Chemical etching is also known as photochemical machining (PCM), photochemical milling, photo chemical etching or just photo etching.
Designers, manufacturing engineers, and purchasing groups are recognizing the advantages photo chemical etching has to offer.
Some of the benefits of this unique manufacturing process are the ability to make a complex part that is beyond hard tool capability and to fabricate the part in dead soft or full hard material without burrs or metal distortion.
Another significant benefit is response time. An order may be filled in days, which allows the design to be proven without incurring the cost of a hard tool.
Photo etching is a growing industry, gaining experience and recognition as a viable method of working metal.
A photo plotter is used to create a photo tool which is a negative image of the part. The part is nested to maximize the number of parts per sheet. Two laminates are printed, one each for the top and bottom of the metal sheets.
Because each photo-tool is a made of film, tooling can be finished in just hours and at a far lower cost than required by other machining methods. Additionally, these qualities ensure that part designs can be changed and applied to production exceptionally fast.
Proper metal preparation, degreasing, and the removal of surface contaminants is essential for proper adhesion between the raw material and the photoresist during the coating process.
Modern PCM companies have invested in “clean lines” for improved material cleanliness. These conveyorized machines are typically multi-chambered and material is put through a series of cleanings and rinses to ensure proper surface condition.
The quality and quantity of the finished parts depends greatly on the care taken during this step.
The material is coated with photoresist directly after cleaning which reduces the chance of surface contamination and oxidation. The coating is photosensitive and resistant to the etchant used to cut the chosen metal. Dry film or liquid resist is applied to both sides of the work piece to allow etching for both sides simultaneously.
Advances in resist technology combined with new and improved Computer Assisted Design (CAD) artwork have enabled photoresist coatings to accommodate extremely complex features.
During this step in the photo etching process, material with the photosensitive coating is exposed to UV light. This is a straightforward process that transfers the photo tool image onto the coated material.
The metal is put into the double-sided photo tool and is exposed to UV light on both sides, an image is formed in the photoresist. This then becomes a durable image on both sides of the metal.
Virtually all metals can be etched, although some are etched more readily than others. Most metals can be etched using a relatively innocuous etchant, an aqueous solution of ferric chloride.
First, the metal is rinsed of the remaining photoresist that hasn’t bonded to the metal. Then, etchants are applied to the metal in a conveyor machine. During this process, the non-bonded areas of metal are exposed to the etchants and begin to etch upon contact.
Because etchants are applied to the entire sheet of metal at once, PCE maintains the unique ability to make every cut simultaneously, which can save countless hours for parts with complex geometries or features, and especially for fine meshes and screens.
The next step in the manufacture of chemically etched parts is stripping off the protective coating of photoresist. Many companies use machines that have a strip chamber on the etch machines to increase efficiency.
Now your part is finished! Or is it?
Parts often require secondary processes or treatments post-blanking before they are finished and ready to be shipped. Luckily, Fathom can take care of that.
We offer a wide range of services including heat treatment, plating, and precision forming through partnerships with local treatment firms and our sister companies.
Here is a sample set of parts created using chemical etching.
Partner with Fathom on your next photo chemical etching project. In addition to photo chemical etching, Fathom offers a wide range of manufacturing services including CNC, injection molding, laser cutting, welding, wire EDM, polyjet and more. As part of our comprehensive services, we also offer finishing and post processing. Photo chemical etching is just one of 28 manufacturing services.
Fathom’s manufacturing facilities are powered by over 530 machines, including mills, lathes, presses, press brakes, turret punches and additive systems. Fathom has equipment dedicated to metal prototype fabrication, including lasers, waterjet machines, finishing tools, autodeburring, 4 slide machines, multi-slide machines, press brakes, 300-ton presses, 22-ton presses, wire EDM machines, seely slide forming tools and 35-ton blanking presses.
Fathom provides not just photo chemical etching but also hybridized services leveraging prototype fabrication. Need metal prototype fabrication as part of a more complex project? Fathom can handle it. A recent case study is listed below where Fathom delivered 20,000 parts in 27 days using 55+ tools, including metal prototype fabrication services:
A customer came to Fathom with a complex project that spanned the technologies and processes of rapid production—and needed it done fast. Fathom delivered.
55+ Tools to Injection
Mold 15,000 Parts
First Article in 2 Weeks
3,000+ 3D
Printed Parts
2,000+ Metal
Fabricated Parts
3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing—PolyJet, SLS, MJF.
DFM Analysis + CAD Mods.
CNC Machining. Laser Cutting.
Stamping. Die Cutting. Post-Opp Drilling.
24-hour Turnaround Urethane Casting.
Injection + Compression Molding.
Model Finishing. Insert Assembly.
Advanced Project Management.
Fathom’s manufacturing network has one location across the United States with photo chemical etching capabilities. Our locations are:
NEW YORK
401 W. Shore Blvd.
Newark, NY 14513
AS9100:2016
ISO 9001:2015
ITAR
A: Yes, Fathom offers photo chemical etching.
A: Fathom’s certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 Design, and ISO 13485:2016. For site-specific certifications, please visit https://fathommfg.com/fathom-manufacturing-certifications.
A: Yes, Fathom is ITAR certified. For site-specific certifications, please visit https://fathommfg.com/fathom-manufacturing-certifications.
A: Yes, Fathom is AS9100:2016. For site-specific certifications, please visit https://fathommfg.com/fathom-manufacturing-certifications.
A: Yes, Fathom’s certifications include NIST 800-171. For site-specific certifications, please visit https://fathommfg.com/fathom-manufacturing-certifications.
A: Parts such as screens, filters, heat exchanger plates, signs, nameplates, labels and more, can all be produced using chemical etching.
A: Wet etching uses a liquid chemical to remove metal material. Dry etching uses a gas which is converted to a plasma, which is used to remove unwanted material.
A: Sometimes called chemical milling, photochemical machining is the process of manufacturing sheet metal parts using an etchant and photoresist.
A: Yes, Fathom offers quotes for photo chemical etching projects.
Ready for a quote or to calculate costs for your next photo chemical etching job? Fathom’s online SmartQuote platform can give you a fast quote on any file.
