A study of WC end-milling manufacturing and cutting ability evaluation by using powder injection molding

The powder injection molding (PIM) technique is a manufacturing process that combines the versatility of plastic injection molding with the strength and integrity of machined, pressed, or otherwise manufactured small, complex, metal parts. When metal products are manufactured using injection molding, the process is both cost effective and time efficient. Nowadays, small metal products are manufactured using powder injection molding. Conventionally, cutting tools, such as endmills, are manufactured using a grinding process, because cutting tool materials are hard and have a high mechanical strength as well as a complex shape. To reduce the grinding time for the flute of an endmill, we suggested using an endmill blank method, where the flute is fabricated using PIM before edge grinding. This paper also describes how to finish the remainder of the cutting processes and discusses the performance of the formed cutting tool compared with a conventional tungsten carbide tool.