Photochemical machining

is a technology for production of precision parts (technical parts, as well as ornaments) from metal sheets through the selective removal of surplus metal, using chemicals. The process offers endless opportunities to designers and engineers, since complex shapes are as easily made as a simple hole. This technology is an alternative of stamping and laser cutting, though all these procedures have their own optimal field of application.

Photochemical machining is well suited to work with thin metal sheets up to 1 mm thickness, or in special cases until about 2 mm.

Computer generated artwork is used on every new part, so changes can be made quickly and accurately. Files containing the design can be sent by E-mail.

Frequently a designer will need a panel with repeated small parts, with tight tolerances. PCM is the ideal way to produce such parts.

The advantages of PCM are:

• no need of expensive conventional hard tooling
• the products are burr- and stress-free
• the internal structure of the metal is unchanged by the process
• the complexity of the design does not alter considerably the costs
• small tolerances
• short delivery-time

Typical products are:

• springs and strips and other technical parts
• filters and sieves
• encoder discs
• mechanical (metallic, e.g. copper) seals
• electrical connectors and RF shields, magnetic laminate motors,
• characters
• nameplates and boards, inscriptions for doors, logos for companies, special visit cards, etc.
• text etching (e.g. for tampon printing)
• ornaments, design objects e.g. for interior decoration, for Christmas trees, Christmas cards, window and other decorations
• Components for toys, especially for railway-models.

Materials:

• brass, 
• German silver
• bronze
• copper