What is photo etching?

Photo etching is a metal engraving process which utilises a combination of ultra-violet light and corrosive chemicals to etch a desired shape into metal. Also known as chemical etching or photo chemical etching, photo etching is a preferred method in modern metal machining due to its ability to produce complex components from a wide range of metals.The photochemical machining (PCM) process consists of several important steps. Each step is a critical prerequisite to the next. Although companies that produce parts using the PCM process have unique and sometimes proprietary methods to achieve the final goal,the basic operations are similar.


Photo-tool Design

Tongjin Etching uses Mylar film to make a working tool, as opposed to the “hard” tools used in metal stamping. When a new part is ordered, a phototool must be created to profile the part. Tongjin Etching can create a phototool either from a dimensioned drawing supplied by the customer, or by working with a customer-supplied CAD file with detailed dimensions. Once the CAD file has been received, Tongjin’s tooling engineers will redraw the part in its entirety, modifying the dimensions to compensate for the unique characteristics of the PCM etching process. (All features must be compensated for surface and lateral etching, which happen simultaneously during the etching process.)Once the image is completed, it is arrayed over an area specified by the tooling engineer to maximize the number of units per sheet of metal.After that, the image is sent to a laser photo-plotter and is created on a piece of Mylar film, which is then developed. If all features on both sides of the part are identical, a duplicate film is created; if not, a second piece of film is developed and aligned with the first. Holes are punched in the two pieces of film and they are aligned top to bottom. Registration holes are punched in both pieces of film. This is critical to prevent misalignment of the film during subsequent processing.
Material Preparation

Once the material has been cut to the specified sheet size, it’s chemically cleaned to remove all foreign debris, dust, grease, oil and other contaminants from the surface so that the photoresist can adhere to the metal. Sheets of metal are fed through a large four-chamber/stage conveyor spray machine, with each chamber containing a different concentration of cleaning agents, as well as three stages of rinsing after the cleaning.

