What years did this process begin?
The begining of MIM
- Thread starter jculloden
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dcopper
Member
I'm not sure, but I would like to hear some info on this myself.
.455_Hunter
Member
MIM was invented in the 70's. Rapidly gained industrial usage in the 80's and 90's.
S&W began using MIM parts in the mid to late-90's. My 60-12 snub purchased NIB in 1998 is pre-lock, but has MIM parts and internal firing pin. It has been OUTSTANDING!
S&W began using MIM parts in the mid to late-90's. My 60-12 snub purchased NIB in 1998 is pre-lock, but has MIM parts and internal firing pin. It has been OUTSTANDING!
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bmcgilvray
Member
My Model 642-1 was purchased new in early summer of 1998 and came with a MIM trigger and case-hardened hammer. What's more that hammer is finished out with a perfectly useable single-action sear. Gives a good single-action trigger pull too. All it takes is to remove the side plate, manipulate the action in order to cock the thing, and presto, single-action Model 642, hah!
Edmo
US Veteran
I've never had any problems with MIM parts. However, I never thought they were making barrels using MIM technology.
At the 2 min 10 second point of this really boring video you can see J frame barrels are MIM'd. Interesting... I own one of those barrels on a 642-1 and it has been flawless.
Edmo
Parmatech Corporation Attends MD&M East 2009, Booth 2060 - YouTube
At the 2 min 10 second point of this really boring video you can see J frame barrels are MIM'd. Interesting... I own one of those barrels on a 642-1 and it has been flawless.
Edmo
Parmatech Corporation Attends MD&M East 2009, Booth 2060 - YouTube
mcmoon03
US Veteran
Although MIM has been used for along time in the production of firearms, I prefer to stay away from anything expensive which has MIM parts. I have read stories where people have had problems with MIM parts breaking. Newer parts may be fine but I fear issues as the firearm ages.
Well, I'll be Dad-Jimmd..
That's a revelation about the gun barrels. MIM is a fantastic process. I wonder when we will see it as an advance rather than 'cheaper' process? Just from what I've heard I'd rather have a MIM barrel than one of those EDM jobs.
That's a revelation about the gun barrels. MIM is a fantastic process. I wonder when we will see it as an advance rather than 'cheaper' process? Just from what I've heard I'd rather have a MIM barrel than one of those EDM jobs.
I posted a thread....
I posted a thread asking if anybody actually knew of MIM parts failing. The answers were completely positive, nobody had experience with a bad MIM part, except I THINK with a period when they did have trouble with QC but that can happen with any part. I will admit that the MIM process needs some tight quality control, but it is surely the wave of the future. There's plenty of old guns out there right now for me, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a newer gun if I had the need/want for it. The smaller revolvers they are making are danged attractive.
I posted a thread asking if anybody actually knew of MIM parts failing. The answers were completely positive, nobody had experience with a bad MIM part, except I THINK with a period when they did have trouble with QC but that can happen with any part. I will admit that the MIM process needs some tight quality control, but it is surely the wave of the future. There's plenty of old guns out there right now for me, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a newer gun if I had the need/want for it. The smaller revolvers they are making are danged attractive.
I worked for a mechanical seal manufacturer who started using MIM parts many years ago. People were at first afraid of the parts until they discovered that they were equal or better than the machined parts. Never had a problem with a single item produced by this process.
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
The first MIM part I can recall seeing was an "angled" style thumbpiece on a M629-4 Mountain Gun with a ship date of April 28, 1995.
There was a general consensus the apocalypse started about 1997 (MIM parts) and an undeniable confirmation the apocalypse was upon us in 2001-2002 with the introduction of the internal lock. Somehow we managed to survive.
John
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silentflyer
Member
If MIM technology is strong enough for jet engine turbine components, it will be more than sufficient for firearm components.
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a521729.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a521729.pdf
Interesting to note that Jerry Kuhnhausen has nothing good to say about MIM parts in "The S&W Revolvers A Shop Manual 5th edition". Lots of comments & pics of broken/failed MIM components & rusted MIM parts due to the porosity of the MIM component. Not trying to initiate a firestorm here but I am curious. Were these writings concurrent with the MIM parts currently being used or is this pertinent to when S&W just began utilizing MIM. The reason I ask is i am currently sitting on the fence as to whether by a new model 686 3 inch or go look for an older pre-MIM model. You talk to some folk with the newer versions who state there is no issues but think that their 600 round count through a gun is a lot. I tend to shoot mine; a lot. My newest pistola is just breaking in nicely at the 3000 round mark.
Buy new! You will have the lifetime warranty. If a problem arises S&W will fix it or replace it.
ginzo
Member
So, how would one tell the difference in say, a "MIM" hammer (or trigger), and a non "MIM" hammer. Can it be determined by looking or is the year going to be the factor.
i have 2 humpbacks, one 1990, the other 2010? I haven't really looked at them side by side to see the difference.
Thanks,
Chuck
i have 2 humpbacks, one 1990, the other 2010? I haven't really looked at them side by side to see the difference.
Thanks,
Chuck
The MIM triggers have a groove (channel) in the back.
Is MIM different than the casting process Ruger has been doing for years?
Is MIM different than the casting process Ruger has been doing for years?
As far as I have learned is that Ruger casting is "poured" liquid metal into a "form".
MIM is powdered metal mixture that is compressed into a "form" ; then baked to create the part?
Little off topic and I know nothing about powdered metallurgy (MIM v. sintered) but IIRC, Colt used sintered metal parts in their J frame revolvers (Lawman, Trooper Mk. 3's, etc) back in the 70's or possibly earlier. I don't think the Python did, part of why they cost more.
BruceM
Member
The first gun I know of that had MIM parts was the Bren Ten (late 1983). Same general problem as Mimber. Poor QC produced parts used by an under funded company. I think that the late 1970's Colts mentioned previously as well as the Dan Wesson revolvers used a small number of sintered metal parts. That is a different process and, in my understanding, inferior to properly done MIM.
At the time Dornaus & Dixon was experimenting with MIM in firearms and the Xm9 trials were being conducted. The actually made technical drawings for parts to be used in a 9mm version of the 4" Special Forces Model. The thinking at the time was that they would design the gun and enter into a joint venture relationship with Colt to produce the gun. D&D barely had $'s to do what they were doing. Never mind bringing their shops up to a level necessary for ISO certification need to produce weapons for DOD. Anyway, Colt sent a rep. to California to see what D&D was up to but negotiations never got beyond that. In all likelihood, Colt was just curious about the Bren Ten and wanted to see what D&D was doing and how & figured that was worth the price of a plane ticket plus expenses for a couple of days long road trip. It was a fishing expedition and little more.
Anyway, somebody will probably came up with something earlier than the Bren in conjunction to using MIM created parts in a firearm.
Bruce
At the time Dornaus & Dixon was experimenting with MIM in firearms and the Xm9 trials were being conducted. The actually made technical drawings for parts to be used in a 9mm version of the 4" Special Forces Model. The thinking at the time was that they would design the gun and enter into a joint venture relationship with Colt to produce the gun. D&D barely had $'s to do what they were doing. Never mind bringing their shops up to a level necessary for ISO certification need to produce weapons for DOD. Anyway, Colt sent a rep. to California to see what D&D was up to but negotiations never got beyond that. In all likelihood, Colt was just curious about the Bren Ten and wanted to see what D&D was doing and how & figured that was worth the price of a plane ticket plus expenses for a couple of days long road trip. It was a fishing expedition and little more.
Anyway, somebody will probably came up with something earlier than the Bren in conjunction to using MIM created parts in a firearm.
Bruce
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