Chemical milling is a more efficient and more economical method for final operations in the metals’ industry over traditional machining processes. For metal components that feature complex geometries, surface etching, or tight tolerances, chemical milling is becoming the preferred practices. You can also expect a high degree of accuracy within at least ±0.025 mm in your final parts and tolerances that are within ±10 percent of the metal thickness are possible.
But the removal of surface material during final parts processing is where chemical machining excels. Precision metal removal using chemicals is accomplished with a continuous monitoring of all physical processes, including chemical, thermal, and mechanical parameters.
Application of Chemical Machining
Precision Removal of Stock Metal
Chemically milled parts take advantage of the latest technology in chemical etching to selectively reduce stock metal components to specified final dimensions. This process can be used on a wide variety of metals and will precisely remove all unwanted surface material. Further processing can include masking specific areas using either a bath dip or robotic spray application to precisely and consistently remove portions of the stock material.
These chemical milling processes remove metal to a certain depth and at precise locations. The resulting components are burr-free and without the stresses that are normally induced when using CNC machining processes.
Enhance Surface Texture
Textured surfaces can be etched on a wide array of materials including ferrous and non-ferrous metals and hard to machine metals such as aluminum and titanium. The application of chemical machining to provide decorative surface textures can result in patterns such as wood grain, faux leather, or stone. The process is simple, and the etching rate is highly controlled when using chemical milling.
Surface texture is an important feature on many consumer products today. Consider the economic benefits of chemical milling for enhancing surface textures that were previously accomplished with five-axis machining.
Final Surface Cleaning
Shop processes can leave metal products with a surface appearance that is not uniform. Tooling marks, cutting oils, along with dirt and dust are easily removed to l eave parts ready for the next step of coating or plating. When chemicals are used for passivation, the process leaves a protective oxide layer on stainless steel that resists reactions with air that can cause corrosion.
Chemical milling produces a final surface that is free of foreign material that is found in manufacturing environments and will remove any particles of iron that may have been left after the cutting process.
For your custom and standard chemical machining needs, contact Tech Met, Inc. for cost effective solutions to precision removal of material from stock bar, tube, plate, or flat sheet materials.