Metal Injection Molding Scores A Bullseye For Firearms Manufacturer The capability to customize complex-shaped parts that exhibit high strength and high performance — while remaining cost effective — has become one of the primary hallmarks of Metal Injection Molding (MIM). Producing a part that could withstand repeated firings and reloading, along with reliable performance, while eliminating several machining steps that would lower the costs of manufacturing was the aim of a large firearms manufacturer — and they set their sights on PCC-AFT to make it happen. 
The client tasked AFT's MIM division to create a yoke for one of their revolver models. The part aligns the cylinder of the revolver with the frame while still allowing the cylinder to pivot out for reloading. Furthermore, one of the challenges posed by the client was to create a yoke that matched up with the curvature of the frame, eliminating a problem that they had had with similar parts in the past. Using the MIM process, several machining steps were removed, resulting in a substantial cost savings to the client. Only the blind hole in the body undergoes a finishing machine process, and the pin is press-fit into the MIM part. Furthermore, the yoke now matches up with the curved frame. An additional benefit of having the yoke manufactured via the MIM process is that it now showcases the client's logo in precise detail — a capability that was not economically feasible in the past. The client has shown great satisfaction with the MIM produced yoke and it has been in production since 2000. Weighing just 28 grams, it is created from 4605 and 17-4PH alloys with a hardness of 20-26 HRc. Metal injection molding is ideal for applications where high volume, complex geometry, high performance and low cost are required. Applications for MIM include automotive parts, power tools, medical instruments, as well as computer and electronics parts. | 
