Photochemical machining also known as
photochemical milling or photo etching. is the process of fabricating shee
t
metal components using etchants or a photo resist, to machine away selected
areas by corrosion. Photochemical machining started in the 1960s and was an
offshoot of the printed circuit board industry. Photochemical machining is
commonly used to produce highly complex components, with fine detail and
accuracy. Photochemical machining can be used on practically any commercially
available alloy or metal such as brass, copper, nickel, steel, stainless steel
and titanium. Photochemical machining is used in a wide range of industrial
applications, some of which are heat sinks, metal gaskets, flexible heating
elements, pressure membranes, springs and electrical contacts.