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Ridgway Powdered Metals Inc. - Custom Powdered Metal Parts Producer of Quality PM Assemblies

Powdered Metal - or P/M - is a highly developed method of manufacturing reliable ferrous and nonferrous parts. Made by mixing elemental or alloy powders and compacting the mixture in a die, the resultant shapes are then sintered or heated in a controlled-atmosphere furnace to bond the particles metallurgically. Basically a "chipless" metalworking process, powdered metal typically uses more than 97% of the starting raw material in the finished part. Because of this, powdered metal is an energy and materials conserving process.

The powdered metal process is cost effective in producing simple or complex parts at, or very close to, final dimensions in production rates which can range from a few hundred to several thousand parts per hour. As a result, only minor, if any, machining is required. Powdered metal parts also may be sized for closer dimensional control and /or coined for both higher density and strength.

Most powdered metal parts weigh less than 5 pounds (2.27 kg), although parts weighing as much as 35 pounds (15.89 kg) can be fabricated in conventional powdered metal equipment. Many of the early powdered metal parts , such as bushings, bearings and gears, were very simple shapes, as contrasted with the complex contours and multiple levels which are often produced economically today. •