The smooth clean surface is an important feature for automotive speaker grills, interior inlays, and medical instruments that must be sanitized without the threat of material breakdown. The first step in chemical etching is to laminate a sheet of metal, or the substrate, with a layer of light-sensitive resist. because I have a signage company it is very useful. Step 5 Tape negative end to the battery negative post and wrap around q-tip. Once the photoresist is exposed to UV light and a positive image of the product is produced, the masked sheet is exposed to an etching solution. In just a matter of days, you can produce rapid prototypes at a cost-effective rate and easily scale to production once your design is locked in. This precise, repeatable and scalable technique gives us the means to create the tight-tolerance metal parts—as thin as .001 in.—that our customers’ applications require. It marks any Flat or Round Metal Surface down to 1/16" Diameter and any Metal … … Other complex electrochemical effects can take place based on the level of voltage used, as well as the concentration of the electrolyte. Stainless steel etching is the process of using corrosive chemicals to etch complex shapes from sheets of stainless steel metal. Austenitic or 300 series stainless steels typically have higher chrome as well as a significant amount of nickel (e.g. With your kettle acquired, it's now time to obtain the things you'll need to etch it. The best way to get a feel for how broad a range laser marking stainless has is to look at some specific applications. Dip the q-tip in vinegar mix and start etching! To apply the acid and the current, you’ll construct an etching tool from a Q-tip. These bad boys, manufactured by companies such as YETI, RTIC, and Silverback are said to be indestructible and can keep your tasty beverages colder and hotter longer than any other tumbler on the market. The engraving may be damaged or contain another person's initials, name or accomplishment. With the chemical etching process, the metal is etched evenly without any structural deformations from the hard tooling used in stamping and punching. The industries listed below choose stainless for these unmatched qualities. For many projects, stainless steel is the correct answer. Remove any burrs on the edges of the steel. Mix up tablespoon of salt and about a 1/2 cup vinegar. 801 Gerber St. Ligonier, IN Cage Code 1LJ13. This method is not limited to kettles or volume markings. Consider this to be the beginner of all beginner’s guide on how to do salt water etching on metal. Pour water into a large, flat glass tub … In addition to being low-maintenance, 100% recyclable and aesthetically appealing, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and ductile. Austenitic - (300 series) This series is the most common and makes up about 70% of commercially produced stainless steel. 304 is the most common type. Martensitic - (400 series) This type of stainless has a higher carbon content than the 300 series, and it is added to increase strength. When the current flows, ions penetrate through the material surface to selectively etch the intended areas. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Engraving on metal can be very beautiful, but there are many reasons that you may want to remove it. Get a free copy of our ebook, 3 Ways Chemical Etching Improves Your Metal Parts. If you’re using ferric acid, dilute it with distilled water until you have pretty close to a 50/50 … Stainless steel mugs and tumblers are increasing in popularity, and there’s a reason. IMPORTANT INFO + LINKS In today's Craft-O-Ween episode I'm showing you how to etch a stainless steel tumbler with your Cricut! That’s why chemical etching is at the core of Switzer’s business. We etch up to 0.025” thick sheets that range up to 22x12 inches. We work with many types of stainless steel and are not limited to the above two grades. Peter CYO - Malaysia Apply in intermittent, short spurts. Because the chemical composition of stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, the acid used in the etching process will not affect the metal's properties. Now connect the alligator clips with the 9V battery. Tolerances of ±.0005 can be achieved in many applications. Carefully peel the transfer paper backing from the steel, leaving the design on the metal. Stainless steel is popular in many types of industrial components for a variety of reasons. The aerospace and automotive industries like the strength and corrosion-resistance of stainless steel for engine parts such as fuel cell plates, because they come in contact with liquids and gases and will not experience a material breakdown. Etching stainless steels can be somewhat difficult due to the anti-corrosive nature of stainless steel. Stainless steel is widely used in the modern industry due to its anti-corrosion properties and attractive appearance. When it comes to speed, you can't find another process that is quicker for producing a large volume of parts. See our Privacy Policy. Whether used to supplement the chemical etching process or as standalone operations, stamping, punching, forming and part assembly all fall under our umbrella of metal fabrication services. Stainless Steel For stainless steels stick with the following mixture. Use just spray paint to make a custom tumbler for anyone. Put on rubber gloves and goggles. The photoresist is removed from the finished part, or sheet of parts. Stainless steel etched components are very easy to manufacture with