A manufacturing facility of a sintered product according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a molding apparatus configured to press-mold raw material powder containing metal powder to fabricate powder compacts; a marking apparatus configured to mark a product ID including a serial number on each of the powder compacts; a batch processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined batch process on intermediate materials which are the powder compacts or sintered articles of the powder compacts; a reader apparatus configured to read the product ID of each of the intermediate materials loaded in a batch case of the batch processing apparatus; and a server apparatus configured to communicate with the apparatuses. The server apparatus includes: a communication unit configured to receive a read value of the product ID from the reader apparatus; and a control unit configured to specify a load position of each of the intermediate materials in the batch case based on the received read value.

A manufacturing facility of a sintered product according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a molding apparatus configured to press-mold raw material powder containing metal powder to fabricate powder compacts; a marking apparatus configured to mark a product ID including a serial number on each of the powder compacts; a batch processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined batch process on intermediate materials which are the powder compacts or sintered articles of the powder compacts; a reader apparatus configured to read the product ID of each of the intermediate materials loaded in a batch case of the batch processing apparatus; and a server apparatus configured to communicate with the apparatuses. The server apparatus includes: a communication unit configured to receive a read value of the product ID from the reader apparatus; and a control unit configured to specify a load position of each of the intermediate materials in the batch case based on the received read value.

A method and apparatus for surface densification of powder metal annular preforms is described. A forming tool has external helical teeth corresponding to internal helical teeth of the preform. A die correspondingly configured to the external splines of the preform circumferentially surrounds the forming tool. The forming tool, die and lower punch(es) collectively define an aperture dimensioned to receive the preform. Upper punch(es) encase the preform in the aperture. Surface densification of the internal surface of the preform is achieved by movement of the preform axially over the forming tool. External splines of the preform and corresponding die splines direct the preform axially while internal helical teeth and corresponding forming teeth direct the forming tool to rotate as the preform moves. The forming teeth have varying dimensions in the circumferential and radial directions to apply compression and relaxation to densify the surface of the preform helical teeth.

In a current assisted sintering method according to an embodiment includes: a pressure-molding step of molding a powder compact by pressing a powder charged in a mold a mold releasing step of releasing the powder compact from the mold; and a current assisted sintering step of forming a sintered compact by feeding an electric current through the powder compact released from the mold. In the pressure-molding step, a cylindrical mold, of which one end and the other end are opened, made of a material containing a metal is used as the mold, and the powder is pressed by a first punch inserted into the one opening and a second punch inserted into the other opening.

A system for building a three dimensional green compact comprising a printing station configured to print a mask pattern on a building surface, wherein the mask pattern is formed of solidifiable material; a powder delivery station configured to apply a layer of powder material on the mask pattern; a die compaction station for compacting the layer formed by the powder material and the mask pattern; and a stage configured to repeatedly advance a building tray to each of the printing station, the powder delivery station and the die compaction station to build a plurality of layers that together form the three dimensional green compact.

A system for building a three dimensional green compact comprising a printing station configured to print a mask pattern on a building surface, wherein the mask pattern is formed of solidifiable material; a powder delivery station configured to apply a layer of powder material on the mask pattern; a die compaction station for compacting the layer formed by the powder material and the mask pattern; and a stage configured to repeatedly advance a building tray to each of the printing station, the powder delivery station and the die compaction station to build a plurality of layers that together form the three dimensional green compact.

A method for producing a thin-walled metal part with complex geometry includes mixing a metal powder with a polymer binder in order to obtain a composite mixture, producing a flexible composite sheet from the composite mixture, cutting, in the flexible composite sheet, a preform based on a contour of the metal part, applying the preform in a mold having a surface configured with a relief of the metal part, and debinding and sintering the preform in order to obtain the metal part.

A method for producing a thin-walled metal part with complex geometry includes mixing a metal powder with a polymer binder in order to obtain a composite mixture, producing a flexible composite sheet from the composite mixture, cutting, in the flexible composite sheet, a preform based on a contour of the metal part, applying the preform in a mold having a surface configured with a relief of the metal part, and debinding and sintering the preform in order to obtain the metal part.

A distributor device for use in a filling shoe for filling a mould cavity of a powder compression die, the distributor device having an inlet portion connectable to a powder supply; an outlet portion with an outlet opening; and a distributor portion arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The distributor portion includes one or more guide elements arranged to divide the distributor portion into a plurality of distributor channels. The distributor channels have an input with an input cross-sectional area at an upstream end of the distributor channel and an output with an output cross-sectional area at a downstream end of the distributor channel, wherein the input cross-sectional area differs from the output cross-sectional area for at least one of the distributor channels.

A distributor device for use in a filling shoe for filling a mould cavity of a powder compression die, the distributor device having an inlet portion connectable to a powder supply; an outlet portion with an outlet opening; and a distributor portion arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The distributor portion includes one or more guide elements arranged to divide the distributor portion into a plurality of distributor channels. The distributor channels have an input with an input cross-sectional area at an upstream end of the distributor channel and an output with an output cross-sectional area at a downstream end of the distributor channel, wherein the input cross-sectional area differs from the output cross-sectional area for at least one of the distributor channels.