| 1. |
What is photochemical etching? |
| |
Photochemical etching is, simply, a high-quality, fast-turnaround, low-cost alternative for machining flat metal parts. It offers you precision and accuracy unavailable in other milling processes.
|
2. |
What kind of materials can be photo etched? |
| |
A very broad range of metals can be photo etched including many types of alloys and exotic metals. Such As: Stainless Steel Beryllium Copper Copper Alloys Brass Nickel Silver Alloy 42 Kovar Many others
|
| 3. |
What type of parts can photo etching produce? |
| |
Any part less than 22" x 18" in size that is designed to be thin and flat, prior to forming, can be produced using the photo etching process.
|
| 4. |
What thicknesses and tolerances can be achieved? |
| |
Most parts designed on material with thicknesses of .002" to .060" can be achieved while maintaining tolerances relative to the thickness of the metal.
|
| 5. |
What chemicals are used in photo etching? |
| |
There are a wide variety of etchants available. We use a ferric chloride solution. Using ferric chloride allows us to recycle it at the end of its life cycle which reduces any future environmental impact.
|
| 6. |
Does photo etching alter the properties of the metal? |
| |
No. The internal structure of the metal remains unchanged including its hardness, grain structure, and ductility.
|
| 7. |
What are the design considerations when photo etching? |
|
The photo etching process allows flexibility in designing parts. As a designer’s concept develops from prototype into full production, changes can be made quickly, easily, and cost-effectively.
|