the chemical etching process. Stainless steel step lids and EMI/RFI shielding can be plated to enhance function in many electronic products. Apply a thin coat of etching primer to the stainless steel. There are several grades of stainless steel. Here are the benefits of metal etching stainless steel compared to other types of metal fabrication processes: Stainless steel is a very versatile metal because of its strength, formability, corrosion-resistance, and smooth tarnish-free surface. Stainless steel and aluminum both naturally form oxidized coatings on their surfaces when exposed to oxygen. For such a need, only one technology leaves a permanent mark directly on stainless steel. Contact us to see how our capabilities can enhance your stainless steel components. This oxidized layer is what protects them from rust and corrosion. This technology is laser annealing. once this is done, ferric chloride can do the rest of the etching job. Typically, though, the goal is to create a legible or aesthetic mark on a product. The literature for etchants is extensive, and we recommend that you try a variety of etchants in order to establish an individual stock of solutions that are suited to the particular materials regularly prepared in your … For stainless steel etching use solid ferric chloride chemical 1 kg. before 5 minutes of the process. In the automotive industry, stainless steel is used to fuel the development of durable parts that help vehicles run at their optimal performance. Like laser etching and electrolytic etching, chemical etching can also produce controlled-depth marking. Stainless steel electronic components are stronger and lower in cost than copper and its alloys. Unmasked areas of the sheet are removed by the etchant, and the masked areas stay protected, creating a part. Choose the wrong material, and your application is subject to an unpredictable, potentially short life. 3 Ways Chemical Etching Improves Your Metal Parts. Be Mindful of Biological Traps created by Laser Engraving on Stainless Steel. Electrochemical marking and etching are especially effective on stainless steel surfaces. Medical devices are … Mordant is the French word for “bitting.” and refers to the actual liquids used to etch the metal when applied to the surface. The cotton head of the Q-tip will hold the vinegar solution, and a wire running from a battery will transfer the current to the vinegar-soaked cotton. Since I happened to have a couple of stainless steel cups lying around an idea was born to combine these three. The metal alloy must have at least 10.5% chromium. The process of stainless steel is quite simple. Unlike… Elcon has a special etching process that can create very sharp cutting surfaces from stainless steel. Which type of steel you etch will determine the best acid or chemical to use to etch it with. The integrity of every design is impacted by material selection. Carefully attach the black one to the negative terminal and red one to the positive terminal. How to Laser Engrave a Stainless Steel Tumbler Mug. However, this type of etching can only be done on metal. Parts are etched simultaneously and there is no additional cost for the number of slots, holes, sharp edges, or other apertures. The process we refer to as acid etching is a well-known, ancient and reliable industrial process that uses various commonly available mordant acids and chemical compounds to impart a physical or an aesthetic improvement to the surface of stainless steel. File away any burrs on the side of the steel you plan to etch with acid. Etching of stainless steels Etching stainless steels requires some experience and patience. Stainless steel etching is a highly accurate process that produces parts with a high level of complexity with no mechanical stress placed on the material. Dilution. Alcohol or a chlorine … Below are some of the most common stainless steel parts that we etch. you will get better etching. Etching stainless steels can be somewhat difficult due to the anti-corrosive nature of stainless steel. Choose the type of steel you want to etch. Choose the type of steel you want to etch. The process involves the use of a high-heat laser to modify the surface of the substrate. While higher in initial costs, this material delivers long-term value to the applications it serves. Photo etching is the only process that can guarantee the absence of burrs in the finished part. It is comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Laser annealing chemically modifies the steel located under the chromium oxide layer. Tape your positive end to the battery and the cup. Please contact us to learn more about our full stainless steel etching capabilities. Laser marking stainless steel has the ability to produce a wide range of looks and is used in many applications across diverse industries. Thicker sheets up to 2mm can be fabricated using a combination of high-speed CNC machining and photo etching. Electrolytic etching has the same goal as laser etching: to create an aesthetic mark on an object. Prepare the metal surface. 