Fotofab etches and fabricates a wide range of metals, including pure metals and alloys that are difficult to machine. Below is a list of standard metals that Fotofab can etch.
Please contact us if you need a metal etched that is not listed. We can advise whether a specific metal is conducive to the etching process or if another technique is required.
Alloy 42, 46, 48, and 49
A controlled expansion of Nickel-Iron alloy (42, 46, 48, or 49% Nickel) often used in electronics.
Aluminum
An easy-to-form, non-magnetic and ductile metal that has 50-60% of the electrical conductivity of Copper. Its characteristics make it ideal for various applications, but it is less effective in low-frequency shielding than some other metals.
Beryllium Copper
A high-strength Copper alloy with non-magnetic and non-sparking qualities. It has many specialized applications in tools and components for hazardous environments, precision measurement devices, and aerospace, and is used to make contacts and springs.
Brass
A metal alloy made from a combination of Copper and Zinc. It may include other alloying agents to improve machinability and corrosion resistance.
Bronze
A ductile alloy that consists primarily of Copper in addition to other metals such as Aluminum, Manganese, Nickel, and Zinc.
Copper
A soft, malleable, and ductile metal that processes high thermal and electrical conductivity that is perfect for electrical applications.
Elgiloy
A superalloy of Cobalt, Chromium, Nickel, Iron, Molybdenum, and Manganese. It is used to make springs and other components that are corrosion resistant.
Havar
A Cobalt alloy with excellent resistance to corrosion and high fatigue. It is non-magnetic, biocompatible, and maintains high strength in raised temperatures.
Inconel (600, 718, and 750)
An austenitic Nickel-Chromium-based superalloy for extreme environments subjected to pressure and heat including aerospace, marine, and chemical.
Invar
A Nickel-Iron alloy (36% Nickel), which exhibits the lowest thermal expansion of metals. Used in precision devices such as lasers, instrumentation, thermostats, and equipment requiring stability at extreme temperatures.
Kovar
A Nickel-Cobalt, ferrous alloy with a similar temperature coefficient to borosilicate glass that is often used in applications requiring a glass-to-metal seal, such as a hermetic seal.
Metglas
An amorphous metal with excellent magnetic properties, such as high permeability, low loss, and a high-saturation magnetic flux density.
Molybdenum
A chemical element that does not occur naturally as a free metal. In the form of a metal it features low thermal expansion and has the sixth-highest melting point of any element. It is a component in many Steel alloys, including high-strength and superalloy types.
Monel
An alloy composed mostly of Nickel and Copper, with smaller blends of Iron, Manganese, Carbon, and Silicon. It is resistant to the effects of sea water and steam at high temperatures.
MuMetal
A Nickel-Iron magnetic alloy with high permeability that makes it suitable for shielding sensitive electronic circuits. Performs well in low-intensity fields where high attenuation is desired. Also known as Hy-Mu 80 and Permalloy 80.
Nickel
A silvery-white lustrous metal that is hard and ductile and often makes up the highest percentage of alloys used for shielding (such as MuMetal). It may also be used for plating.
Nickel Silver
A non-magnetic alloy that is exceptionally hard and not very malleable. It has much lower electrical conductivity than Copper.
Phosphorous Bronze
A Copper alloy, typically containing <10% Tin and <0.35% Phosphorus, used where good electrical conductivity is needed and components are stressed by repetitive motions (i.e., connectors, switches, etc.).
Spring Steel
Carbon Steel ideal for fabricating flat springs and other stampings. Known for its high-yield strengths and resistance to deformation.
Stainless Steel
A popular, corrosion resistant and strong Steel alloy. Its formulation can vary somewhat, though it is part of a group of Iron-based metal containing at least 10% Chromium.
Steel
A ferrous alloy metal, composed primarily of Iron, with Carbon and other elements added depending on the characteristics desired. Its machinability varies depending on how it is fabricated.
Titanium
A lustrous transition metal with strength comparable to Steel, at only 45% of the weight. It is desirable for many applications in aerospace, transportation, medicine, and more. It is corrosion resistant with formability comparable to Stainless Steel.
Tungsten
A rare metal known for its application in light bulb and vacuum tube filaments. Tungsten's hardness and high density make it desirable for military applications such as penetrating projectiles.
Tungsten-Copper
An alloy with high density, high thermal conductivity, and low thermal expansion that is used in the fabrication of contacts, electrodes, and heat sinks.
Metal Alloy Temper
Most metal alloys that Fotofab uses 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 from sheets of metal ranging in thickness from 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm) up to .090 inches (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.
We stock a wide selection of metals with various tempers and thicknesses so that we can meet your metal requirements. Our formal Lot Control Program allows us to trace each of your parts back to its certified metal source.
From etching aluminum to zirconium, Fotofab has the tools to get the job done. Contact us today!