Low-pressure powder injection molding machine, kit and method

A low-pressure powder injection molding machine comprising a feedstock container adapted to contain a mixed feedstock material, a mold having an inlet, a cavity in which said feedstock material can set and an injection device having an injection port for supplying said mixed feedstock material from said container to said mold by using pressure, wherein said machine further comprises a moveable platform providing relative movement between said injection port of said injection device and said inlet of said mold so that said feedstock is communicated directly between said injection port and said inlet without an intermediary conduit, wherein said moveable platform is mounted on a base structure, the moveable platform being displaceable with respect to the base structure, along a platform displacement path;

• said injection device is adapted to be mounted on the moveable platform, the injection device having an injection cylinder that is adapted to fill up, at least in part, with a feedstock when in a container alignment position and that is adapted to inject the feedstock when in a mold alignment position according to a propulsion system within the injection cylinder;
• said mold is adapted to be placed on the moveable platform and immobilized with respect to the base structure along the platform displacement path when the injection device is in a mold alignment position, the mold defining a cavity and the inlet, the cavity being for receiving the feedstock and forming a part according to a desired shape, the inlet being in communication with the cavity for transmitting the feedstock from the injection device to the cavity, the inlet being positioned to align with the injection device when in the mold alignment position;
• said container adapted to be placed on the moveable platform and immobilized with respect to the base structure along the platform displacement path, the container defining a chamber and the outlet that is in communication with the chamber, the chamber being adapted to receive at least one material to produce the feedstock, the chamber being further adapted to receive a mixing tool and also adapted to contain the feedstock therein, the outlet being positioned to align with the injection cylinder when in the container alignment position;
• and
• Said container further comprises a mixer having the mixing tool, the mixer being adapted to be displaceably mounted on the base structure so as to engage the container with the mixing tool.