Every MIM production lot carries a unique identifier that tells the manufacturer — and the customer — exactly when and where the parts were made, and from which raw materials.
What a MIM lot number typically contains:| Segment | Example | What It Identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Material code | 316L | Alloy grade |
| Powder lot | PL-24056 | The specific powder atomization batch |
| Feedstock batch | FB-24103 | The specific feedstock compounding batch |
| Molding run | MR-24105-A | The injection molding run and cavity (A = cavity 1) |
| Sintering batch | SB-2415 | The sintering furnace load |
| Date code | 240612 | Manufacturing date (YYMMDD format) |
This tells the manufacturer: 316L parts from powder lot 24056, feedstock batch 24103, molded in run 24105 cavity A, sintered in batch 2415, produced on June 12, 2024.
How lot numbers are assigned:- Powder lot: Assigned by the powder supplier (or by ATMIK's in-house atomization line) — one lot per atomization run
- Feedstock batch: Assigned by the compounding operator — one batch per compounding run (typically 25-200 kg)
- Molding run: Assigned per production order — each run may produce 5,000-100,000+ parts depending on cavity count
- Sintering batch: Assigned per furnace load — the sintering batch number is the primary traceability link because all parts in a sintering load share the same thermal history
A MIM lot number is a unique identifier that encodes the material, powder lot, feedstock batch, molding run, sintering batch, and date. A complete lot number allows a manufacturer to trace any defective part back to its specific powder lot, molding parameters, and sintering profile — critical for root cause analysis and quality recalls. Typical format: Material-Powder-Feedstock-Mold-Sinter-Date.