Designing With Ceramics

There are many aspects to consider when designing with ceramic materials. However, STC can manufacture to nearly any configuration or tolerance that can be manufactured in metal or other materials.

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A Few Things To Remember When Ordering:
Any components that can be considered complete in the &#;as fired&#; state will be more cost effective. Most of the expense in manufacturing ceramic parts and components is in diamond grinding parts after firing. If your design can be made to net or near net shape in the &#;green state&#; (compressed powder, before firing) which can be machined with standard tooling, grinding costs can be reduced.

Keep in mind:

• The industry standard tolerance for an &#;as fired&#; dimension is +/-1% or +/- .005&#;, whichever is greater, as there is approximately 20% controlled shrinkage when firing ceramics. 
• There is a .006&#; per inch camber allowance on as fired components and a .025&#; maximum radius or chamfer on all corners. Diamond grinding can easily produce tolerances of +/- .002&#;. Tighter tolerances within tenths can be produced on a cost basis.

(Further information is available under Manufacturing Processes).

Use this website to help determine the best, most cost effective ceramic components to meet your requirements.

In high-hardness material industry, the accuracy to final dimension of green body is one of the most important features that determine production cost. Reducing dimensional tolerances is not possible without technological efforts.

In ceramic industry, methods of grinding, lapping, polishing and honing are different to metal industry, for example, the tools are mainly diamond wheels and chip production is very low.

Unless otherwise specified, the general tolerances for metals are DIN ISO -m and for ceramic DIN ISO .

Precision grades:

According to DIN ISO

• Coarse (g) for tolerances that can be maintained by ceramic manufacturing techniques, for example, extruding and casting.
• Medium (m) for tolerances that can be maintained on small parts, for example extruding, dry pressing and isostatic pressing.
• Fine (f) for tolerances where the accuracy grades of Coarse and Medium are not sufficient. 

The dimensional accuracy of sintered parts' size essentially depends on the material and the forming method. For this reason, tolerances are given according to DIN ISO -m.

Standard tolerances:

Tubes, multi-bore tubes and rods:

• Cut length tolerance: ± 1 %, < 100 mm upon request;
• Straightness: maximum crescent height 0.5% of total length

ø &#; 3 mm:

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• Diameter ± 5 % (but not less than ± 0,1 mm);

ø < 3 mm:

• Diameter ± 5 % (but not less than ± 0,05 mm);

Crucibles, boats, combustion trays:

• Tolerances ± 3 % (but not less ± 0,1 mm)

Plates:

• Tolerances ± 3 % (but not less ± 0,1 mm);
• Deflection: maximum 0,5 % of the diagonal

Insulating beads and grinding bodies:

• Tolerances ± 3 % (but not less than ± 0,1 mm)

The information presented below is only for quick reference. To get accurate data, please contact us .

*Umicore is not responsible for the accuracy of the data above.

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