Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on industry information. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Please contact us to learn more about our full stainless steel etching capabilities. Which type of steel you etch will determine the best acid or chemical to use to etch it with. 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. Apply a thin coat of etching primer to the stainless steel. Spray Painting a Stainless Steel Mug Using spray paint and spray glitter to make an ombre glitter tumbler. We etch up to 0.025” thick sheets that range up to 22x12 inches. See our Privacy Policy. Unmasked areas of the sheet are removed by the etchant, and the masked areas stay protected, creating a part. Carefully peel the transfer paper backing from the steel, leaving the design on the metal. The photo etching process is a flexible option for precision etched stainless steel components because it can etch different tempers and hardness. 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. Typically, though, the goal is to create a legible or aesthetic mark on a product. The well you can cut out the pattern, the well it will be etched. The industries listed below choose stainless for these unmatched qualities. For stainless steel etching use solid ferric chloride chemical 1 kg. You can etch stainless steel, mild steel, or high-carbon steel. Place the heat transfer paper face down on the steel, and iron it for two to three minutes. 304 stainless steel - 18% chrome, 8% nickel) which makes them harder to etch. Stainless steel etching is the process of using corrosive chemicals to etch complex shapes from sheets of stainless steel metal. File away any burrs on the side of the steel you plan to etch with acid. Parts are etched simultaneously and there is no additional cost for the number of slots, holes, sharp edges, or other apertures. … Moreover, cold rolling stainless steel further increases strength and gives it a smooth shiny surface. 200g ferric chloride (FeCl3) + 300mL nitric acid (HNO3) + 100mL water (H20) Different Techniques for Etching Stainless Steel Laser Etching. Medical devices are … It marks any Flat or Round Metal Surface down to 1/16" Diameter and any Metal … For many projects, stainless steel is the correct answer. In electrolytic etching, a metal piece is connected to a positive and negative pole of a direct electric current source. Tolerances of ±.0005 can be achieved in many applications. 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. 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. Carefully attach the black one to the negative terminal and red one to the positive terminal. This oxidized layer is what protects them from rust and corrosion. Apply in intermittent, short spurts. before 5 minutes of the process. 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. 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. 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. Each has different properties depending on the type and amount of additional metal elements added. Choose the type of steel you want to etch. Do not apply in a long, steady stream as this generally leads to sagging in the final finish. Likewise, parts such as shims and gaskets must withstand heat, force, and friction for safety standards. The part surface remains smooth while part features are etched with high precision and low tolerances. you will get better etching. Here are some of the more common methods. 3 Ways Chemical Etching Improves Your Metal Parts. Pour water into a large, flat glass tub … It is comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 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. Mordant is the French word for “bitting.” and refers to the actual liquids used to etch the metal when applied to the surface. With the chemical etching process, the metal is etched evenly without any structural deformations from the hard tooling used in stamping and punching. Laser marking stainless steel has the ability to produce a wide range of looks and is used in many applications across diverse industries. You can etch stainless steel, mild steel, or high-carbon steel. Which type of steel you etch will determine the best acid or chemical to use to etch it with. Stainless steel mugs and tumblers are increasing in popularity, and there’s a reason. 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. The first step in chemical etching is to laminate a sheet of metal, or the substrate, with a layer of light-sensitive resist. © 2021 Advanced Metal Etching. To apply the acid and the current, you’ll construct an etching tool from a Q-tip. Etching of stainless steels Etching stainless steels requires some experience and patience. Laser annealing chemically modifies the steel located under the chromium oxide layer. But typically, the main goal of chemical etching is to produce a part, with or without marking. What Are the Applications of Stainless Steel Etching? Engraving on metal can be very beautiful, but there are many reasons that you may want to remove it. The engraving may be damaged or contain another person's initials, name or accomplishment. If you’re using ferric acid, dilute it with distilled water until you have pretty close to a 50/50 … Thicker sheets up to 2mm can be fabricated using a combination of high-speed CNC machining and photo etching. Though this was not really up for decision: Apart from several different aperture logos, one of our motifs was a cake (not a lie). Tape negative end to the battery negative post and wrap around q-tip. 304 is the most common type. Below are some of the most common stainless steel parts that we etch. 