Electronics

While the electronics industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, electronic devices and components themselves are shrinking. Advanced manufacturing technologies allow engineers to develop increasingly complex and compact parts that provide greater functionality than ever. Compax, Inc. specializes in creating high-quality electronics components with state-of-the-art powdered metal manufacturing. Explore the growing capabilities of sintered powder metal parts and how partnering with Compax can give you a competitive advantage in the industry.

Why the Electronics Industry Relies on Powder Metal Parts

The electronics industry uses many parts manufactured that are sintered powder metal parts.. One of the reasons is that so many different types of metals and alloys are available with the process. The ability to use a variety of metals and process them efficiently makes them ideally suited to the sintered metal process.

Small components can be manufactured in large quantities with great precision because they are compacted into precise shapes and dimensions in custom dies. Sintering makes the shape permanent and adds strength, hardness, and ductility to the material

Electric motor parts, like rotors, pole pieces, and gears, can also be manufactured efficiently with the powder metal process. This is helping to drive the push to electrification seen in many industries from transportation to manufacturing.

Powder metal parts can also be further processed by CNC machining, grinding, coating and other finishing operations.

The Benefits of Powder Metal Manufacturing for Electronics Applications

Choosing the right electronic components manufacturing processes can make all the difference in your organization’s cost per unit, the quality and reputation of your electronics, and even how quickly your teams can respond to technological breakthroughs and changes in the global market.

Powder metal manufacturing offers several benefits for manufacturing electronics components, including:

• High precision. The powder metal is highly repeatable and can provide the shape and dimensions needed for the part.
• Less material waste. Powder metal manufacturing is a near-net-shape method, so each part uses minimal excess material.
• Reduced machining and finishing. As a near-net-shape process, parts are either produced complete or are very close to their finished shape after compaction. This means there is little need for additional grinding or machining in many applications. 
• Custom formulations. The blend of materials can be optimized to achieve desired physical, magnetic and corrosion resistant properties.
• Supports part complexity. The molding and compaction process is a reliable choice for intricate shapes and part features that would be more challenging or error-prone to fabricate or machine with other operations.

Applications of Powdered Metal Parts in Electronics

At Compax, Inc., we serve diverse markets including the electronics industry. Some common electronic and electric motor components that lend themselves to powder metallurgy include:

Learn More about Powder Metallurgy with Compax

Compax, Inc. serves electronics industry customers around the world with high-quality powder metal manufacturing services and metallurgical expertise. Our end-to-end powder metallurgy processes include sourcing and mixing metal powders, compacting them in presses ranging from 2-250 tons, and sintering them in optimal heat and atmosphere conditions to produce strong, solid components.

We have over 60 years of ongoing commitment to quality management and innovation, and we maintain an in-house inspection lab with Keyence image management systems, CMMs, multiple forms of testing, and microstructure analysis services. Contact us today to explore this efficient manufacturing process for products or request a quote for pricing and lead time details.

FAQs

What electronic parts benefit most from powder metallurgy?

Powder metallurgy works best for small components (3 inches or less), especially if they have multiple or intricate features. It is also a great choice for parts that are difficult to manufacture successfully by other methods like stamping or casting. Some examples include gears, rotors and stators, battery components, and heat sinks.

What metals does Compax work with?

This process is compatible with a wide range of metals and alloys. Compax frequently works with the following:

Does powdered metal manufacturing work well for high-volume orders?

This process is highly repeatable and makes an excellent choice for high volumes of small and electronic components. It uses materials efficiently, is cost-effective, and results in minimal variation between units.