Custom Thin Metal Parts by Photochemical Etching
Custom metal parts designed by United Western Enterprises come in a variety of dimensions, but most of our pieces come with specifications to make them thin–they are designed with precise features and are commonly utilized in electronic equipment, and other products that enable flawless performance.
Photochemical etching is the primary method used to create thin custom metal parts–a production type that’s more affordable than laser cutting and metal stamping, and that’s extremely cost-effective for high-volume production–a specialty offered by United Western Enterprises. It enables us to fabricate metal parts to extremely tight tolerances for customers. Having met the needs of aerospace, commercial electronics, and biomedical companies for decades, we can custom-etch a diverse range of components to your specifications. We are also certified to AS9100 and ISO 9001.
Why Chemical Etching is Advantageous for Thin, Custom Metal Parts
When it comes to making flawless thin metal parts, chemical etching is the best method to ensure accuracy, speedy completion, and it is done in a manner that’s much more affordable than using lasers or other solutions. With chemical etching, the entire shape of a part is created on a photographic film. The material is then chosen and, following cleaning, laminating, printing, and development, the metal sheet is exposed to chemicals that dissolve all unprotected surfaces, yielding production-ready parts. When it comes to manufacturing custom metal parts that are thin, these are some of the advantages of utilizing chemical etching for production:
- Depending on the part, lower cost than laser cutting, metal stamping, CNC machining, water jetting and Electrical Discharge Machining.
- Design flexibility for creating many types of parts and for making design changes without significant increases in cost or lead time.
- Material thicknesses from .0003 to .064 inches thick and the ability to produce holes as small as .004 inches in diameter. Parts can be up to 30 inches wide and 60 inches long. Parts as thick as 0.90 inches are possible, while materials up to .250 inches can be engraved.
- There is no thermal stress on materials, preserving metal hardness, grain structure, and ductility, among other properties as the parts are created, ensuring a durable final product.
For additional details please call to learn all about our in-depth analysis on the many advantages of using chemical etching to design custom metal parts.
Typical Custom Metal Parts Made by United Western Enterprises
United Western Enterprises has the tooling capabilities, expertise, and the best manufacturers in the industry to create any type of custom metal part. Some of the typical custom metal part types we design include:
- Custom EMI shielding
- Apertures
- Custom shims
- Screens
- Encoder disks
- Battery contacts
- Covers
- Lids
Our team at United Western Enterprises produces a wide range of custom metal parts, including shims with an exceptional degree of flatness, plus a wide range of other custom metal parts precisely cut to the customer’s requirements.
What Types of Metals are Used to Make Custom Metal Parts?
United Western Enterprises can meet the needs of any organization due in part to our wide range of metals and materials we use in manufacturing custom parts. Of the metal types we work with, the most common ones consist of:
- Stainless steel
- Steel
- Copper
- Nickel
- Pure nickel
- Nickel silver
- Beryllium copper
- Copper
- Brass
- Aluminum
- Alloys
- Much more
We produce custom thin metal parts made of alloys of stainless steel (301, 302/304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321, 347, PH15-7Mo, and type 17-7PH). Compatibility with many common metals adds to the versatility of our photochemical etching process. When you partner with us, you will have peace of mind knowing that our broad capabilities mean that we can manufacture your custom metal part without any hurdles that could impact production time, budget, or quality.
Request a Quote on Custom Metal Parts Manufacturing from United Western Enterprises
Our proprietary chemical etching process allows us to create custom metal parts to exact and precise specifications. We are ready to discuss your production requirements and additional needs such as forming, laser welding, soldering, heat treating, and painting. Request a quote now and include your project specifications, quantities, and even product files related to your project. Call us at (866)578-3805 for more information.