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. Dip the q-tip in vinegar mix and start etching! Unlike… Stainless steel etched components are very easy to manufacture with the chemical etching process. In the automotive industry, stainless steel is used to fuel the development of durable parts that help vehicles run at their optimal performance. 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. 304 stainless steel - 18% chrome, 8% nickel) which makes them harder to etch. Choose the right material, and your application has a much higher probability of success. Want to learn more about the benefits chemical etching can bring to your project? 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. Remove any burrs on the edges of the steel. Austenitic -  (300 series) This series is the most common and makes up about 70% of commercially produced stainless steel. 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. The two most common types used in chemical etching stainless steel are Austenitic and Martensitic. The process of stainless steel is quite simple. Stainless steel etched components are very easy to manufacture with the chemical etching process. Chromium when exposed to oxygen creates a surface oxide that makes it stronger and corrosion-resistant. Photo etching is the only process that can guarantee the absence of burrs in the finished part. try and will give you best result. Step 5 Peter CYO - Malaysia Acquire Materials. Excellent resistance to high temperatures. It’s characteristics like these that have made stainless steel a staple across various industries. 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. However, this type of etching can only be done on metal. That’s why chemical etching is at the core of Switzer’s business. IMPORTANT INFO + LINKS In today's Craft-O-Ween episode I'm showing you how to etch a stainless steel tumbler with your Cricut! Since there isn't a heat point of contact like laser cutting, the parts' metal properties remain unchanged and free from thermal deformations. The process involves the use of a high-heat laser to modify the surface of the substrate. Machine parts, cutlery, and kitchen appliances are just some of the evident examples. Take an exacto knife and cut out the pattern you want to etch on the steel. I’ll go over what you need, what the steps are, and a few tips I came up with after a bit of practice. When it comes to the techniques for etching stainless steel, there are a number of options available. Stainless steel and aluminum both naturally form oxidized coatings on their surfaces when exposed to oxygen. because I have a signage company it is very useful. Electrochemical marking and etching are especially effective on stainless steel surfaces. Dilution. Stainless steel step lids and EMI/RFI shielding can be plated to enhance function in many electronic products. To do so, the surface is heated until it melts temporarily. Meanwhile in chemical and food processing, plants rely on this material to resist corrosion. The metal alloy must have at least 10.5% chromium. In addition to being low-maintenance, 100% recyclable and aesthetically appealing, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and ductile. Be Mindful of Biological Traps created by Laser Engraving on Stainless Steel. Since I happened to have a couple of stainless steel cups lying around an idea was born to combine these three. 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. Now connect the alligator clips with the 9V battery. Etching stainless steels can be somewhat difficult due to the anti-corrosive nature of stainless steel. Prepare the metal surface. If etching a metal plate, file off any sharp edges. When the current flows, ions penetrate through the material surface to selectively etch the intended areas. How to Laser Engrave a Stainless Steel Tumbler Mug. 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 … What differentiates stainless steel from other types of steel? mix 1 liter of water and should do the process only after two hours after mixing and use hydrofluoric acid 100 ml. First we needed to decide what we wanted to etch onto the cups. Depending on the substrate and energy involved, the modification to the material can vary. Engraving Stainless Steel. Stainless Steel For stainless steels stick with the following mixture. Contact us to see how our capabilities can enhance your stainless steel components. You may have made a mistake when engraving or … This technology is laser annealing. 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. Choose the wrong material, and your application is subject to an unpredictable, potentially short life. Mix up tablespoon of salt and about a 1/2 cup vinegar. The best way to get a feel for how broad a range laser marking stainless has is to look at some specific applications. How to Make a Custom Yeti or Ozark Stainless Steel Mug for Cheap! 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. Stainless steel is popular in many types of industrial components for a variety of reasons. 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. All Rights Reserved. By the way, I called this “salt water etching in stainless steel” because that’s what I’ve been doing it on.