Chemical & Photo Etching — Precision Metal Parts
Burr-free, stress-free etched metal parts from 0.005 mm foil to 2.5 mm sheet — stainless steel, copper alloys, nickel alloys, aluminium, titanium and Nitinol. Blaze Technology supplies chemically etched components to manufacturers in Singapore and Asia, from prototypes to production.
Why Choose Chemical Etching?
Etching removes metal chemically instead of cutting, punching or burning it, so fine, flat parts keep their original properties.
- ✓ No burrs and no stress — metal properties stay unchanged
- ✓ No hard tooling — low-cost photo-tools, fast design changes
- ✓ Very thin to 2.5 mm material, in over 2,000 metal types and grades
- ✓ Complex shapes cost the same as simple ones
- ✓ Half-etching for fold lines, pockets, logos and part numbers
- ✓ From prototype quantities to volume production
Materials, Thickness and Sheet Size
Typical ranges. Special metals and customer-supplied material on request.
| Material family | Typical grades | Thickness | Max sheet size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless and carbon steels | 300 and 400 series, 17-7PH, spring steel, mild and carbon steel, iron, Fecralloy | 0.005 – 1.5 mm | 600 × 1500 mm |
| Copper and copper alloys | Copper, OFHC copper, beryllium copper, brass, phosphor bronze, silver | 0.01 – 2.0 mm | 600 × 1500 mm |
| Nickel and nickel alloys | Nickel, Monel, Inconel, Hastelloy, Haynes, Nimonic 90 | 0.01 – 1.5 mm | 600 × 1500 mm |
| Controlled-expansion and magnetic alloys | Alloy 42, Alloy 52, Invar, Kovar, Mu-metal, HyMu 80 | on request | on request |
| Aluminium alloys | Aluminium | 0.025 – 2.5 mm | 600 × 1500 mm |
| Titanium and Nitinol | Titanium and titanium alloys, Nitinol | 0.01 – 1.0 mm (titanium) | 300 × 500 mm |
| Other metals | Molybdenum and other special metals; customer-supplied material | on request | on request |
Minimum Features and Tolerances
Guide values for through-etched features. Final figures depend on the metal, part size, features and quantity.
| Metal thickness (mm) | Min. hole / slot / bar (mm) | Profile tolerance (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.05 | 0.10 | ±0.025 |
| 0.10 | 0.11 | ±0.025 |
| 0.20 | 0.22 | ±0.025 |
| 0.25 | 0.275 | ±0.03 |
| 0.50 | 0.55 | ±0.055 |
| 1.00 | 1.10 | ±0.11 |
| 1.50 | 1.65 | ±0.165 |
| 2.00 | 2.20 | ±0.22 |
Rules of thumb: minimum inside corner radius ≈ 1 × thickness; minimum outside radius ≈ 0.75 × thickness; the etched edge has a small cusp of about 10–20% of thickness.
Etched Parts We Supply
| Application | Typical etched parts |
|---|---|
| Fuel cells and electrolysers | Bipolar plates with fine flow-field channels in stainless steel, titanium or aluminium |
| Electronics and telecoms | Connectors, contacts, lead frames and EMI/RFI shielding cans (flat or formed) |
| Thermal management | Heat-exchanger and cooling plates with etched channels |
| Filtration | Precision meshes, grids, sieves and filters with burr-free apertures |
| Precision engineering | Shims, washers, gaskets, springs and flexures |
| Medical devices | Blades, instrument parts and Nitinol components |
| Aerospace, automotive and EV | Lightweight brackets, battery and sensor parts, decorative and functional trim |
How to Get a Quote
- 1. Fill in the quote form below and upload your CAD file (DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES or Gerber) or a dimensioned drawing — or e-mail them to support@blazeasia.com.
- 2. State the metal, grade, thickness, quantity and any half-etch, forming or finish needs.
- 3. We confirm feasibility, price and lead time; prototypes first if you need them.
- 4. Parts are produced under an AS9100 aerospace quality system and delivered to you.
Request an Etching Quote
Fill in the form and upload your drawings. We reply with feasibility, price and lead time. Prefer a PDF? Download the fillable quote form and e-mail it with your drawings to support@blazeasia.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chemical (photo) etching?
A metal-shaping process. The part outline is printed onto a photoresist on both sides of the sheet, and an etchant dissolves the exposed metal. Parts come out flat, with no burrs, no heat-affected zone and no tool stress.
How thin and how thick can you etch?
From about 0.005 mm stainless foil up to 1.5–2.5 mm, depending on the metal. Thinner material allows finer detail.
What tolerances can I expect?
Around ±0.025 mm on profiles up to 0.2 mm thick, then roughly ±11% of thickness on thicker sheet. Holes and slots need to be at least about 1.1× the material thickness.
Do I need to pay for hard tooling?
No. Tooling is a photo-tool made from your CAD file, so it is low cost and quick to change. That makes etching ideal for prototypes and for design changes between batches.
What files should I send for a quote?
DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES or Gerber, or a fully dimensioned drawing. Mark any half-etched areas (and which side), the material, thickness and quantity.
Can you form or half-etch parts?
Yes. Half-etching adds fold lines, part numbers, logos or pockets in the same pass, and parts can be formed after etching.