Chemical Etching Services
Professional chemical etching and photo etching services for brass, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, nickel and titanium. Precision etched parts, nameplates, screens, stencils and filters for industrial use.
What this service covers
Chemical Etching Services is carried out by photo etching. A photographic resist is applied to the metal sheet, the pattern is transferred by exposure and development, and the unprotected metal is dissolved by a controlled etchant. The result is burr free detail, repeatable tolerances and no tooling cost for complex shapes, which makes it well suited to prototypes, short runs and intricate geometries that are difficult to machine.
Materials we etch
We etch brass, copper, aluminium, 304, 316 and 302 stainless steel, nickel, titanium and low carbon steel. For every material we select the etchant and process window that avoids distortion, hydrogen embrittlement and excessive undercut, so hole size, wall thickness and flatness stay within specification across the batch.
Industries served
Industrial equipment and instrumentation, automotive and rail, electronics and control panels, oil and gas filtration, architecture and interior decoration, medical and laboratory equipment, and identification and signage. Parts are commonly supplied as nameplates, data plates, screens, meshes, filters, gaskets, stencils, shims, washers and decorative panels.
Key technical parameters
Etched thickness typically ranges from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm. Minimum feature width and minimum web depend on material and thickness, and we confirm manufacturability against your drawing before tooling. Tolerance on the etched profile is typically plus or minus 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm depending on part size and process. Parts are supplied deburred, cleaned, and passivated where the material and application require it.
How to request a quotation
Send the drawing in DXF, DWG, STEP or PDF format together with the material and grade, the thickness, the quantity and the required delivery date. We will confirm feasibility, propose the process and return a quotation. Sample lead time is typically 3 to 7 working days, and batch production timing depends on volume and current capacity. Drawings are treated as confidential and are not shared with third parties.
Read the frequently asked questions below for materials, tolerances, lead times and ordering.
Related resources
Chemical Etching Services — FAQ
What is chemical etching and how does it work?
Chemical etching (photo etching) is a subtractive manufacturing process in which a photographic resist is applied to a metal sheet, the required pattern is transferred by exposure and development, and the unprotected metal is dissolved by a controlled etchant. Unlike stamping, laser cutting or CNC machining, no tooling or tooling cost is involved, so intricate shapes, holes and fine detail can be produced economically from a single piece upward.
Which materials can be chemically etched?
We etch brass, copper, aluminium, 304, 316 and 302 stainless steel, nickel, titanium and low carbon steel. Material grade and thickness determine which etchant and process window we use, so that hole size, wall thickness and flatness stay within specification across the batch.
What thickness and tolerance can you achieve?
Typical etched thickness runs from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm. Tolerance on the etched profile is normally plus or minus 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm depending on part size and process. Minimum feature width and minimum web depend on the material and thickness, and we confirm manufacturability against your drawing before any tooling.
What is the minimum order quantity?
There is no minimum order quantity. Photo etching carries no tooling cost, so we routinely supply single prototypes and samples as well as production batches. Sample lead time is typically 3 to 7 working days; batch timing depends on volume and current capacity.
How do I get a quotation?
Send the drawing in DXF, DWG, STEP or PDF format together with the material and grade, the thickness, the quantity and the required delivery date. We confirm feasibility, propose the process and return a quotation. Drawings are treated as confidential and are not shared with third parties.