Material Selection for Photochemical Machining
Fotofab offers a wide range of materials of various alloys and at different thicknesses.
METAL ALLOY TYPE
The photochemical machining process is capable of producing your part from over 50 different metal alloys, including:
Alloy 42, 46, 48
Alloy Steels
Aluminum
Amzirc
Beryllium
Beryllium Copper
Brass
Copper
Copper-Molybdenum
Elgiloy
Gold (0.005″x6″x6″ max)
Hafnium
Hy-mu 80
Havar
Inconel (600, 718, 750)
Invar
Iron
Kovar
Metglas
Molybdenum
Monel
MuMetal
Nickel
Nickel Silver
Nitinol
Permalloy 80
Phosphor bronze
Silicon steel
Spring steel
Stainless Steel
Steel
Titanium
Tungsten
Tungsten-Copper
*This is a partial list of the materials we can chemical etch. Contact us to discuss metals not listed.
Metal Alloy Temper
Most metal alloys that Fotofab can use with the chemical etching process are available with different tempers. These tempers determine some physical properties of the metal. The physical requirements of your part will dictate the temper of the metal you decide to use.
Metal Thickness
Fotofab can produce your part with photo chemical machining from sheets of metal ranging in thickness from .0005 inch (0.013 mm) up to .090 inch (2.286 mm). Metal thickness tolerance often varies with the metal thickness; generally, the thicker the metal, the larger the thickness tolerance associated with it.
Fotofab stocks a wide selection of metals with various tempers and thicknesses. It is likely that we can meet your metal requirements from our stock. Our formal Lot Control Program allows us to trace each of your parts back to its certified metal source.
Fotofab is happy to help you select the most appropriate metal for your application. From etching aluminum to zirconium, Fotofab has the tools to get the job done.