Photo Chemical Machining (PCM) is also called Photo Chemical Milling, Photo Etching, Photofabrication and Chemical Etching. This process used in the production of precision parts and decorative items, mainly sheets and foils. In photo chemical etch the unit of labor is the sheet.
Using photo etch, Newcut turn your CAD file, blueprint or drawings into thin metal parts. The material specified is coated with a light sensitive polymer, imaged with a photo tool using UV light, developed much like film and then chemically etched. The results are precision components manufactured in most metals, including some exotics.
Why Should You Use Photochemical Machining?
Designers, manufacturing engineers and purchasing groups are recognizing the advantages photochemical machining has to offer. Some of the benefits of this unique manufacturing process are the ability to make a complex part that is beyond hard tool capability and to fabricate the part in dead soft or full hard material without burrs or metal distortion. Another significant benefit is response time. An order may be filled in days, which allows the design to be proven without incurring the cost of a hard tool.
Photo etch milling is a growing industry gaining experience and recognition as a viable method of working metal.