Photo Etching in Precision Aluminum Part Fabrication

Photo Etching Has Distinct Advantages In Precision Aluminum Part Fabrication
At such a small scale, precision is necessary. Conventional fabricating processes may impart undesirable effects, such as burrs and mechanical deformation from stamping and punching and heat affected zones from laser, plasma or wire EDM.

Even etching can run into problems with aluminum. It's reactive and oxidizes quickly, becoming a catalyst for the etching reaction. Over the years, we've developed equipment and process metrics that help us control the etching process and deliver consistent, high-quality results reliably.

SG Etch Aluminum Parts

Due to some of the unique characteristics of aluminum, it etches differently than most other metals. SG ETCH has the expertise to chemically etch aluminum, with excellent results. Our state-of-the-art chemical etching process is cost-effective and repeatable, producing even the most intricate parts reliably and to the tightest tolerances. Etched parts are machined without affecting the remaining material or surface finish and have a clean cut with no heat-affected zones or burrs. SG ETCH’s process can be used to create exacting half-etch and partial-etch areas that are impossible to produce with other manufacturing methods. Partial and half-etch processing can be used to create features with varying thicknesses, mark the surface of a component with a logo or part number and facilitate bending during fabrication and assembly. Chemical machining is also used to micro-etch the surface of completed components to improve bonding in later processes.

Etching is a benign process that chemically dissolves unneeded material. There is no cutting or "brute force" and there is no heat-intensive work. The hottest part of the process reaches about 125℉ - about the same temperature as a dishwasher. The aluminum is materially unaffected by the fabrication process and the final parts come out within the specified tolerance.

Here are some other benefits to working with a photo etcher for your aluminum needs:

• The process creates no fumes or dust, so it's safe for workers and machines.
• No burrs, recast layers or mechanical deformations.
• Parts are made simultaneously - your costs don't increase dramatically just because the batch size increases.
• Design changes are simple and inexpensive. With a new CAD file and $300 or less for new tooling, we can quickly adapt to new designs.
• For sheets over .005" thick, minimum dimensional tolerances will be +/- 15% of metal thickness.
• Aluminum specialists. We've devoted decades to honing our aluminum etching processes. Other etching companies come to us for their aluminum needs.