What is Photo Chemical Machining?

Photochemical machining is the process involved in the fabrication of sheet metal, with a number of applications including the production of circuits, gaskets, seals, electrical contacts, jewellery, springs, and washers. photo chemical machining is also known as PCM, photochemical milling, and photo etching, and can be contrasted with other types of chemical machining such as electrochemical machining. While PCM was an offshoot of the printed circuit board industry that developed during the 1960s, the processes involved in this kind of fabrication are used all around the world today in the production of many different products and components. Photochemical machining has a number of advantages over other types of fabrication, such as stamping, laser cutting, punching, and electrical discharge machining (EDM).

Photochemical machining is a relatively quick, simple, and economical way to produce a large variety of products and components, with most standard phototools costing less than $350. Unlike hard tools such as stamping and punching, PCM do not suffer wear and tear in the same way, as they are exposed only to light. One other advantage of electrochemical machining is in terms of their accuracy, and some parts like semiconductor leadframes are so fragile and complex that photo etching is the only real viable alternative. In general, the more complex the part geometry being produced is, the more economic advantages photo etching has over other methods of fabrication. The process used in PCM involves the initial production and printing of photographic film and the use of this film in contact between the etching tool and the metal plate being fabricated.

Photo chemical machining is widely used around the developed world, and is an integral part of modern fabrication and development. It is an economic and highly versatile process that can be used on virtually any commercially available metal or alloy substance, although it is limited to materials that are between 0.013 to 2.0 mm thick. Some of the most popular materials that are used in photo chemical machining include aluminium, brass, copper, manganese, nickel, steel, zinc, titanium, stainless steel, and inconel. PCM is a useful tool for all stages of part fabrication, from prototyping through to final production. It is the ideal tool for many of the small and complex components used in the modern world, and will continue to play a big role within a variety of fabrication sectors for many years to come.