Photo Chemical Etching Process Overview - TMNETCH

Photo Etching

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custom photo etching services

What is Photo etching?

Photo chemical etching is a high-quality, fast turn-around, and economical manufacturing process for precision and detailed metal parts such as screens, shields, grids, washers RFI/EMI Shielding, Filters, Lead Frames, Encoder Disks, Buss Bar, Flat Springs, Heat Sinks, Drive Bands, Electrical Contacts, Ribbon Shields, Laminates, Backplates, EMP grids, Signage, Plaques.

Our Photo Chemical Etching Process

Our Photo Chemical Etching (PCE) process consists of several important steps.

Each step is a critical prerequisite to the next.

Metal Etching Capabilities

Industry Focus
Aerospace Automotive Industrial Marine
Medical Military Optical Electronic
Decorative Commercial Circuitry Biomedical
Production Volume
Max: 1200-1800 square meter per day
Advantage of Custom Etching Factory
Specialty Production Shop Prototype Low Volume
High Volume Developmental Quick Turns

 

Industry Standard
ISO 9001:2015
File Formats
AutoCAD (DWG, DXF) PDF
Part Dimension
According to customer's design
Metal Thickness
Min : 0.02mm Max : 2mm
Materials (Metals)
Stainless Steel
Type 301 Types 302/304 Type 316
Aluminum
1100 1145 3003 5051
Pure aluminum alloy
(1000 series)
Aluminum-manganese alloy
(3000 series)
Aluminum-silicon alloy
(4000 series)
Aluminum-magnesium alloy
(5000 series)
Copper
Brass Alloys Copper Alloys Bronze Alloys
Advantage of Etching Material
Corrosion resistance Structural stability No burrs

Photochemical Etching (PCE) VS Traditional Sheet Metalworking

(Process comparison table)

See how photo etching measures up with laser,stamping and waterjet cutting
Photo Etching Laser Cutting Stamping Wire EDM ( WEDM) Water Jet Cutting Electroforming
Sampling Low cost Low cost High cost Low cost Low cost Medium cost
Metals Nearly all metals Nearly all metals Nearly all metals Conductive metals Nearly all metals Nickel and copper
Hardness No restriction No restriction Problems with soft, hard or brittle metals Hardness is a consideration Hardness is a consideration Typically 200-670 HV
Stress No stress Thermal stress on cutting edge Stress at cutting edge Deformation, tempering and structural changes may occur Limited stress on cutting edge Low-stress
Burrs No burring Micro burring Partial burring Micro burring Micro burring No burring
Tooling and design changes Quick, easy and cost effective Quick, easy and cost effective Expensive and time consuming Quick, easy and cost-effective Quick, easy and cost- effective Quick, easy and cost-effective
Typical lead times Seven days Seven days Six weeks - six months Seven days Seven days Seven days
Tolerance as a percentage of metal thickness ±10% ±5% ±10% ±10% ±15% ±5%
Can parts be supplied in sheets for easy counting/handling? Yes Yes Not easily Yes Yes Yes
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