The driving requirements for this optoelectronic housing were a combination of precise tolerances and mass production potential. The housing was originally designed as a CNC machined component and growing demand and cost pressures were capping this approach.

The solution was a hybrid combination of metal injection molding and post machining. The body of the housing was molded to form the net shape. Secondary machining consisted of over-drilling the side holes and large frontal aperture to tolerance. Electroless nickel and gold plating completed the housing.

Kovar is a well-characterized MIM material that has found broad applications. An established MIM alloy, Kovar is widely used in electronics and optoelectronic applications for hermetically sealed packages. It’s thermal expansion characteristics match those of borosilicate glass enabling its use for metal-glass or metal-ceramic interfaces.

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