How Does MIM Technology Create 1.3mm Minimally Invasive Surgical Scissors? - EMIMTEC Precision MIM Parts Customization Expert
In modern surgery, minimally invasive surgical scissors act as a precise extension of the surgeon’s hands—artful tools that "sculpt" within confined body cavities.
Have you ever wondered how such intricate instruments, especially scissor tips with a diameter of just 1.3 millimeters, are manufactured? Behind this lies a contest
of manufacturing philosophies between traditional precision machining and modern Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology.
As a leading precision MIM parts customization EXPERT, EMIMTECH will take you deep into how MIM has become the ultimate solution for manufacturing such
cutting-edge medical devices.
The Ultimate Challenge in Minimally Invasive Instruments: The Precision Art of 1.3 mm
A 1.3 mm scissor tip must not only exhibit extremely high dimensional accuracy and sharp edges but also possess sufficient strength and durability to perform in
complex surgical environments. It must be made of high-quality stainless steel or special alloys and withstand repeated sterilization and use. Traditional precision
machining processes such as micro-milling and micro-EDM reveal several limitations when facing this challenge:
High Processing Difficulty and Cost: Extremely fine tools are prone to breakage, processing is time-consuming, and equipment and labor
costs are very high.
Severe Material Waste: Over 90% of expensive specialty material is cut away and becomes waste in this "subtractive" process.
Risk of Stress and Deformation: Cutting forces can easily introduce residual stress in micro parts, leading to micro-deformation that affects final performance.
Limited Geometric Shapes: Traditional machining often struggles with internal hinges, complex curves, or undercut structures.
Difficulty Ensuring Consistency: Tool wear can cause quality fluctuations across production batches, introducing potential risks for medical devices.
MIM Process: A Revolutionary Technology Born for Complex Precision Medical Devices
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) perfectly solves the above industry paradox. It combines the shape complexity of plastic injection molding with the material
versatility of powder metallurgy, serving as a near-net-shape technology.
The core MIM process includes: Mixing ultrafine metal powder (e.g., 17-4PH stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy) with a specialized binder → Injection molding
into a "green" part → Catalytic or thermal debinding → High-temperature sintering for densification → Obtaining a final part with high density and strength.
Why Are Leading Medical Device Manufacturers Turning to MIM?
For products like the 1.3 mm scissor tip, the MIM process demonstrates overwhelming comprehensive advantages:
Unmatched Complex Forming Capability: MIM can form a complete scissor tip—including intricate internal hinges, transmission structures, and sharp blades—in
a single step, with almost no geometric limitations. This is unachievable with machining.
High Material Utilization and Cost-Effectiveness: As a near-net-shape process, MIM achieves material utilization rates exceeding 95%, significantly reducing the
unit cost of expensive materials like titanium and cobalt-chromium alloys. It is particularly suited for large-scale production ranging from tens of thousands to
millions of parts.
Excellent Consistency and Surface Quality: Molded production ensures highly consistent dimensional performance and excellent surface finish (Ra < 0.8 μm) for
every part, fully meeting the stringent quality stability requirements of medical devices.
Performance Comparable to Wrought Materials: Sintered MIM parts can reach over 96% of theoretical density, with mechanical strength, hardness, and corrosion
resistance comparable to traditional wrought materials, ensuring instrument reliability and durability.
Micron-Level Precision Control: Modern MIM technology can steadily control dimensional tolerances within ±0.5%. For a 1.3 mm part, this means overall
precision can be controlled within ±6.5 microns, perfectly meeting the precise fit requirements of medical devices.
EMIMTECH: Your Trusted Precision MIM Parts Customization Partner
At EMIMTECH, we understand that medical devices are vital to human life and health. We operate advanced MIM production lines, equipped with complete
laboratory testing facilities (including CMM, microscopes, mechanical property testers, etc.) and a strict quality management system. This ensures every step
—from feedstock, molding, and sintering to post-processing—is under precise control.
We specialize in providing customers in medical, dental, industrial, and other fields with one-stop MIM solutions—from design support and prototype sampling to
mass production. Whether it's an extremely precise part like a surgical scissor tip or other structurally complex and demanding metal components, we can deliver
high-quality products based on profound technical expertise.
Do you have a complexly designed metal part that requires mass production?
Is your product limited by traditional processing techniques, high costs, or low efficiency?
Contact the technical expert team at EMIMTECH now to receive your personalized MIM process evaluation report and a free sample solution. Let us use advanced
MIM technology to empower your innovative products and step into the future of precision manufacturing together.
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