Sintered Lock Part
A sintered lock part is a powder-metallurgy component used inside a locking mechanism – lock cylinders, key blanks, cabinet hardware, door latches, and furniture fittings. PM is the right process when the part has fine features (tooth profiles, cam shapes), runs at high volume (10K+ per year), and tolerates a small amount of porosity in the core.
Brass (Cu-Zn) – default for sintered lock cylinders, key blanks, decorative furniture fittings where corrosion resistance and a finished surface matter.
Iron-based (Fe-Cu, Fe-Ni-Cu) – workhorse for sintered latch bolts, cam locks, cabinet hardware, and structural sintered hardware part where cost and strength lead.
Stainless (316L, 17-4PH) – reserved for outdoor or marine-grade door hardware. Higher powder cost, longer sintering cycle. We will tell you if your part does not need it.
Material is locked at the DFM step. We do not upsell stainless when iron-based PM meets the spec.
What is a sintered lock part?
A sintered lock part is a metal lock component made by pressing metal powder in a die and then heating it below the melting point until the particles bond (sintering). The process gives you:
- Fine features in one press – pin-tumbler profiles on a key blank, tooth shapes on a cylinder core, the cam lobe on a cabinet lock – all formed in the compaction die, no secondary milling needed on the critical geometry.
- Repeatable tolerances at high volume -±0.05 mm as-sintered, ±0.025 mm after a sizing pass. Hundreds of thousands of identical parts without tool wear drifting the profile.
- Material efficiency above 95% – the unused powder is recycled back into the press. For brass and copper-bearing mixes, this is a real cost lever versus machining from bar stock.
The trade-off is porosity. Sintered lock parts sit at 85-92% of theoretical density. For lock cylinders, key blanks, latches, and most furniture fittings, that is fine. For a part that needs hermetic sealing or full-density corrosion resistance, we will recommend machined brass or stainless instead. The DFM review flags this early.
Lock cylinder & key systems
The parts that go inside a pin-tumbler or dimple-key cylinder. Sintered brass is the default – tooth profiles and pin holes are pressed in the die, not cut. Tight tolerance on the cylinder body keeps the pins running smooth.
Sintered lock cylinder body
A brass sintered lock cylinder body with pressed pin chambers and a keyway slot. Replaces a machined brass body on volumes above 50K/year. Pin chamber diameter held to ±0.025 mm after sizing.
Sintered key blank
A brass sintered key blank with a pressed blade profile. Tooth shape held to ±0.05 mm as-sintered. Suited to OEM key systems and high-volume key-cutting chains. Plated or unplated.
Sintered driver & key pins
Top and bottom pin pairs for a pin-tumbler cylinder. Sintered brass or stainless. Length and diameter held to ±0.01 mm. We can press different pin lengths as a family with shared die set.
Sintered cylinder plug
The rotating plug that takes the key torque. Sintered brass with a pressed keyway slot and cross-pin hole. Sized to a smooth ±0.02 mm fit against the cylinder body.
Sintered small lock gears (family)
Pinions and driver gears that sit inside combination locks, cam locks, and electronic lock modules. Sintered iron-based, sized to ±0.02 mm on the pitch diameter. Family runs share a die set to keep unit cost down.
Furniture & cabinet hardware
Sintered furniture fitting and sintered cabinet lock parts where the geometry repeats at high volume and a small amount of porosity is fine. Iron-based PM is the workhorse here – cost drives the material pick.
Sintered cam lock parts (body)
The body of a cam lock for a cabinet or drawer. Sintered iron with a pressed cam slot and mounting holes. Surface finish is good enough for a powder-coat or nickel plate.
Sintered furniture cam latch
A flat cam latch that rotates to engage a strike plate. Sintered iron. Replaces a stamped steel part on runs above 20K/year where PM’s tighter tolerance on the cam angle reduces field rejects.
Sintered cabinet strike plate
The strike that meets the cam or latch on a cabinet door. Sintered iron, often zinc-plated after sizing. Replaces a stamped part where the receiving slot needs a tight ±0.03 mm.
Sintered furniture fitting escutcheon
The decorative trim around a keyhole on a furniture lock. Sintered brass, often polished and lacquered. Replaces a cast brass escutcheon on runs above 30K/year.
Door & latch components
Sintered door lock components, latch bolts, and sintered brass lock parts for entry-door and interior-door hardware. Mix of iron-based for structural parts and brass for visible or moving parts.
Sintered latch bolt
The spring-loaded bolt that engages the strike on a door. Sintered iron or brass, sized on the angled face to a clean ±0.03 mm so the bolt retracts smoothly.
Sintered deadbolt
A heavy-duty deadbolt for entry doors. Sintered iron, case-hardened to 35-45 HRC. Replaces machined steel on runs where the bolt face needs a consistent engagement surface.
Sintered brass thumbturn
The interior thumbturn on a deadbolt or privacy lock. Sintered brass, polished. Replaces a cast brass or machined brass part on runs above 50K/year.
Material-specific custom sintered lock hardware
Three families of sintered hardware part picked by material – the right answer when the buyer has a working material spec but no fixed geometry yet.
Brass sintered lock hardware
Brass (Cu-Zn) PM for visible lock parts, decorative furniture fittings, and any application needing a plated or polished surface. Density 7.6-8.2 g/cm³ (88-95% theoretical). Default where corrosion resistance and finish matter.
Iron-based sintered lock hardware
Fe-Cu and Fe-Ni-Cu PM for structural sintered hardware part – latches, cams, strikes, mounting brackets. Density 6.6-7.2 g/cm³ (85-92% theoretical). Cost-effective for indoor hardware at high volume.
