Chemical Etching & Screen Printing
Chemical etching and screen printing are two different manufacturing processes, often performed by the same company, that result in a finished product sporting a distinctive design or logo. The former deals with product shape and appearance, with the latter focusing on design.
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Photochemical Etching
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This process is also called photochemical milling or chemical milling. It is used to manufacture thin metal parts with dimensions less than 22 by 18 inches. Chemical etching produces parts much more precisely than using traditional milling methods.
Etching Process
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The process begins with artwork which is transferred to a piece of mylar film via ultraviolet light. Exposing the mylar film causes the design to be transferred to a piece of chemically treated metal. Unprotected areas are chemically removed to form the piece.
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Screen Printing
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Screen printing also begins with artwork, but the chemical process here applies color instead of removing color and material as in chemical etching. The photographic emulsion method is the one method of screen printing most closely related to chemical etching. Color is transferred to surface area via film positive and a light source but also includes the use of a screen prepared with a light-sensitive coating.
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