maxon motor receives award for MIM technology
Second place at the EPMA Awards 2007
Every year, EPMA (European Powder Metallurgy Association) awards a prize for innovative components that unequivocally demonstrate the advantages of MIM technology (Metal Injection Moulding) over conventional production methods. maxon motor was nominated for its casing for an automatic guitar tuner. It won the Silver Award which was presented to representatives of maxon’s CIM/MIM division at EPMA’s annual conference in Toulouse.
All is calm before the beginning of the concert: a new type of guitar tuner can now tune electric guitars accurately and fully automatically within 30 seconds - something that would normally take several minutes, even for an experienced guitarist. Now, to counteract temperature fluctuations, a guitar can be tuned on stage at the press of a button. This is good for both the musician and the audience. The automatic guitar tuner will soon be available on the market.
What makes this MIM component so special? The challenge for maxon consisted of designing and producing a casing, comprising six micromotors with planetary gearhead that could fit into an electric guitar. Conventionally produced components would have been too big and too expensive. Thanks to MIM technology, maxon motor was able to deliver the required precision and compactness at a realistic price.
To meet the challenging specifications regarding compactness and complexity, maxon motor GmbH Sexau used a tool with several cores and slide feeds, for which the special Angus system provided a drag-free component. Using MIM technology means that the number of individual parts can also be drastically reduced. With the guitar tuner, for example, this means that of the original 150 individual parts, such as gear wheels, axes or discs, the number of MIM components falls to 30.
The award-winning MIM casing for the guitar tuner, with its high-level precision, compactness, complexity and mechanical solidity, can only be produced efficiently and competitively thanks to innovative MIM technology. Meanwhile, maxon motor GmbH Sexau is confident that MIM technology will give fresh impetus to the production of metallic components.
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| Dr. Lehnis accepts the EPMA certificate. |
left: casing cut open, middle: the six motors are inserted from above, right: complete module |
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Author: mmag/02.04.2008
