However, according to Precision Micro, it’s
almost the sector’s best kept secret with most design engineers defaulting to ‘traditional’ methods. But for many industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics and healthcare, etching could be the key to supporting increased time to market demands.
Conventional machining, laser cutting, and stamping can face various issues when machining certain metals. Photochemical etching, which uses
chemical etchants to create complex and highly accurate precision components, by comparison, presents a more economical and efficient way to produce custom parts with complex designs and strict tolerances. This is possible by combining sheet metal with
a CAD printed photoresist mask of the required components, with the chemical etching offering a less intrusive and more delicate process for creating quality, intricate components. The value of photochemical etching is truly found through the inexpensive and easily
reworked photo-tools that ensure high accuracy and repeatability in production, perfect for providing OEMs with the critical components they need in short lead times for a great price.
Precision etched components are vital elements of many applications and even the slightest blemish can create significant disparities in the quality of the final product. Traditional process- ing methods such as laser cutting, and stamping can cause those issues.
Thermal and cutting edge stresses are
familiar factors which affect the quality of the components produced. Thermal stress results from heat generated during the metalworking process, while cutting edge stress is a result of stamping, which can have a detrimental effect on the flatness of a blank. Photochemical etching eliminates potential
stress as there’s no heat or physical impact on the etching process. Similarly, with no impact force or harsh cutting, there are no burred edges. Only by using photochemical etching you can eliminate the uncertainty and guarantee quality and repeatability across all your components.
Photochemical etching can simplify the
development (and production) process as it eliminates stress and burring, allowing for products to be delivered to an exceptional standard in hours – rather than weeks or months. It also reduces tooling costs, as the need to correct the issues caused by traditional methods is eliminated, providing certainty right down your supply chain. While chemical etching provides simplicity,
the process also allows even the most complex of parts to be created, opening up more avenues for you and your clients. It’s clear that photochemical etching should
be the method of choice for metal machining. With reduced lead times, fewer costs, and the ability to precisely cut even the most difficult metals in larger quantities.
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