Stainless sintered lock hardware
316L and 17-4PH PM for outdoor and marine-grade door hardware. Higher powder cost and longer sintering cycle. Used only where the part cannot survive in iron-based PM – outdoor cabinet locks, marine cleats, exterior gate hardware.
Shop floor
Three stations where your sintered lock part actually gets made. Photos are placeholders – we will replace these with JH PM factory shots on publish.
How a sintered lock part is made
Five steps from drawing to ship. Read the full PM process walkthrough for the science behind each step.
Spec review
DFM within 48 hours. Material pick locked here.
Tooling
Compaction die + tray fixture, ~20 working days.
Compact & sinter
Press 400-800 MPa, sinter 1,120-1,150 °C.
Size & plate
Sizing, optional machining, optional plating.
QC & ship
CMM, density, hardness. PPAP / FAI on request.
Lock part capability specs
| Parameter | Sintered lock part range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Brass (Cu-Zn), Fe-Cu, Fe-Ni-Cu, 316L, 17-4PH | Material locked at DFM |
| Density | 6.6-8.2 g/cm³ (85-95% theoretical) | Higher density = tighter tolerance |
| Tolerance (as-sintered) | ±0.05 mm typical | Standard compaction + sinter |
| Tolerance (sized) | ±0.025 mm | For pin chambers, key profiles |
| Part weight | 0.1 g to 300 g | Press capacity 6-1,000 t |
| Min. wall thickness | 1.0 mm (Fe), 0.8 mm (Brass) | Below this, recommend machining |
| MOQ | 2,000 pieces / part number | Sample batch 200-500 pcs |
| Tooling lead time | ~20 working days | In-house tool room |
| Sample lead time | 25 working days after tooling | First article + 200-500 pcs |
| Surface finish | As-sintered, plated, polished, powder-coat | Plating is outsourced (local partner) |
| Quality system | IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015 | PPAP / FAI on request |
| HS code (EU export) | 8301 (door hardware) / 8302 (furniture hardware) | Confirm at quote |
Why JH PM for sintered lock hardware
In-house factory, not a trader
19 compaction presses, 10 sintering furnaces, 2 continuous furnaces. We press and sinter your part on the same campus in Ningbo / Shaoxing / Kunshan.
Lock & key expertise
13+ years on PM lock parts. We have pressed cylinder bodies, key blanks, cam locks, and deadbolts in brass and iron. Tooth-profile dies are a known geometry for our tool room.
MES batch traceability
Every batch carries a lot number that traces back to the powder lot, press, and furnace cycle. Auditable for IATF customers.
48-hour DFM review
Send a drawing. You get a written DFM review – material pick, density target, tolerance, and any geometry flags – within 48 hours.
PPAP / FAI documentation
Full PPAP Level 3 package and FAI reports for hardware customers who need IATF 16949 paperwork. Sample reports available on request.
EU & US export-ready
Tariff classification (HS 8301 / 8302), CE paperwork support, and English-speaking sales for European and American buyers.
What we do not do well (honest limits)
- Below 2,000 pieces per part number. Tooling amortization kills the unit cost. We will tell you to machine it instead.
- Wall thickness under 1.0 mm (Fe) / 0.8 mm (Brass). Below this, the part will not survive ejection from the die. We push you to machined brass or MIM, not PM.
- Full-density hermetic seal required. Sintered parts are 85-95% dense. For a pressure-tight lock housing, you need machined or MIM.
- Single-piece prototype runs. PM requires a die. For 1-50 pieces, we will quote you a machined brass sample from bar stock.
- Mirror-polished cosmetic surface as-sintered. Sintered surfaces are slightly grainy. We plate or polish if you need a Class-A finish, but it adds a step and a cost.
Send your lock part drawing
Have a part in mind? Send a drawing and get a DFM review within 48 hours.
Request a QuoteFAQ
Is a sintered lock part as strong as a machined brass part?
For lock cylinders and small gears, a sintered brass or iron part reaches 85-92% theoretical density and matches the strength of machined brass on shear, wear, and tooth-bending load. Where a part has thin walls under 1.5 mm or needs full-density corrosion resistance, we recommend machined brass or stainless. We do not oversell PM where another process is clearly better – your DFM review will flag that.
Can powder metallurgy hold the tooth profile on a sintered key blank or cylinder core?
Yes – for small-module pin-tumbler and dimple-key profiles, sintered brass key blanks hold tooth geometry to ±0.05 mm as-sintered and ±0.025 mm after a sizing operation. We press the tooth shape directly in the compaction die, so no secondary milling is needed on the profile itself.
What is the minimum order quantity for a custom sintered lock part?
MOQ starts at 2,000 pieces per part number for production orders. Sample batches for DFM validation typically run 200-500 pieces. Below 2,000 pieces, machining is often more cost-effective than powder metallurgy, and we will tell you that during the DFM review.
How long does tooling and sampling take for a sintered lock part?
Tooling (compaction die + sintering tray fixture) takes about 20 working days. First sample batch ships in 25 working days after tooling release. Full production lead time after sample approval is 25-30 days depending on part size and any secondary sizing or machining steps.
Which material should I pick for my lock application – brass, iron, or stainless?
Brass (Cu-Zn) is the default for lock cylinders, key blanks, and decorative furniture fittings where corrosion resistance and a finished look matter. Iron-based PM is the workhorse for structural hardware – latches, cams, strikes, cabinet hardware – where cost matters more than surface finish. Stainless (316L, 17-4PH) is reserved for outdoor or marine-grade hardware. Our DFM review will recommend a material based on your part function, not the most expensive option.
What do I need to send to get a DFM and quotation for a sintered lock part?
Send a 2D drawing (PDF or DXF) or 3D model (STEP), the annual volume, the application environment (indoor, outdoor, marine), and any mechanical load or wear requirements. We respond with a written DFM review within 48 hours and a fixed quotation within 5 working days.