Newcut by 鶹ýӳ //
Precision Metal Etching for Flat Parts – Fast!
- Get Parts in Days, Not Weeks
- Fast-Turn Prototyping
- Scalable Production
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Complex, Burr-Free Parts – No Tooling is Required
Accelerate Your Prototyping and Production with Precision Metal Etching
Flat Metal Parts – Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible
Photo chemical etching from Newcut by 鶹ýӳ can revolutionize how you design, develop and produce complex, flat metal parts.
This manufacturing technique enables you to accelerate your prototyping process and get your parts into production faster. It doesn’t require hard tooling, which means we can deliver your parts in a matter of days, not weeks or months. Design changes are also much easier to accommodate with chemical etching than with other manufacturing methods.
Photo Chemical Etching
Services & Capabilities
Photo chemical machining, also known as photo chemical milling or photo etching, is a chemical milling process used to fabricate thin sheet metal components. It works by “printing” a part design onto photoresist which is transferred onto a thin sheet of metal. The areas of photoresist that have not been printed are washed away with a developing solution, leaving a precisely masked piece of metal. The masked metal is sprayed with an acidic etching solution, leaving a precise, burr-free part.
The Photo Chemical Etching Process
Design Optimization // Our experts may recommend design changes to ensure that certain features can be etched successfully. As one of the original chemical etching companies in the U.S., we draw on over 50 years of expertise to ensure that your project is successful. We’re experts at chemical etching metal parts!
Film Production // A photo plotter is used to create a photo tool which is a negative image of the part. The part is nested to maximize the number of parts per sheet. Two laminates are printed, one each for the top and bottom of the metal sheets.
Cleaning // Proper metal preparation, degreasing, and the removal of surface contaminants is essential for proper adhesion between the raw material and the photoresist during the coating process.
Coating // The material is coated with photoresist directly after cleaning which reduces the chance of surface contamination and oxidation. The coating is photosensitive and resistant to the etchant used to cut the chosen metal. Dry film or liquid resist is applied to both sides of the workpiece to allow etching for both sides simultaneously.
Exposing // During this step in the photo etching process, material with the photosensitive coating is exposed to UV light. It transfers the photo tool image onto the coated material. An image is formed in the photoresist. This then becomes a durable image on both sides of the metal.
Etching // The metal is rinsed to remove the remaining photoresist that hasn’t bonded to the metal. Then, etchants are applied to the metal in a conveyor machine. During this process, the unmasked areas of metal are exposed to the etchants and begin to etch upon contact. Because etchants are applied to the entire sheet of metal at once, every cut is made simultaneously, which means we can make many parts quickly. Metals that can be etched include aluminum, stainless steel, cold rolled steel, copper, copper alloys and Inconel.
Post Processing & Finishing
No Burrs = Less Post-Production // Burrs are a common side effect of many types of metal processing. In contrast, the chemical etching process produces a clean, smooth surface. It’s free of burrs and eliminates the need for manual finishing processes.
Plating // Finished blanks may be outsourced to a local supplier for plating. In most cases, the parts are ready to ship after the etching process is complete.
Heat Treatment // This process may be used to enhance the physical characteristics of the metal.
Precision Forming // 鶹ýӳ has a close relationship with the nearby Incodema by 鶹ýӳ facility, which uses precision forming tools to turn the blanks into complex formed parts.
Prototype to Production //
Why Our Customers Choose
Newcut by 鶹ýӳ
Photo Chemical Etching Pioneer // Newcut was one of the early innovators of photo chemical etching and has been producing flat precision parts for a wealth of customers, industries and applications for over 50 years.
Design for Manufacturability // We’ll help you optimize your part designs for photo chemical etching, which requires that designers follow specific guidelines for certain types of design features.
Refine Your Designs Quickly // Our experienced team can help you refine and perfect your part designs quickly, so you can accelerate your time to market.
Get Your Parts – Fast! // When time means money, chemical etching can save your firm money by offering a turnaround time that’s faster than other manufacturing methods.
Unmatched Agility // Once in production, your part designs can be changed and applied to the next set of parts exceptionally fast.
A History of Leadership // For 50 years we have maintained our position as a leader in precision chemical etching technology with a reputation for exceptional quality, accuracy and service. Today, Newcut by 鶹ýӳ continues to develop groundbreaking chemical etching services and to etch complex parts with exciting new materials.
Certifications // Newcut is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge, as demonstrated by our continuous improvements and adherence to industry standards:
- ISO 9001:2015
- AS9100:2016
- ITAR
Designing for Photo Chemical Etching
Engineers need to consider several rules of thumb when designing parts for photo chemical etching. This helpful guide summarizes the best practices you need to keep in mind.
For Every Step In Your
Product Lifecycle
The fast turnaround of photo chemical etching makes it an ideal tool for rapid prototyping. An order can be filled in days, which allows the design to be refined and validated without incurring the cost of a hard tool.
Once a design is finalized, chemical etching metal can also be used to produce large quantities of parts, quickly.
Flat, burr-free parts – faster than you ever thought possible!
Talk to our experts today to kick off your next photo chemical etching project!
“When I need reliable, accurate flat parts, Newcut is my first choice of suppliers. Their commitment to quality is top notch. With fast turnaround times on parts and even faster times on quotes, my projects are never behind. I can spend the time saved by Newcut’s quick response on developing and delivering the best product to our customers.” — Derek Hart, New Product Development Manager, Wess-Aug Group
Where is Photo Chemical Etching Used?
This versatile milling technology is used in many applications and industries where precise, flat, burr-free parts are required:
Applications
- Connectors
- Electrical contacts
- Encoders
- EMI or RF shielding
- Filters and screens
- Flat springs
- Signage
- Washers and shims
- Diffusion bonding
Industries Served
- Aerospace
- Architectural
- Automotive
- Commercial
- Decorative
- Electronic
- Medical
- Military
- Optics
- Energy
A Photo Chemical Leader Since 1970
Founded in 1970 in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, Newcut is one of the nation’s first chemical etching companies. For 50 years, Newcut has been a leader in photo chemical machining technology with a reputation for exceptional quality, accuracy and service. Newcut provides short lead times, cutting-edge equipment and the ability to etch specialty metals for customers across the country.
Service Area
Newcut is located in Newark, New York but services all the following local areas:
Ithaca | New York | Buffalo | Rochester | Utica | Mount Vernon | Syracuse | Binghamton | Elmira | Niagara Falls | Albany | Schenectady | Cornwall | Poughkeepsie | Yonkers
Why Choose Newcut
by 鶹ýӳ?
鶹ýӳ has the expertise to meet your requirements for flat, burr-free parts.
We’ve been making parts using photo chemical etching for over 50 years. Our experts have over 100 years of combined experience helping customers optimize their part designs and material selections for this unique manufacturing process.
Our experts are ready to talk to you about your precision chemical etching project. Get started today with an online quote.
Additional Resources
