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Precision parts of quality
For precision parts of quality with short lead times â complex profiles, burr and stress-free components â rapid prototyping and mass production â Design changes and modifications rapidly and economically produced â half etch fold lines for economical forming and half etch part marking â ProEtch has the answer. Hereâs how
The Chemical Milling Process
Our process is called Chemical Milling but it is also known as: Photo etching, Photochemical milling, Photochemical machining, Photo milling, Photofabrication, or Chemical Blanking. This is a process that offers many advantages over traditional machining methods. Chemically milled components are free from mechanical stresses, burrs, burnt edges or dross.
The Chemical Milling process is used as a means to produce thin (up to approx. 3mm thick) metal components in all sorts of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. These components which would previously be made by conventional mechanical machining or blanking operations are cut to shape and size using acids to dissolve away the unwanted material, thus leaving you with components you require.
Low Cost Complex Shapes: There are also a lot of financial advantages to this process. It is just as easy for us to produce the most complex of shapes as it is to produce the simplest of shims.
Low Cost Tooling and Design Modifications: The only tooling used to produce chemically milled components is a set of precision photographic negatives which are produced on the industry?s best drawing and design packages. Once drawn these designs are saved and can be printed off as and when required. This gives us the ability to change the part at any time, without expensive tooling modification charges.
Low Cost Forming and Part Marking: With this process we are able to surface etch detail into either one or both sides of a component. This allows us to add detail to client components if required. Such detail could include anything from a part number, company logo, address, or even a picture.
The Production of the Graphic Tooling
Our graphics department is equipped with the latest generation PC and apple Mac and the very latest in graphic photo plotting and high definition fine-line laser plotter, which are all networked together and fed by two ISDN lines and two high-speed modems for speed and efficiency.
In the graphics department we produce and maintain the photo tool that is used to print all jobs. Each part will have its own specific tool. We can use many different processes to produce this tool. Customers, Files: To save both time and money, customers may already have their parts drawn on file. If these files are supplied, we offer reduced tooling prices.
Further Reductions: Some customers may have the facility to produce files ready for plotting. This will reduce tooling costs. Some customers may wish to produce films themselves. If you wish to do any of these things we recommend you give us a call, our graphic staff will be happy to help!
Forming and Bending of Metal Components
ProEtch have full in-house design and manufacturing facilities for high-quality form tooling. This enables us to speed up delivery times (in most cases just 5 working days) whilst still keeping our prices competitive.
Our forming and bending department is fully equipped to enable us to produce quality formed components to the customer?s specification or drawing. Tool design and manufacture is left up to our engineers, all that needs to be supplied is a drawing of the finished component.
Make contact with ProEtch at:
The Quartermasters, Little America
Industrial Estate, Staughton Moor,
Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire,
PE19 5BJ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1234 376960
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 376961
E-mail:
Website: www.proetch.co.uk