Photo Etching Blog
Understanding the "Etch Factor" in Photo Chemical Machining
Etch Factor is Comparable to Tooling Offset Like other metal fabricating technologies, photo...
2 minute read
From model to metal: How ARE You going to get that part made?
Can doesn't mean should... Just because you can design it that way doesn't necessarily mean you can...
1 minute read
High Complexity Designs Made Easier by Photo Etching
Photo etching enables the creation of complex precision parts while keeping production times and...
2 minute read
Meeting the Challenge of Fabricating Aluminum
What are the most well known processes for fabricating metal parts? For parts designed to be...
2 minute read
How to save money on photo etching
Here are some of the ways photo etching can deliver precision metal parts without driving up...
2 minute read
Photo chemical etching,
Photo etching aluminum,
Metal Filtration,
metal etching,
Design for manufacturing
Etching, Stamping, Water jet or Laser: Which to Choose?
One of the questions we hear a lot is: How do I know whether stamping, laser, water jet or etching...
2 minute read
Why Engineers and Designers Love Photo Etching
When Your Only Tool is a Hammer... As the old saying goes, every problem looks like a nail. Modern...
2 minute read
Photo Etching: 2023's Top Ten FAQs
Over the course of a year, we talk with a lot of people--most of whom have questions. We've...
2 minute read
10 Reasons to Choose Photo Etching for Metal Fabricating
Precision and Accuracy: Photo chemical machining allows for precise and accurate metal...
1 minute read
I mostly call it Photo Etching
How many names does it need?
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Powering the Future: Photo Etching for Energy Generation and Storage
Discover the revolutionary applications of photo chemical etching in power generation and storage.
3 minute read
Photo Etching: Perforating With (out) a Punch
Discover the numerous advantages of photo chemical machining for manufacturing perforated metal...
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DIY Photo Etching? 8 Reasons to Just Say NO
It just happened again. Another inquiry about "buying a photo etching machine". There seems to be...
2 minute read
Thermal Management Challenges Solved by Etching
When the heat is on, many look to photo etching to move it around or make something useful of...
2 minute read
Planning Ahead- Now More than Ever
How long can it take? I have had to deliver some displeasing news to a number of customers of late....
1 minute read
The recovery is in our hands
It was just a decade or so ago that...
2 minute read
DFM: What Matters in Photo Etching
Once Upon a Time.... Designers and engineers would talk to the tool-and-die guys and the machinists...
2 minute read
What are common issues in fabricating precision aluminum components?
What are the most well known processes for fabricating metal parts? For parts designed to be...
2 minute read
What can you do with photo etching in 2021?
So long, 2020. We won't miss you. How much more can be said about how brutal this year has been, in...
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Our Best Selves
In the midst of the COVID crisis, thousands of companies and tens of thousands of people stepped up...
1 minute read
Aluminum: Why Etchers (except us) hate it
Aluminum is a light and versatile metal. However, it has a couple of characteristics that give...
2 minute read
Photo Chemical Etching Subject Matter Expertise Available
In my experience, professionals involved in designing, engineering, and sourcing precision metal...
1 minute read
What's Hot in Photo Etching
When the heat is on, many look to photo etching to move it around or make something useful of...
2 minute read
How Photo Etching is a Capable Alternative to Other Metal Fabricating Processes
Photo Etching vs. "the Others" Photochemical machining is the industry's preferred moniker for...
3 minute read
Essential Things to Know about Photo Etching
Why Metal thickness Matters so much in Etching
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How did you ever survive before photo etching?
We've seen it time and again. From never heard of it to can't manage without it. Photo etching...
2 minute read
How Photo Etching Compares in Cost
Many design platforms now offer some basic cost estimating for the fabrication processes that are...
1 minute read
How to Become a Photo Etching Ace
In my experience, professionals involved in designing, engineering, and sourcing precision metal...
1 minute read
Do You Know Manufacturing's Best Kept Secret?
You may be aces on the intricacies of stamping, laser, plasma, waterjet and EDM. But what do you...
2 minute read
Handy Facts About Photochemical Etching
Metal Thickness Drives Everything Minimum feature sizes, dimensional tolerances and costs are...
1 minute read
The Benefits of Photo Etching [INFOGRAPHIC]
You have a few options when it comes to parts fabrication from sheet or strip metal. Here are some...3 reasons to celebrate photo etching during Manufacturing Month
The first Friday of October - known as National Manufacturing Day - kicks off what is now...
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Why Sensors Benefit From Precision Metal Etching
Photo etching is a powerful option for OEMs looking for a supplier of precision component parts...
2 minute read
Photo Etching can Help Auto Manufacturers Keep up with Industry Trends
The auto manufacturing industry is undergoing a major transformation thanks to the proliferation...
