Precision parts processing Explanation: Photochemical processing, also known as photoetching, is highly efficient for producing parts with complex geometric structures or very porous surfaces that may result in burrs and mechanical or thermal deformation if moulded, punched, laser or wire cutting is used to process these parts.

The tool file with compensation factor, which is specially used for etching process, is output to the photoelectric plotter with high resolution, and the matching before and after picture arranger is produced. For work pieces with complex geometries, such as odd shapes and many holes, photochemical processing is usually more economical than moulding, punching, laser cutting or wire cutting.

Photoetching is suitable for a wide range of metal working processes, including die pressing, die blanking, punching, laser and water jet cutting, and wire cutting. Its special advantages include the ability to process very thin materials, up to 0.0005 inches thick; Can be processed into complex geometric structure, including fine mesh, mesh and grid, etc.; Dimensional tolerances accurate to ±10% of metal thickness can be achieved; Can quickly small batch or mass processing products, and low cost. In addition, photoetching does not create any thermal stress or mechanical deformation in the metal.

The process uses inexpensive and rapidly developed tools that can accommodate multiple repetitions of a series of part structures or a single structure to speed up the development process. Photoetched parts can be processed in as little as two to three days with metal sheets of 0.001 to 0.050 inches thick. There is a wide range of parts sizes, ranging from 0.100 "parts with a 0.004" construction to up to 24 "x 60" parts.

Tolerance and characteristic dimensions

The position tolerance of features produced by photoetching is generally within 0.001 inches of the drawing nominal. The dimensional tolerance of etching is a function of the thickness of the material and the size of the plate. The general rule is that the greater the tolerance, the larger the size of the plate, the lower the cost of the parts.

The minimum tolerance range that can be achieved is ±10% of the material thickness for thicknesses less than 0.010 inches. Tolerances are within the range of ±0.0015 to ±0.0025 inches for parts with thickness of 0.010 to 0.020 inches. For thicknesses from 0.021 to 0.035 inches, the most economical tolerance is ±0.005 inches. For thicknesses exceeding 0.035 in., the dimensional tolerance zone will be approximately equal to ±20% of the thickness of the material.

The smallest hole or micro-groove size must be at least 110% of the thickness of the material for materials up to 0.02 in. For metals in excess of 0.020 inches, 120% of the material thickness. The thinnest area between holes or grooves must be at least equal to the thickness of the material. Minimum size of inner and outer radius equal to material thickness.

application

Photoetching is often useful when time, tool complexity, part complexity, or material thickness are not suitable for conventional processes. This process has traditionally been used to "lay out" different parts on a single tool, and is useful in situations where there are multiple parts (with the same alloy and specification) in development, or where there is a large number of duplications of the structure to be tested.

Photoetching process can process complex geometric structure or parts with a large number of holes, compared with laser cutting, wire cutting and even CNC stamping, in cycle time and clamping time has obvious advantages; It can carry out partial deep etching, so you can eliminate the subsequent imprint or engraving process; Can be processed to clean surface parts, avoid carbon, iron or cutting oil pollution and other problems.