The PM part design and the complexity of tooling used to produce it are closely related.

Two major factors in the compacting operation influence or control part design: the flow behavior of metal powders and the pressing action. Metal powders do not flow hydraulically because of the friction between particles and the dies. The design, therefore, should ensure adequate powder distribution within the die cavity to allow satisfactory compaction. Because metal powders also have limited lateral flow, there are some limitations on the contours that can be produced.

We have divided our discussion of tooling considerations into three broad topic areas: