Injection Molding Design Guide

Guide for high quality and cost-effective plastic injection molding.

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Discover how to choose the right 3D printer for your needs and the key performance attributes to consider.

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D printing for parts with reduced cost and little waste.

Mechanical Engineers Outlook

Guide for those interested in becoming a mechanical engineer. Includes qualifications, pay, and job duties.

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Solderability
Different metals have different affinity to a particular solder. The following table describes the general solderability of different base materials.

SolderabilityBase MetalRemarks
Excellent Tin
Cadmium
Gold
Silver
Palladium
Rhodium
Noble metals dissolve easily in solders, resulting in brittle joints
Good Copper
Bronze
Brass
Lead
Nickel-Silver
Beryllium-Copper
High thermal conductivity of these metals requires high heat input during soldering. Oxidizes quickly so proper flux must be used
Fair Carbon Steels
Low-Alloy Steels
Zinc
Nickel
Solder joints become brittle in sulfur-rich environments. Avoid higher temperatures in the presence of lubricants (which contain sulfur).
Poor Aluminum
Aluminum-Bronze
Tough oxides on the surface prevent wetting (formation of the inter-metallic layers). Solders have to be specially selected to avoid galvanic corrosion problems.
High-Alloy Steels
Stainless Steels
Too much chromium oxide the surface needs to be cleaned with an aggressive flux.
Very Difficult Cast Iron
Chromium
Titanium
Tantalum
Magnesium
Require pre-plating with a solderable metal.
Injection Molding Design Guide

Guide for high quality and cost-effective plastic injection molding.

Selecting the Right 3D Printer

Discover how to choose the right 3D printer for your needs and the key performance attributes to consider.

Metal 3D Printing Design Guide

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D printing for parts with reduced cost and little waste.

Mechanical Engineers Outlook

Guide for those interested in becoming a mechanical engineer. Includes qualifications, pay, and job duties.