Award: Award of Distinction
Year: 2002
Category: Metal Injection Molding
Market Segment: Other

Description:
The award was given to an intricate optical transceiver housing the housing is used in a parallel optical module designed for ultra-high speed transceivers in networking and telecommunications equipment. Replacing a zinc die cast part that experienced poor performance at elevated temperatures and suffered from poor surface finish, the MIM part achieved a breakthrough in optical communications. The housing has a complex structure with very thin walls of < 1mm (0.04 in.) and four thin legs supporting two parallel strips. The overall size of the housing is 42 mm (1.65i n.) x 14 mm (0.55 in.) x 16 mm (0.63 in.). The rectangular head has an inner semi-diameter of 12.5 mm (0.49 in.). It is made from 17-4 PH stainless steel to a density of 7.6 g/cm³, a yield strength of 730 MPa (106,000 psi), a tensile strength of 900 MPa (130,500 psi) and 6% elongation. The part undergoes electrolytic copper, electroless nickel and electrolytic gold plating. Compared with machining, MIM’s cost savings approaches 80%.