MIM Part Feasibility and Tooling RFQ Template
A MIM supplier can only give a useful feasibility answer and tooling price if the request describes the part, the critical features and the volumes. This template collects that information in one document and asks the questions that surface risk early.
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MIM Part Feasibility and Tooling RFQ Template
Request for Quotation: Metal Injection Molding
Requesting company: Acme Precision Ltd Contact: Jordan Lee, jlee@example.com RFQ date: 2026-10-21 Quote due: 2026-11-04
Please quote tooling, piece price and lead times for the part below, and provide a feasibility review with design-for-manufacturability comments.
Part Summary
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number / revision | LTC-2210 Rev C |
| Description | Latch cam, small hardware assembly |
| Material | MIM-17-4 PH |
| Sintered mass (g) | 8.5 |
| Envelope (mm) | 32 x 14 x 9 |
| Minimum wall (mm) | 0.9 |
| Minimum sintered density | 96 percent of theoretical |
| General tolerance | +/-0.5 percent as-sintered |
Volumes and Schedule
| Item | Quantity / date |
|---|---|
| Prototype quantity | 50 |
| Estimated annual volume | 60000 |
| Quote due date | 2026-11-04 |
| Target tooling lead time | |
| Target production start |
Critical-to-Quality Features
| Feature / dimension | Nominal | Tolerance | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
Secondary Operations
Heat treat to H900, passivation, tumble finish, tap one M3 hole
Quality and Documentation
Certificate of conformance, material certificate, FAI with first shipment, PPAP level 3 if automotive
Questions for the Supplier
1. What shrinkage factor and powder loading do you propose, and how do you confirm it on first article? 2. Where would you place gates and ejector pins, and what witness marks will result? 3. Which features need setters or supports during sintering, and what distortion do you expect? 4. What is your expected as-sintered capability on the critical features, and what Cpk can you show on similar parts? 5. Which dimensions would you recommend relaxing, sizing or machining? 6. What is the tool cost, cavity count, expected tool life in shots and the cost to repair or replace it? 7. What are your debinding and sintering batch sizes and lead times for the volume above?
Additional Notes
Gate location not allowed on datum surface A. Please quote with and without in-house tool build.
Approvals
This is a starting point for a request for quotation and not legal advice. Add your standard terms and conditions, confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement, and drawing references before sending. Attach the 3D model and 2D drawing.
Supplier quote tracking in your ERP
Optional: a review of tracking RFQs, tooling and first-article approvals in your ERP.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use it
Fill in the part summary, volumes, tolerances and secondary operations, then list the critical-to-quality features with their tolerances and measurement methods. Attach the 3D model and drawing. Use the supplier questions as the structure for the response, so every bidder answers the same things and you can compare quotes. Export to Word to add your terms and conditions, or to PDF to send as-is.
- Give a realistic annual volume, since it drives cavity count and tool cost.
- State the real minimum density and property requirements.
- List critical features separately from general tolerances.
Why these fields
Mass, envelope and wall thickness decide feasibility: MIM suits small, complex parts, often under 100 g, with walls above about 0.5 mm. Volume determines multi-cavity tooling and whether MIM beats machining or casting. Material and density define sintering conditions and properties. General tolerance sets expectations for as-sintered capability, with sizing or machining reserved for critical features. Secondary operations and documentation drive cost and lead time beyond the molded part.
Reading the quotes
Compare tooling price, cavities, expected tool life in shots, piece price at each volume tier, minimum order quantity and lead time to first article. Ask what the quote assumes about shrinkage correction, because iterative tool corrections are a real cost. Look at supplier answers on gate location and witness marks, since cosmetic and datum surfaces are often compromised by gate and ejector placement. A cheaper piece price with a looser capability statement can cost more after secondary operations.
Common mistakes
Sending only a 2D drawing without the model slows feasibility review. Over-tolerancing every dimension forces machining that cancels MIM's cost advantage. Omitting volume tiers hides how piece price falls with scale. Another mistake is not stating datum surfaces and cosmetic faces, leaving gate and ejector placement to chance. Finally, request first-article measurement of shrinkage-sensitive dimensions and agree on tool correction rounds before placing the tool order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What parts are good candidates for MIM?
Small, geometrically complex metal parts in higher volumes, typically a few grams to under 100 g, where machining would be slow and casting cannot hold the detail. Volumes of tens of thousands per year and above justify the tool.
How much does MIM tooling cost?
It ranges widely with complexity, cavities and mold steel, from a few thousand dollars for a simple single cavity to well beyond that for multi-cavity or side-action tools. Treat any number as an estimate and request itemized supplier quotes.
What tolerance should I ask for?
A planning figure is about +/-0.3 to 0.5 percent of the dimension as-sintered. Apply tighter values only to a few critical features and agree on how they will be achieved, such as sizing or machining.
Do I need a prototype before tooling?
Often yes. Prototypes can be machined, 3D printed or made from a soft prototype tool. Remember that printed or machined prototypes do not show the shrinkage, density and gate effects of true MIM, so confirm with a first-article run.
If you manage supplier quotes, tooling and first-article approvals across many parts, we can structure that workflow inside your ERP and quality system.
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