subject: Learning About Photo Chemical Milling [print this page] Do you happen to work in an industry that involves making use of small metal parts that need to be reproduced with precision? If so, its time for you to start to learn about what photo chemical milling has to offer to you and your company. There are a variety of industries that make use of this process that span from the military to the medical private sector and even the computer world. Therefore, if you are someone who works with machines that require small parts, its likely that you need to start learning about what this process has to offer. Many different companies offer chemical etching to their customers, but because precision is so important when it comes to the reproduction of your parts, youll certainly want to make sure that you are working with a company that has a long list of satisfied clients. Usually, you can find out about the clients a company has worked with in the past just by visiting their website in order to get some additional information.
By definition, photochemical machining is a process during which high-precision metal parts are reproduced. Unwanted metal is chemically etched away, and a photographically prepared mask is used to protect the metal that is supposed to remain intact after the etching process is complete. Youll want to only use a company who will carefully review your order to make sure that they can actually complete it up to your exact specifications of accuracy. You wouldnt want to take the time out of your schedule or pay someone to do this particular process if in the end you cannot even use the parts, or that your original parts are damaged.
Keeping your original parts intact is actually a very important part of the photo chemical milling process. Imagine if you were trying to reproduce some parts that are antique or extremely hard to find. You would be out a considerable amount of money if theyre ruined and the exact replicas are not even made. This also could be a problem if it just took lots of time and effort to create your original parts. You wouldnt want to have to pay an entire team of people to conceptualize and create another part just because the company you hired for reproduction was not able to meet your standards.
Furthermore, when it comes to chem. etch, intricate designs can easily be reproduced. You can reproduce your metal parts without distortion, which is important, again, if it is hard to make the original part in the first place. You might also want to note that a new part can be tooled up within a coupe of hours and the parts can actually be made that exact same day. If you are someone who is working on a tight production deadline when it comes to your project, then this is something that is extremely important to keep in mind. Artwork is one of the first steps to the process, and it only costs a couple hundred dollars to set it up in order to protect the parts of the original part that you wish to remain intact.
You might want to learn more about this process if you work in the medical, defense or even aerospace industry. These have the most applications of etching done on titanium parts. You might need some medical parts to have a biocompatibility, or you might need to have your aircraft parts made with precision so that they can support the strength of the craft and also lift weight. So, go through some additional information with care and only trust an industry expert with the important process of reproducing the parts that you would like to use in your job.
