Photo Etched Parts

Small Photo Etched Parts - Tech-Etch, Inc.

Photolithography is a process by which patterns are formed using photoresist covered substrates, or molecules acted upon by enzymes. The photoresist is then developed when it is exposed to ultraviolet light and viewed through a photo mask.

The substrate is then etched, and the photoresist then acts as a barrier that only allows the chosen part of the etched material to be etched. Photo etching produces detailed metal parts.

Photoetched Grids for Batteries - Tech-Etch, Inc.

Photo etching's intricate method of cutting and engraving metal produces extremely thin metal, usually ranging from .002 to .2 inches in depth. A number of materials can be turned into photo etched parts, including aluminum, brass, bronze, silver, copper, nickel, steel and iron.

These parts are produced through either wet etching or dry etching. Wet etching works through the dissolving of a material in a chemical solution, while dry etching works by dissolving a material using ions or vapor.

Industries that use photo etched parts include the medical, aerospace, commercial, electronics, automotive, computer, dental and defense industries. Photo etched parts are very difficult to reproduce. This uniqueness may be advantageous or appealing in some industries, like aerospace, electronics or defense.

Another advantage of photo etched parts is their overall reduced costs. The flexibility photo etching allows in its design and products allows for more variety in material choice and eliminates stress on the product. Also, photo etched materials are produced at a much lower tooling cost and because photo etching is a burr-free process, no additional money need be spent on deburring.

Photo etching, especially wet etching, offers higher imaging accuracy. Examples of etched parts include filters and sieves, needles and blades, surfaces and precision parts.

Photo etched filters and sieves can be important both in automobile and food industries. In the former, they can be used in fuel injection systems or as last chance filters in hydraulic systems.

In the latter, sieves are used in such applications as coffee machines or for sugar production. Needles and blades are primarily used in the medical industry, as complex lancets, scalpel blades, micro-saws, micro-combs and the like. Surfaces treated with or structured with photo etched parts can serve many interesting functions.

Surfaces can contribute to a more rapid growth of bone cells, better adhesion and reduced maintenance time in the mechanical engineering sector. Precision parts include grids, contacts, diffusers, coding disks and technical springs.

With all of their positive attributes and their flexibility, photo etched parts are the best choice for current technology.