Need a small custom sheet done, would be about 4" X 6"
noxaf;
I have an auto-etch photoetching unit that should be able to produce the job for you. If you can provide me with some more details. Information like is your artwork complete or would it have to be generated. If your artwork can be printed out on a transparency either on a B/W Laser printer or through a B/W Photocopier that would produce the best results. Let me know and I will see if I can make this happen for you.
Cheers;
Gregory
auto-etch photoetching unit? what’s that?
i always just use the trusty transparency/iron/sharpie combo. actually haven’t tried anything printed on brass sheet yet, just etched some bits i masked with a marker.
goat monkey;
The Auto-Etch was a “benchtop” photoetching machine that the company Auto-Etch marketed in the mid 1990’s (unsure if they are still around). I picked it up new from eBay. To describe it simply. You prep your brass with the photo resist (either sharpie or actual photoresist film) and place it in the machine. It is filled with ferric chloride solution. Turn the unit on and 1/2 hour later your parts are etched. It is a great little unit. It saves me having to explain where Pyrex dishes have gone from the kitchen and the “What is that smell?” question.
Cheers;
Gregory
I came across a technique for making etched circuit boards that I think would probably work for PE brass too. This guy discovered that the toner in laser printers is etch proof. He came up with a technique for printing his artwork on his laser printer using cheap, glossy photo paper (the higher quality stuff doesn’t work as well). Then he irons them onto the board with a plain old household iron. Next, he soaks the thing in water, which causes the paper to come apart and he’s left with his mask on the board.
He runs it through the etch process and is able to create printed circuit boards in a fairly short amount of time.
Bill
Bill;
Exactly! That is how the process works. The photoresist film works along the same lines. I print my part(s) on transparency and place it on top of the brass with the photoresist film. Expose it to UV light for 15min and then it’s ready for etching.
Anyone can actually do this (with a fair bit of caution). Here are a few links
http://www.prototrains.com/etch1/etch1.html
http://modeltech.tripod.com/etchingentry.htm
A friend makes his own by using the Printed Circuit Board Etching Kit from Radio Shack and Sharpie Markers.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102870&cp=&kw=etching&parentPage=search
So if you can not locate an Auto-Etch unit and you want to make your own photoetch details. I would suggest reading the above articles and the Circuit Board kit.
Cheers;
Gregory