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Metal powders
Parts are made from metal powders whose compositions are controlled according to the application requirements: steel, SMC, bronze or electrolytic copper.
Powder metallurgy
Sintered mechanical parts for industrial series production
SAS France designs and manufactures sintered mechanical parts and self-lubricating bushings in series production, from 5,000 to 450,000 parts/month, for all industrial sectors.
Saulieu
Bologna
30+years of experience in powder metallurgy
2production sites: SAS France and SAS Sinterizzati
5k to 450kparts/month in industrial series production
Reach/Rohscomponents compliant with applicable requirements
Powder metallurgy: sintering
Sintering makes it possible to produce technical mechanical parts from compacted metal powders subsequently consolidated by heat treatment.
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Compaction
Shaping is performed by compaction along an ejection axis. This makes it possible to quickly obtain complex geometries, such as face teeth, without material loss, with densities ranging from 5.6 to 7.1 g/cm³.
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Sintering
The compacted parts are then sintered in continuous furnaces, with temperatures and treatment times varying according to materials and target characteristics, with quality grade 10.
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Optional finishing operations
Depending on the specifications, parts may receive complementary operations: deburring, impregnation with different products, machining, heat treatment or surface treatment.
An industrial solution for complex parts
Sintering makes it possible to obtain technical geometries with high repeatability, while controlling series production costs.
01
Custom parts from drawings
Review of your needs, material adaptation and technical support according to your specifications.
02
Self-lubricating bushings
Manufacturing of bushings adapted to applications requiring low friction and consistent operation.
03
Competitive series production
Fast production of complex geometries with cycle times of just a few seconds per part.
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Material compliance
Components manufactured in compliance with REACH and RoHS requirements.
Available materials
Material grades adapted to functional requirements
Iron, sintered steels, stainless steel, bronze, copper or SMC: material selection depends on the function, loads, friction, environment and expected performance level.
Fer / Fer-Ccost-effective and versatile solution
Alloyed steelsimproved mechanical strength
Sintered stainless steelcorrosion resistance and harsh environments
Bronze / Copperfriction, bearings and conductivity
SMCmagnetic applications and electric motors
Show the material grades and applications table
Grade
Typical applications
Main properties
Economic positioning
Pure iron / Fe-C
View sheet →
Simple parts, low loads, guiding, magnetic components.
Good compressibility, low cost, possible magnetic properties.
Standard, cost-effective and versatile solution.
Fer-Cu / Fer-Ni
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Gears, supports, rings, common mechanical parts.
Improved strength, better mechanical performance, good stability.
Good cost/performance compromise.
Prealloyed steels
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Transmission, stressed parts, demanding mechanical components.
High strength, hardenability, metallurgical homogeneity.
Performance solution for technical parts.
Diffusion-alloyed steels
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Series parts, structural components, mechanical applications.
Good compressibility, improved strength, good pressing behavior.
Industrial optimization of cost / density / strength.
Stainless steels
View sheet →
Humid environments, corrosion, food or technical applications.
Corrosion resistance, chemical stability, performance in harsh environments.
Durable solution for environmental constraints.
Bronze / Copper
View sheet →
Bushings, bearings, friction, electrical or thermal conductivity.
Self-lubrication, conductivity, good tribological behavior.
Functional solution for friction or conductivity.
SMC
View sheet →
Electric motors, actuators, electromagnets, magnetic circuits.
3D magnetic behavior, controlled losses, complex shapes.
Specialized solution for electromagnetism.
Dimensional precision
Sintering precision in series production
Sintering makes it possible to obtain repeatable parts directly from the process. A sizing operation can significantly improve dimensional precision.
Sintering + sizing
IT6 → IT10
precision improved by sizing
Conventional sintering
IT8 → IT15
typical range without machining operation
Show the comparison of sintering with other processes
Process comparison
Dimensional precision of manufacturing processes
Typical tolerance ranges without machining operation, expressed in IT grades according to ISO 286. The lower the IT grade, the higher the precision.
More precise
Less precise
Sintering + sizing
Precision improved by sizing operation.
IT6
IT7
IT8
IT9
IT10
IT6 → IT10
Conventional sintering
Net-shape process: material efficiency and series repeatability.
IT8
IT9
IT10
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT15
IT8 → IT15
Grinding / precision machining
Very high precision by material removal.
IT5
IT6
IT7
IT5 → IT7
Precision machining
Controlled machining on functional dimensions.
IT6
IT7
IT8
IT6 → IT8
Standard machining
Versatile solution with intermediate tolerances.
IT8
IT9
IT10
IT11
IT8 → IT11
Zamak die casting
Die casting, without machining operation.
IT10
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT10 → IT13
MIM
Metal Injection Molding, without machining operation.
IT10
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT10 → IT14
Extrusion
Ranges depend on profile and material.
IT10
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT10 → IT14
Forging
As-forged tolerances depending on tooling.
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT15
IT11 → IT15
Metal 3D printing
Additive process, precision varies by technology.
IT11
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT15
IT16
IT11 → IT16
Casting
Wide tolerances depending on process and dimension.
IT12
IT13
IT14
IT15
IT16
IT12 → IT16
Indicative ranges based on industrial orders of magnitude. They vary according to nominal dimension, geometry, material, tooling, process conditions and applied control level.
Material & energy efficiency
An eco-efficient technology
Powder metallurgy makes it possible to produce near-net-shape parts, with very low material losses and generally lower energy consumption than conventional forming technologies.
90 %of the materials used come approximately from recycling streams.
97 %of the input material can be used in near-net-shape manufacturing.
≈ 15MJ/kg: Typical energy range for parts production.
Show the material & energy comparison with other processes
Process comparison
Sintering vs other forming processes
Average orders of magnitude: material yield and energy required to produce 1 kg of finished metal parts.
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97 %
material used
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≈ 15 MJ/kg
Energy required for manufacturing
Material yield
the longer the bar, the lower the losses
Useful material / material input ratio.
Processing energy
the shorter the bar, the more efficient the process
Approximate energy in MJ/kg of finished parts.
Indicative sources : Azevedo, Serrenho & Allwood, Powder Technology, 2018 ; Gutowski, Dahmus & Thiriez, CIRP LCE, 2006; Gutowski et al., Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2017; metal process LCA studies, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2022. Values are orders of magnitude that strongly depend on geometry, material, secondary operations and production rates.
Method
From your drawing to series production
SAS France supports industrial customers from requirements analysis to manufacturing, with a simple approach: secure feasibility, stabilize production and meet deadlines.
01
Part analysis
Drawing review, functional requirements, volumes, material and expected tolerances.
02
Technical orientation
Material, geometry, process and production conditions adapted to series manufacturing.
03
Series production
Repeatable production, controls, responsiveness and possible production security thanks to the two sites.
Do you have a part to produce in series?
Send us your drawing, forecast volumes and material constraints: we will respond with an initial technical and industrial analysis.