Chemical etching can be considered to be an extremely precise manufacturing procedure used for producing high precision metallic components. This manufacturing process is likewise referred to as Electro-chemical etching, Photo-etching, and so forth.
What exactly is chemical etching?
Chemical etching happens to be a high precision subtractive manufacturing procedure which makes use of baths of etching chemicals that are temperature-regulated to remove material selectively for producing high precision metallic components of any desired shape.
Chemical etching, unlike other micro-manufacturing processes like EDM, Stamping, Laser Cutting, CNC, and Water Jetting are more cost-effective with a shorter lead time, no requirement for deburring, and enhanced design flexibility. It happens to be the best option for precision metal component production irrespective of industrial production or prototyping.
How does chemical etching work?
Below, we have explained the chemical etching process. This procedure can be accomplished in a sequence of steps which consist of cleaning, exposing, laminating, etching, developing, as well as stripping. Following this, rigorous inspection will be carried out automatically on all the parts.
At first, a sheet of the desired substance known as a substrate is going to be laminated using a light-sensitive resist layer. Then, the photoresist will be exposed to UV light selectively and developed for obtaining the product’s positive image. The metallic component will be obtained after the patterned substrate has been exposed to an etching solution which will get rid of the unprotected components from the substrate selectively. Each and every step will be performed at properly controlled operating circumstances for guaranteeing the most desirable end result.
What are the benefits of chemical etching?
Chemical etching is ideal for producing multi-layer, complicated, high-precision components. On most occasions, the tolerance on the etched features is about +/- 10%. Chemical etching is particularly appropriate when sharp edges, round holes, and profiled or straight edges are preferred.
Unlike the conventional machining procedures like Electro Discharge machining (EDM), CNC Machining, Wire Erosion, Pressing, and even more “modern” procedures like Laser Cutting, chemical etching offers you an extremely competitive option ranging from large scale production to prototyping. The reason for this happens to be the scalability and flexible tooling of the chemical etching. It will be feasible to produce rapid prototypes from drawings within only a few days.
What materials can be etched?
The process of chemical etching is ideal for different types of materials out there. It is possible to produce almost any metal. These consist of the following:
• Aluminum: Including Aerospace/Aircraft grades
• Nickel Alloys: MU-metal, Inconel, Alloy 42, Invar
• Stainless Steels: Extensive range of Ferritic, Austenitic, and Martensitic Stainless Steels
• Molybdenum
• Brass, Beryllium Copper, Phosphor Bronze, Nickel Silver
• Copper: Including C101 (Oxygen-free) and C110
• Many other substances as well
Chemical etching applications:
Chemical etching, which is used widely in different types of industries, might be the ultimate solution for our precision metallic component requirements. Stress-free, complicated, burr-free parts can be manufactured from mere ideas to reality within only a few days. Below, we have mentioned some industries where chemical etching is typically used:
• Electronics and semiconductor
• Medical
• Automotive