304 Stainless Steel Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
Metal Injection Molding combines powder metallurgy with plastic injection molding to produce complex 304 stainless steel parts at OEM scale. For fire protection, plumbing, bathroom, and manifold applications, MIM replaces machined brass with dense, corrosion-resistant stainless components.
Applications
Complex valve internals
Flow paths, cages, and housings with features difficult to machine from bar stock.
Small structural stainless parts
Levers, brackets, and hardware with tight tolerances and consistent lot-to-lot density.
Consolidated housings
Single MIM bodies replacing welded or brazed multi-component assemblies.
High-cavity annual programs
Stable SKUs where tooling amortizes across hundreds of thousands of units per year.
Benefits for OEM Buyers
±0.3% typical dimensional tolerance
Near-net-shape accuracy reduces downstream machining on non-critical surfaces.
>98% theoretical density
Sintered 304 achieves mechanical properties suitable for water and fire service when properly passivated.
Design freedom
Internal cores, uniform walls, and asymmetric geometry impractical for CNC from solid bar.
Scalable OEM manufacturing
500,000+ parts per month capacity with ISO 9001:2015 process control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 304 stainless for MIM instead of 316?
304 covers most fire protection, plumbing, and bathroom environments at lower alloy cost. 316 is reserved for aggressive chloride exposure; your spec should drive material selection.
What is typical MIM part size range?
Most valve and plumbing conversions fall between 5 g and 150 g per part. Heavier parts may need hybrid MIM-plus-machining strategies on sealing surfaces.
Does MIM require post-sinter machining?
Critical sealing faces, threads, and press fits often receive a single post-sinter machining operation — still fewer steps than fully machined brass.
Talk to an MIM engineer about your part geometry
Send STEP or PDF drawings for DFM feedback and production pathway recommendations.
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