2 minute read
How Down-sizing Dimensions Favors Photo Etching
In nearly every industry, the trend is toward devices and equipment that give users more power...
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In-flight Wi-Fi takes off - can photo etching play a role?
After several years of stalled growth, in-flight Wi-Fi appears slated for widespread adoption.
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How working with a photo etcher saves you money
Here are some of the ways photo etching can deliver precision metal parts without driving up...
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4 Photo Etching Design Features For Precision Metal Parts
Photo etching has a number of design features that make it a desirable fabrication method for...
2 minute read
Why Use Photo Etching for Aerospace Applications
Modern aircraft are making use of very high-tech materials, including carbon fiber and advanced...
2 minute read
Half-etching and its applications
Half-etched features have several uses in the creation of industrial parts.
2 minute read
Comparing 'Micromanufacturing' Processes
New micro processes are emerging, but some of the most reliable ones have been around for...
3 minute read
American manufacturing news roundup - May 2015
Here are a few stories about the booming U.S. manufacturing and tech sectors that caught our eyes...
3 minute read
OEMs Should Consider Photo Etching For Growing Aluminum Needs
Demand for aluminum component parts is growing, and photo etching is a superior process for...
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How Does Photo Etching Work and What Are Some Applications for It?
Photo etching has evolved from a niche process to one that serves a wide variety of industries...
2 minute read
American manufacturing news roundup - April 2015
This past winter caused slowdowns in much of the U.S., but the manufacturing sector showed no signs...
3 minute read
Photo Etching Is Cost-Effective For Production Quantities
Photo etching is a cost-effective fabrication method, regardless of production volume or part...
2 minute read
4 Ways Photo Etching Solves Design Engineers' Problems
Designers and engineers are turning to photo etching to solve some of their toughest design...
2 minute read
American manufacturing news roundup - March 2015
The first quarter of the year may be coming to an end, but the American tech and manufacturing...
3 minute read
4 Design Considerations for Photo Etching Precision Metal Parts
If you're designing precision metal parts, here are four considerations for photo etching you...
2 minute read
American manufacturing news roundup - February 2015
The good news coming out of the American manufacturing sector continues to bode well for the US...
3 minute read
American manufacturing news roundup
From new innovations, to blockbuster investments, to more youth outreach from the STEM fields, to...
3 minute read
Can your processes handle precision aluminum manufacturing?
Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in manufacturing and while most manufacturers...
2 minute read
Should MEMS, wearables OEMs turn to Photo Etching to meet their needs?
The booming market for wearables is presenting considerable opportunities for MEMS...
2 minute read
Getting a conceptual grasp of photo etching
When it comes to understanding how photo etching works, there seems to be a conceptual gap -...
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What Engineers Ask Us about Photochemical Etching
We have lots of conversations with engineers and designers who need better solutions for...
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Photo Etching for Metal Stampers: another way to say 'yes'
Many stampers have found that working with a photo etcher can help them meet a wider array of...
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Understanding etch ratios and etch factors
If you’re an engineer or designer at an OEM looking to gain some familiarity with photo etching,...
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Ferric Chloride - Why is it so effective for photo etching?
Ferric chloride is a major asset to photo etching because it has such a wide ranging array of...
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Photo Etching's role in the booming semiconductor market
Photo Etching has the ability to create complex, precision parts, which will be a boon to...
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5 reasons OEMs should choose a value-added supplier for Photo Etching
Here are five reasons why you should consider a value-added photo etching supplier for your OEM.
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Monthly manufacturing news roundup - November
Everything from reshoring, to organic job growth, to new STEM training and apprenticeship programs...
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Photo etching: A powerful option for complex precision products
Photo etching enables the creation of complex precision parts while keeping production times and...
2 minute read
Photo Etching: Superior Non-Conventional Fabricating For Aluminum
Aluminum is strong, lightweight and versatile, making it one of the most popular materials for...
3 minute read
6 Reasons Why Engineers Should Consider Photo Etching
For design and development engineers today, design for manufacturability is a key part of the...
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Tour a Photo Etching Company on MFG Day
National MFG Day is Friday, October 3, ,2014. More than 1500 American manufacturers are hosting...
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Why OEMs Rely on Photo Etching for Key Applications
From semiconductors to fuel cells to filtration to medical devices --and many more-- major OEMs,...
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Why Use Photo Etching for Power Electronic Devices
The umbrella term power electronics refers to a range of semiconductor devices that are used to...
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Why Photo Etching Matters in the 21st Century
The accelerating evolution of 3D printing technologies is garnering a lot of headlines. And, while...
1 minute read
What is the difference between Photo Etching and Chemical Milling
Photo etching, which is also known as chemical etching, photo chemical etching and photochemical...
