Powdered Metal Tech.

David W. Jung · #1

Back in the mid 70's Eastman Kodak was developing their 110 line of cameras. One problem that they ran into was the expense of cutting thin gears for the winding mechanism. They helped develop a technology where they press metal powder into a shape and then fuse it together under heat and pressure. If you can imagine making a aspirin tablet it is the same idea. What I'm wondering is whether anyone has tried to make a knife blade this way. The advantages would be similar to CPM440v but at a lower cost. Anyone?

Thanks Dave

#2

Hi Dave. That method is being done with some "powdered metals" for steel and it is also being done with titanium powders.

Currently tolerances are very close for our models and the parts would still have to go through all of the grinding, etc. processes.

I don't think we're there yet with the technology to make it cost effective. We're still learning how to work with CPM metals as they are.

sal

David W. Jung · #3

I agree that cost has to be a deciding factor in the process. While I think it is possible to get a fairly accurate casting, the cost of making a mold far exceeds that of the frn molds that you use. I still think that it holds promise for the future. Thanks. Dave

#4

Dave. I thought to also mention that CPM powdered metals are really not "cast" like some powdered metals. The particles are "fused" into a workable "ingot" made up of the particles. The process is pressure (isostatic) and heat. Then it is rolled into a workable sheet. Temperature is critical at all stages. CPM metals could not be "cast" to blade shape like David Boye's dendritic blades or powdered metal bolsters. The stuff doesn't permit that "type" of casting.

sal