Here we go again. Another blissfully unaware caller wanting to do it himself. This time, I decided to go with the flow.
KS: Hi. My name is Kathy. How can I help you?
EE (Ethan the Etcher): Ah, hi. I'm Ethan and I would like to buy an etching machine.
KS: Sure...let me start an order sheet for you. Where is the etching machine to be delivered?
EE: I'd like to put it in my basement.
KS: How big is your basement?
EE: It's pretty good size.
KS: Has the other equipment been installed yet?
EE: What other equipment?
KS: Do you have a cleaning line?
EE: Uh, no.
KS: How about a laminator?
EE: Nope.
KS: Exposure unit?
EE: No.
KS: Developer?
EE: No.
KS: Stripping line?
EE: No?
KS: Water de-ionizing system?
EE: Huh?
KS: Waste treatment system?
EE: Uh, no. What's that for?
KS: It's okay, Ethan. We can fix you up.
EE: Oh, good...
KS: Okay, I've got you down for all the other equipment. Let's talk about the etching machine itself. How many chambers do you need?
EE: Chambers?
KS: Your choices are 1, 2, or 3.
EE: I don't know what that means.
KS: How much etching are you going to do, Ethan?
EE: I don't know yet.
KS: If it's fewer than 50 sheets per day, a single chamber should be plenty.
EE: Okay, that sounds good.
KS: Do you have your contractors lined up?
EE: Contractors for what?
KS: Electrician, Plumber, HVAC...
EE: Not yet...
KS: Okay, tell the electrician that you are going to need 600 amps of 440 3-phase.
EE: I have 200 amp service.
KS: I bet it's not 440 3-phase. That's how much electricity you are going to need.
EE: That sounds like a lot.
KS: It is. Tell the plumber it's a PVC only installation.
EE: Okay. Why?
KS: Because the etching solution will eat the plumbing if it is metal.
EE: Oh, yeah. I forgot.
KS: Tell the HVAC guy that you are going to need 400 square feet of safe-light Class 1000 clean room for laminating, printing and developing. How big did you say your basement is?
EE: How much room do you think I'm going to need?
KS: Well, a 2-car garage is usually around 600 square feet, so 8, maybe 9 garages...
EE: That's way bigger than my basement. I'll have to find another space.
KS: What about your permits? They probably won't let you transfer them to another location.
EE: What permits?
KS: Planning and zoning, inland wetlands, department of environmental protection...And, who knows what else your state might require.
EE: Oh! How long does that take?
KS: Um, Ethan...There's a reason why there are only 100 etching companies in the country. This process can take years and cost untold amounts of money.
EE: Oh, wow. I had no idea.
KS: Ethan, there's an easier way.
EE: Boy, I hope so. I had no idea that buying an etching machine would be this big of a deal. So, what's the easier way?
EE: So, you don't think I should buy an etching machine...
KS: Ethan, as much fun as it would be for me personally to sell you nearly $500,000 in equipment...no, I don't think you should buy this set up.
EE: Um...you may be right. So, if you do my photo etching, how much does it cost?
KS: It's usually less than $200 per sheet for 2 or more sheets at a time.
EE: Cool! That's really reasonable.
KS: That's what we're here for, Ethan.
This two-chamber etching line is about 40 feet long overall.
