Otherwise known as chemical etching, chemi etching, acid etching, chemical milling and PCM Qualitetch can help with your designs.
This metal is a very popular choice for chemical etching due to the non corrosion qualities of stainless steel and that parts generally in this material do not require additional plating & finishing once the material has been etched. Stainless steel is available in many grades and conditions such as annealed, half hard and full hard and in grades such as 304, 1.4301, 1.4310, 430S17, 316S11, 316L, 17-7PH, 321S31, S526, S527, 1.4307, 1.4404 and many others
Photo etching, a precise and versatile manufacturing method, finds extensive application in producing intricate metal components from stainless steel. Stainless steel, renowned for its durability, corrosion resistance, and strength, becomes even more versatile through this process, enabling the creation of complex and precise parts for a wide array of industries.
Stainless steel, an alloy primarily composed of iron, chromium, nickel, and other elements, exhibits remarkable resistance to corrosion, heat, and chemical damage. When subjected to photochemical etching, its inherent properties are leveraged to craft intricate components with exceptional accuracy and consistency.
The process of photochemical etching stainless steel initiates with the preparation of a stainless steel sheet. The metal undergoes rigorous cleaning to eliminate impurities, ensuring an immaculate surface for the subsequent stages. A light-sensitive photoresist material is then applied uniformly to the sheet's surfaces, forming a protective layer.
Utilizing phototooling techniques, a precise image of the desired component is transferred onto the photoresist through exposure to UV light. This exposure causes a chemical reaction in the photoresist, hardening the areas that correspond to the intended design while leaving the rest of the protective layer unaffected.
The stainless steel sheet, now protected by the photoresist mask, undergoes immersion in an etchant solution—typically an acid or chemical compound—where the unprotected areas of the metal are selectively dissolved. This chemical erosion precisely removes the material, leaving behind the intricately designed components on the stainless steel sheet.
If you have any questions on etching stainless steel sheets, etched stainless steel sheet, chemical etch stainless steel. We will give the professional answers to your questions.