pp 179–183

  3. Imgrund P, Rota A, Hartwig T, Petzoldt F, Simchi A (2005) Adjustment of Materials and Sintering processes for MIM of bi-material parts. In: Proc. Euro PM 2005, 2nd–5th October 2005, Prague, Czech Republic-EPMA, Shrewsbury, vol. 2, pp. 307–312

  4. Imgrund P, Rota A, Wiegmann M (2007) Getting better bonding at tiny interfaces. Metalpowder Rep 62(3):31–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Imgrund P, Rota A, Simchi A (2008) Microinjection moulding of 316 L/17-4PH and 316 L/Fe powders for fabrication of magnetic-nonmagnetic bimetals. J Mater Process Technol 200:259–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Piotter V, Holstein N, Plewa K, Ruprecht R, Haußelt J (2004) Replication of microcomponents by different variants of injection molding. Microsyst Technol 10:547–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Finnah G, Orlygsson G, Piotter V, Ruprecht R, Haußelt J (2005) Injection molding processes for integration and assembly in MST. In: Michel B (ed) The World of electronic packaging and system integration. ddp Goldenbogen, Dresden, pp 314–319

    Google Scholar 

  8. Piotter V, Beck M, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Ruh A, Hausselt J (2008) Recent developments in micro ceramic injection molding. Int J Mat Res 99:1157–1162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ruh A, Hanemann T, Heldele R, Piotter V, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Hausselt J (2011) Development of two-component micropowder injection molding (2C-MicroPIM): characteristics of applicable materials. Int J Appl Ceram Technol 8:194–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ruh A, Piotter V, Plewa K, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Hausselt J (2009) Development of two-component micropowder injection molding (2 C-MicroPIM)—process development. Int J Appl Ceram Technol. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7402.2009.02468.x

  11. Piotter V, Prokop J, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Ruh A, Hausselt J (2010) Multi-component microinjection moulding-trends and developments. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 47:63–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Moritz T (2008) Two-component ceramic injection moulded (CIM) parts for the automotive and railway sectors. Powder Injection Moulding Int 2(4):38–39

    Google Scholar 

  13. Moritz T, Mannschatz A (2009) Ceramic components for automotive and railway applications made by two-component ceramic injection moulding. Proc. Euro PM 2009, 12th–14th October 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark. EPMA, Shrewsbury, vol. 2, pp 123–128

  14. Heldele R, Schulz M, Kauzlaric D, Korvink JG, Haußelt J (2006) Micro powder injection molding: process characterization and modeling. Microsyst Technol 12:941–946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kauzlarić D, Lienemann J, Pastewka L, Greiner A, Korvink JG (2008) Integrated process simulation of primary shaping: multi scale approaches. Microsyst Technol 14:1789–1796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Greiner A, Kauzlaric D, Korvink JG, Heldele R, Schulz M, Piotter V, Hanemann T, Weber O, Haußelt J (2011) Simulation of micro powder injection moulding: powder segregation and yield stress effects during form filling. J Eur Ceram Soc. doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.02.008

  17. Ruh A, Dieckmann A-M, Heldele R, Piotter V, Ruprecht R, Munzinger C, Fleischer J, Haußelt J (2008) Production of two-material micro-assemblies by two-component powder injection molding and sinter-joining. Microsyst Technol 14:1805–1811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Heldele R, Rath S, Merz L, Butzbach R, Hagelstein M, Haußelt J (2006) X-ray tomography of powder injection moulded micro parts using synchrotron radiation. Nucl Instr Meth Phys Res B 246:211–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hanemann T, Heldele R (2010) Modern alchemy: ceramic feedstock optimization by surfactant screening. cfi/Ber DKG 87(4):E38–E40

  20. Ruh A, Piotter V, Plewa K, Ritzhaupt-Kleissl H-J, Haußelt J (2010) Effects of material improvement and injection moulding tool design on the movability of sintered two-component micro parts. Microsyst Technol 16:1989–1994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gietzelt T, Piotter V, Ruprecht R, Hausselt J (2002) Manufacturing of isolated ceramic microstructures. Microsyst Technol 9:99–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Gietzelt T, Jacobi O, Piotter V, Ruprecht R, Hausselt J (2007) Manufacturing and characterization of isolated microparts made by PIM for a micro annular gear pump and a micro gearwheel mould insert. PIM International 1(2):48–53

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials - Material Process Technology, P.O. Box 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Andreas Ruh, Volker Piotter, Klaus Plewa, Hans-Joachim Ritzhaupt-Kleissl & Jürgen Haußelt

Authors
  1. Andreas Ruh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Volker Piotter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Klaus Plewa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hans-Joachim Ritzhaupt-Kleissl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jürgen Haußelt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Ruh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ruh, A., Piotter, V., Plewa, K. et al. Studies on size accuracy of microgear wheels produced by powder injection molding of zirconia feedstocks. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 58, 1051–1059 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3461-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-011-3461-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation