 Photochemical
etching is exceptionally well suited to
producing mechanical components such as
shims, spacers, gaskets, pointers, dials,
clips, diaphragms, springs, pressure membranes
and many other applications.
Items with complex geometries (odd shapes, lots of holes, etc) are often far more cost effective to produce by photochemical machining than by stamping, punching laser cutting or wire EDM.
Phototools typically cost less than $350 and take less than 2 days to produce compared to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars and weeks to months for stamping dies.
In photochemical machining, the part "emerges" from the metal all at once as the etchant simultaneously etches through all unmasked areas of the plate. CNC punching, laser and EDM affect only a small localized area at a time and the more complex the part, the more time it takes.
From the
simplest geometries to the most complex,
chemical machining is a very cost effective
solution for precision metal parts.
In photo etching, dimensional tolerances can be held as close as +/- 10% of the material thickness. Locational tolerances are to drawing nominals because there is no tool wear and the phototool is created directly from CAD data.
Conard produces photoetched parts up to 24" x 60" in size.
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