2 minute read
What You Need to Know about Self-Managing Decorative Etching Projects
As a commercial etching facility, our primary purpose is to get the work out the door on time and...
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Photo Etching: The V-8 Juice of Metal Fabricating
Have you ever slapped yourself on the forehead and thought: darn it....I could have had that photo...
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Industrial Applications for Photo Etching
Photo etching is the process of choice for fabricating metal components used in an impressive range...
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Why We Love Photo Etching and You should too!
Photo etching may not have the glamour and sparkle of laser and plasma cutting or the brute force...
1 minute read
10 Things MY Boss Wishes You Knew About Photo Chemical Machining
My boss has forgotten more about photo chemical machining than I will ever know. But, there are...
1 minute read
What to Know about Photo Etched Sidewalls
Different metal cutting processes produce different effects at the cut line. Stamping and punching...
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It's a Good Time to be an American Manufacturer
15.6 million vehicles were sold in the US in 2013; the best year for the auto industry since 2007....
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Pushing the Photo Etching Envelope
We have talked a great deal about photo etching "rules of thumb" and general design guidelines....
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What are Dimensional Tolerances for Photo Etching Metals?
The photo etching process relies on the ability of the etching fluid to enter and exit the line or...
1 minute read
Eight Reasons Why You Don't Want DIY Photo Etching
We get regular inquiries asking about buying etching equipment. There seems to be a perception...
2 minute read
Why Choose Photo Etching for Producing Metal Parts
The biggest problem with photo chemical etching is that it is unfamiliar to many designers and...
1 minute read
What Engineers Need to Know about Photo Etching
The hardest job we face is educating designers and engineers about the capabilities of the photo...
2 minute read
Why use Photo Etching for Sensor Elements?
Sensors are the physical links between the "real" world and the digital world. Sensors can detect...
2 minute read
How Small can Photo Etched Parts be Made?
One of the unique advantages of photo etching is the ability to produce some very small features....
2 minute read
How to Choose a Photo Chemical Machining Supplier
Unlike machine shops or sheet metal fabricators, of which there are thousands around the country,...
1 minute read
What is the difference between chemical milling and chemical etching?
Photo Chemical Etching is a fabricating process for precision metal components. As an alternative...
2 minute read
How does Photo Chemical Etching Work and What Can You Do with it?
Precision Metal Fabricating without Stress Photo etching is a "non-conventional" method that fits...
3 minute read
What are Applications for Decorative Etching?
When we refer to "decorative etching," we are distinguishing the application from what we call...
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Why use Photo Etching for Microelectronics?
Mini, micro, nano. Things are getting smaller all the time.
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Photo Chemical Etching vs the MetalPhoto Process?
MetalPhoto Has No Etching At All MetalPhoto®is the registered trademark for a product and process...
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What Effect does Sheet Size have on the Cost of Photo Etching?
The two biggest variables affecting the cost of photo etching are metal thickness and sheet size....
1 minute read
Photochemical Etching with Ferric Chloride: Benefits and Drawback
Ferric chloride is the most widely used etchant for commercial chemical etching facilities. It is...
3 minute read
What are the Advantages of Photo Etched Screens?
Photo etching is an ideal solution for creating parts with lots of holes. In photo etching, the...
2 minute read
What are the Problems of Cutting and Photo Etching Aluminum?
One of the lightest metals, aluminum, is one of the more challenging alloys to to process. This...
2 minute read
What Does Photo Etching Cost?
Key Elements of Etching Costs Like any other manufacturing process, chemical etching costs are the...
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Why is Photo Etched Direct Bond Copper (DBC) Becoming so Popular?
Direct Bond Copper or DBC describes a ceramic substrate to which copper foil has been eutectically...
2 minute read
Benefits of Working with an Outside Photo Etching Supplier
Twenty-five or so years ago, the photo etching process was a lot more common in manufacturing,...
2 minute read
What is the difference between Photo Etching and Metal Stamping?
This little part recently starred in Conard's new video about photo etching. CC Star, as we call...
2 minute read
What are the Problems of Photo Etching?
The primary problem is a case of multiple identity disorder: photo chemical machining, PCM, photo...
2 minute read
Topics
- Aluminum Photo Etching (9)
- Cost of Photo Etching (2)
- COVID-19 (3)
- Design for manufacturing (5)
- DFM (1)
- economic recovery (2)
- Electroforming (1)
- energy generation and storage (1)
- Environment (4)
- FAQs (29)
- Insider (1)
- Manufacturing Industry News (9)
- metal etching (9)
- Metal Filtration (3)
- Photo chemical etching (70)
- Photo etching aluminum (6)
- Quality (4)