Fotofab, a leader in chemical etching (photochemical machining), offers acid etched titanium and other exotic metal etching.
From Titanium to Tungsten to Molybdenum, we can deliver etched parts from almost any metal or alloy that is precise, economical, and produced quickly.
Our precision acid etched metal parts are manufactured in both prototype and production quantities.
Fotofab products are made in the USA and distributed worldwide.
Exotic acid metal etching requires etchants that can cut through the oxidized coating that forms when the raw metal is exposed to air. Fotofab has developed proprietary etchants that dissolve these extremely corrosion resistant metals while being on the lower end of the hazard range.
Acid Etched Titanium
Titanium is renowned for its lightweight, corrosion resistance, and strength, and is often used in the fabrication of eyeglasses, antennas, satellite components, jet engines, and more. Fotofab is a leading supplier of component parts made from chemically etched titanium.
Fotofab works with metals ranging from .0001″ to .062″ (2.5 microns to 1.6mm) thick. Minimum etched features can vary but generally follow these guidelines:
- Minimum hole feature is 120% of metal thickness
- Minimum bar width is 90% of metal thickness
- Dimensional accuracy increases as metal thickness decreases
- Minimum hole feature is 120% of metal thickness
Exotic Metal Etching Benefits
Intricate designs are easily manufactured in exotic alloys with chemical etching. Thin metal parts can be manufactured without distortion. Our chemical etching process is ideal for titanium, or any metal, and will not stress the metal or alter its physical properties compared to traditional manufacturing processes. Components produced from Fotofab’s titanium chemical etching process are essentially burr-free and stress-free.
Tooling Costs of Exotic Metal Etching
Our process allows a new part to be tooled up within a couple of hours and manufactured the same day. The artwork to generate the phototool is the first step needed to chemically etch your parts.
The phototool, which usually costs under $300, masks off certain areas of the metal so that certain features of your metal part can be etched.
For more information on phototools and the Fotofab process check out the etching page of our website.
Applications of Exotic Alloys
Medical, aerospace, and defense industries have the most applications with exotic metals.
Applications for exotic metal etching include:
- Medical device parts with biocompatibility characteristics
- Aircraft components that are strong, robust, lightweight
- Components that require a high melting temperature and extreme corrosion resistance.
No matter the application, industry-leading companies rely on Fotofab for quality metal parts.
The Fotofab Advantage
Fotofab has been the leading manufacturer of precision metal parts and screens for over 50 years. We have some of the fastest lead times in the industry, with standard parts only taking one week to produce from tooling to shipping.
We also provide premium delivery services with 3-day and same-day turnarounds. Fotofab takes pride in offering superior customer service in addition to our high-quality metal parts.
We hold a variety of certifications to showcase our commitment to quality, including: