Chemical Etching Stencils
Chemical etching stencils and SMT stencils manufactured by photo etching for solder paste printing, with precision apertures and low volume prototyping capability.
What this service covers
Chemical Etching Stencils 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 Stencils — FAQ
What is a chemical etched SMT stencil?
It is a stainless steel sheet, normally 0.1 mm or 0.12 mm thick, into which the solder paste apertures are chemically etched. Because the apertures are dissolved rather than cut, they are smooth and vertical, with no burr and no heat-affected zone, giving consistent paste release and stable print performance.
What thickness should I choose?
0.1 mm and 0.12 mm are the common choices for fine-pitch work. Thinner sheets release paste more easily and suit small apertures; thicker sheets are more durable and suit larger apertures and high-volume runs. We can advise once we know your pad pitch, aperture sizes and printing volume.
What is the minimum aperture size?
The achievable minimum aperture depends on sheet thickness, because a deep narrow hole is harder to etch cleanly and harder to fill with paste. We confirm the minimum aperture for your combination of thickness and design before producing the stencil.
How do you mount a stencil on the PCB?
The frame size and the locating scheme are set by your printer. We can produce the stencil to your printer's frame dimensions, and we can supply it either as a bare stencil sheet or already laser-welded into the correct frame with the required locating marks.
Can you supply stencils with a stepped or stepped-down aperture?
Yes. Stepped apertures are produced by etching in two stages, which is a normal requirement for fine-pitch work where a single wall thickness would hold too much paste. We need the paste volume or step height in the artwork to quote it.