Sintering and Casting

Sintering – The procedure begins with powdered metallurgy, which is the process of taking fine powdered metals and pressing them into form. The powdered metal is compressed under several tons of hydraulic pressure to form a part. The resulting part is stable enough to be handled. The next process is sintering, where the part is heated to a specific temperature but not to the point of liquifying the metal. The metal particles are fused into a solid piece, but because the part does not reach the melting point of the metal, the part maintains its shape. The sintering process leaves a smooth finish to the hanger bearing.

Casting – The process for casting iron has a long history of use and dates to the 5th century BC. Hard iron hanger bearings are made of gray iron that is initially melted in a furnace. The liquid metal is cast or poured into sand molds, which contain hollow cavities of the desired shape, and then allowed to cool and solidify. The casting process produces a rough finish when compared to the sintering process.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMSL)

DMLS uses a precise, high-wattage laser to micro-weld powdered metals and alloys to form fully functional metal components from your CAD model. DMLS parts are made with powdered materials like aluminum, stainless steel and titanium, as well as niche alloys.