Using high pressure, and rinsing the sheets with two chambers of city water before a final rinse of deionized (DI) water, insures that the sheets are truly clean and ready for the next step in the PCM process.
Coating
The next step in the process is the application of photoresist. Because Tongjin Etching uses an aqueous dry-film photoresist, we refer to it as “the coating operation.” The coating operation is exactly what it sounds like – dry-film photoresist is rolled onto the cleaned metal sheets using a hot-roll lamination system. At this point in the process, the sheets of metal are processed in a yellow safe-light environment.
Tongjin only uses dry film photoresists (rather than liquid types) because dry film makes more sense for volume applications, tends to be more controllable, and in most cases, can be easily removed. Dry film can also be used to mask for selective plating or other types of finishing operations.While Tongjin typically coats both sides of a metal sheet previously cut to size, in some cases, metals in thinner gauges can bypass the prep process and the resist can be applied to the entire coil. This is because thinner gauge material is generally clean of contamination, and will not be exposed to the harsh chemistry long enough for the photoresist to fail. Once the sheet or coil is coated with photoresist all edges are trimmed of the excess. At this point the material is ready for exposure.
Printing/Imaging
In this area, the phototool image is transferred to the metal sheet by activating the polymer within the photoresist. The metal sheet is sandwiched between two pieces of film (the phototool), the operator creates a vacuum to prevent air bubbles and ensure that there are no gaps between the phototool and the metal. The panel is then exposed to UV light.The areas on the phototool that prevented the UV light from seeing the photoresist will not harden or cure, so an image is formed in the photoresist. Tongjin has different types of exposure units for all types of parts. Once the phototool has been printed onto the metal sheet, it is ready to move into the wet process area for developing.
Developing
All sheets that have been coated and exposed must go through a conveyorized developing system. The unexposed areas of the photoresist are rinsed off in a high-pressure alkaline solution, exposing the bare metal and leaving resist on those areas that have to be protected from the etchant. The developing process forms an adherent, durable image on both sides of the metal, which is now ready for the etching process.
Etching
Tongjin uses several types of etchants, depending on the base metal being etched. Tongjin segregates the acids so that no metals are introduced into the etchant, preserving its integrity. All the etchants are monitored and tested for free acid and the ORP (oxidation reduction potential). These are both monitored and documented twice daily. Tongjin was one of the first companies to introduce chlorine as an oxidizing agent for our ferric chloride and cupric chloride etching. The chlorine re-oxidizes these agents and keeps them “healthy,” eliminating downtime and keeping production at an optimum level. The metal sheets are placed in a large conveyorized spray system that sprays them from both sides with the appropriate etchant chemistry, dissolving the bare metal. The speed of the conveyor is carefully calibrated so when the sheets approach the final rinse chamber, they are completely etched through and all dimensions are held within specified tolerances.After etching and rinsing, the sheets are ready to have the photoresist stripped off.
Stripping
The etched metal sheets still have the photoresist remaining on the un-etched portions. They are either tank-stripped, or stripped on Tongjin’s 30-foot conveyor-ized spray stripper. The resist is removed using a sodium hydroxide-based solution, and once stripped, the sheets are cleaned in city water, then rinsed in deionized water and dried.After the photoresist has been removed, the parts or sheets go on to be inspected and packed for shipment to the customer or prepared for secondary operations such as plating, forming, lapping, welding, soldering, etc.   
Inspection, Packaging & Shipping
Tongjin prides itself on providing the highest level of Quality for all products we produce. Every new part that is etched requires a First Article Inspection (FAI) before Production is released. Every dimension is verified and once FAI approval has been achieved, the process variables utilized are locked for repeatability going forward.
We inspect to industry standards (Military/Aero, Medical or other) but will gladly establish a custom inspection plan designed specifically to satisfy all our customer expectations.
Tongjin ensures no detail is overlooked, especially how your parts will get from us to you. Packaging is critical to guarantee the products ordered aren’t damaged in transit. We support this important objective through the creation of custom packaging containers such as…
  • Vacuum Formed trays (antistatic or regular)
  • Individual bagging
  • Waffle packaging
  • Bar Coding/Labeling
  • Tape & Reel if required
  • Custom wooden crates for larger parts
  • Vacuum sealed bagging with or without desiccant

Be sure to let us know of any specific areas of concerns and we’ll address accordingly!

INDUSTRIES WE SERVE

Automotive Industry
Kitchen Appliance
Decoration Industry
Electronics Industry
Aerospace Industry
Medical Industry
Energy Power Industry
Metal Craft Industry

Customer Reviews

I am extremely impressed with the precision...
Swapnil from United StatesWednesday, Jan 26, 2019
"I am extremely impressed with the precision and quality of the chemical etching performed by your team. The intricate designs on our metal components were etched flawlessly, exceeding our expectations. Thank you for delivering such a high-quality product."
Your chemical etching service has significantly improved the durability...
Sarah from United KingdomWednesday, Jan 20, 2020
"Your chemical etching service has significantly improved the durability and functionality of our products. The etched patterns not only enhance the aesthetics but also provide excellent grip and tactile feel. Our customers are thrilled with the results, and we couldn't be happier with your exceptional craftsmanship."
We have been relying on your chemical etching expertise for several projects...
Eduardo from ItalyWednesday, Mar 16, 2022
"We have been relying on your chemical etching expertise for several projects, and each time, you have consistently delivered outstanding results. Your attention to detail, quick turnaround time, and excellent customer service make you our preferred choice. Your commitment to excellence is commendable."
has given our brand a unique edge in the market...
Taner from TurkeyFriday, April 26, 2023
"The chemical etching performed by your team has given our brand a unique edge in the market. The intricate logos and designs etched onto our products have attracted significant attention and set us apart from our competitors. We appreciate your professionalism and skill."

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