There are several terms used to describe the milling process that uses chemical compounds as a way to create precise metal parts by dissolving the material. It can be called photochemical etching, chemical etching, or photo etching. Regardless of what you call it, this process has numerous benefits, all of which make it an ideal choice for multiple industries.
Low Cost
From the standpoint of costs and profits, photochemical etching is a very attractive option due to its low cost and repeatability. The tooling used in this process is specifically created so that it can yield a large number of pieces at a time, as many as allowed by the design. This repeatability further cuts the costs associated with production. This is particularly true when compared with other methods, like lasers or stamping, that must be done individually.
Highly Flexible And Versatile
One of the biggest advantages of photo etching is its incredible flexibility. This process typically takes place with mylar film on a photoplotter or a similar setup. The specifics of the process mean that it is possible for tooling to be generated in a matter of hours. Between the low-cost nature of the tooling and the speed with which it is produced, it is possible for engineers to try out different designs. That, in turn, allows for a reduction in project times, even if adjustments to the project are required. The flexibility of the tooling also means that chemical etching delivers the ability for cost-effective future revisions. This particular characteristic makes it useful for short runs or prototypes as well as other uses, like long runs.
No Changes To Metal Properties
Those who choose to use photo etching also strongly appreciate the way that this method does not affect the properties of the metal in any way. Machining methods that involve mechanical stress or heat can change the structure of the metal in some way. With etching via chemicals, however, the metal’s internal structure remains unchanged. This means there are no changes to ductility, grain structure, or hardness. As such, the resulting etched product will function exactly as anticipated.
Burr-Free Production
One of the many advantages of this particular type of etching is that it produces metal parts that are thin and free from burrs. It is common for other metal-adjustment processes to leave behind some burrs, and those will interfere with part performance. With metal etching with chemicals, there is no need to undergo de-burring processes.
Tight Tolerances
To supplement all the previous advantages associated with chemical etching, this process also has incredibly tight tolerances. Part of this is due to the fact that the phototool is simply a replica of the dimension of a part, meaning it will not wear in the way that hard tooling will.