304 stainless steel - 18% chrome, 8% nickel) which makes them harder to etch. If etching a metal plate, file off any sharp edges. Spray Painting a Stainless Steel Mug Using spray paint and spray glitter to make an ombre glitter tumbler. Each has different properties depending on the type and amount of additional metal elements added. Of these techniques for etching stainless steel, chemical etching offers greater capability for manufacturing and stands out as the optimal choice. Because the chemical composition of stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, the acid used in the etching process will not affect the metal's properties. Meanwhile in chemical and food processing, plants rely on this material to resist corrosion. © 2021 Advanced Metal Etching. Likewise, parts such as shims and gaskets must withstand heat, force, and friction for safety standards. Apply at room temperature with a cotton swab or immerse the part in the solution. In the picture you can see the different things I tried to engrave stainless … In electrolytic etching, a metal piece is connected to a positive and negative pole of a direct electric current source. Though this was not really up for decision: Apart from several different aperture logos, one of our motifs was a cake (not a lie). What Are the Applications of Stainless Steel Etching? All one has to do is figure-out how to remove the surface coat of the stainless steel, be it with concentrated acid, or sand it off. Using an Electro- Chemical principle, the New ETCH-O-MATIC can Etch as Deep as .003" of an Inch in Less than 30 Seconds or Mark the Hardest Tool Steel and Carbides almost Instantly. The process involves the use of a … How to Make a Custom Yeti or Ozark Stainless Steel Mug for Cheap! 200g ferric chloride (FeCl3) + 300mL nitric acid (HNO3) + 100mL water (H20) But typically, the main goal of chemical etching is to produce a part, with or without marking. Acquire Materials. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2850429, '1753a1d8-3a89-4c82-9735-bae018e67f20', {}); An update regarding Switzer’s production status at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the flexibility of the process, you can design and manufacture highly precise parts with intricate elements like sharp edges and round holes. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on industry information. A few seconds after etching, the surface of the etched area will oxidize again and will be the same as the rest of the brew kettle, thereby protecting it. All Rights Reserved. I’ll go over what you need, what the steps are, and a few tips I came up with after a bit of practice. First we needed to decide what we wanted to etch onto the cups. Stainless Steel Weld Etch is a general-purpose stainless steel etchant formulated by our metallurgist, which is designed to macro-etch all common grades used in the welding industry. Which type of steel you etch will determine the best acid or chemical to use to etch it with. Machine parts, cutlery, and kitchen appliances are just some of the evident examples. It’s characteristics like these that have made stainless steel a staple across various industries. By the way, I called this “salt water etching in stainless steel” because that’s what I’ve been doing it on. Choose the right material, and your application has a much higher probability of success. What differentiates stainless steel from other types of steel? The well you can cut out the pattern, the well it will be etched. You can etch stainless steel, mild steel, or high-carbon steel. Moreover, cold rolling stainless steel further increases strength and gives it a smooth shiny surface. 304 stainless steel - 18% chrome, 8% nickel) which makes them harder to etch. The popularity of stainless steel makes it a desirable metal for use in fabrication because it easy to manufacture and has favorable properties for many industrial products. To do so, the surface is heated until it melts temporarily. Engraving Stainless Steel. try and will give you best result. The part surface remains smooth while part features are etched with high precision and low tolerances. Laser etching, also called laser engraving or laser marking, is used to create a visible mark on the surface of many substrates, including metal, plastic, stone and glass. Chromium when exposed to oxygen creates a surface oxide that makes it stronger and corrosion-resistant. Take an exacto knife and cut out the pattern you want to etch on the steel. You can etch stainless steel, mild steel, or high-carbon steel. Since there isn't a heat point of contact like laser cutting, the parts' metal properties remain unchanged and free from thermal deformations. It works very well with 300 series and other stainless steel grades (see list of examples here), showing the weld nugget clearly for the penetration depth analysis. Do not apply in a long, steady stream as this generally leads to sagging in the final finish. Excellent resistance to high temperatures. Laser etching, also called laser engraving or laser marking, is used to create a visible mark on the surface of many substrates, including metal, plastic, stone and glass. mix 1 liter of water and should do the process only after two hours after mixing and use hydrofluoric acid 100 ml. Austenitic or 300 series stainless steels typically have higher chrome as well as a significant amount of nickel (e.g. Different Techniques for Etching Stainless Steel Laser Etching. Place the heat transfer paper face down on the steel, and iron it for two to three minutes. When it comes to the techniques for etching stainless steel, there are a number of options available. Depending on the substrate and energy involved, the modification to the material can vary. Stainless steel etched components are very easy to manufacture with the chemical etching process. Want to learn more about the benefits chemical etching can bring to your project? 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