Increasing performance and reducing costs with CIM

In addition to manufacturing ceramic parts as components for their DC motors and gearheads, maxon motor also makes ceramic elements for a wide range of industries, from watch production to the construction of dental implants.

The Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM) process involves ceramic powder being mixed with a plastic binder and then injection moulded on special machines. Complex shapes with minute dimensions and detailed structures can be produced in a single stage process. The parts can be machined either in the ‘green state’, before being sintered, or complete from injection moulding and then sintered, or diamond ground after sintering. This is dependent upon the accuracy, complexity of the part and the volume required.

maxon has over 15 years’ experience developing and producing precise technical components using high-performance ceramic materials. CIM parts are used in DC motors and gearheads to increase performance and to increase life. It is also beneficial to particular applications as it has a very high resistance to wear, is non-corrosive and is biocompatible, so doesn’t cause allergic reactions. These qualities have led to maxon developing a specialised product range of drills and implants for the dental industry – manufactured to medical devices standard ISO EN13485.

maxon offers a range of standard ceramic lead screws and shafts, either as standalone product or fitted in to the maxon gearhead as a spindle drive. maxon has developed its own unique surface, csg®, for ceramic lead screws that gives outstanding efficiency levels with very low static friction. The high hardness levels of ceramic ensure up to 100 times longer life than a conventional metal lead screw in the same application. Ceramic also benefits from similar properties to steel, including coefficient of expansion and Young’s modulus, so ceramics can replace steel on many applications ensuring higher efficiency and greater life than a conventional steel lead screw, even running with no lubricant as an option perhaps in a vacuum environment.

The cost saving in volume can be significantly less than machining, for example, producing minute gears using Ceramic Injection Moulding can reduce costs by 50%.

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