Custom Stainless Steel Photo Chemical Etching Service for Thin Metal Components

Custom Stainless Steel Photo Chemical Etching Service

Xinhaisen runs a dedicated photo chemical etching service for OEM engineers who need thin metal components with fine features, clean edges and short lead times. Our Shenzhen and Dongguan facilities cover 7,000 m² of production space and 1,000 m² of cleanroom, with eight automated etching lines, spray developers, strip and passivation stations, and in-house metrology. We etch stainless steel, copper, nickel, titanium and aluminium from thin foil to heavy gauge sheet, supporting projects that run from a single prototype sheet through to stable volume production in our cleanroom-equipped plant.

What the Etching Service Includes

Every order is handled as a complete service package, not just a cutting operation:

• DFM review – our engineers check your DXF, DWG, STEP or PDF drawing for minimum line width, web width, burr allowance and tooling feasibility at the quotation stage.
• Tooling and photoresist – artwork is generated in-house, dry film or liquid photoresist is laminated, exposed and developed under controlled cleanroom conditions.
• Etching and stripping – continuous spray etching keeps etch depth uniform across the sheet; stripped parts are neutralised and rinsed before inspection.
• Finishing – deburring, passivation, electroplating, anodising, adhesive backing, laser marking or selective solder coating on request.
• Inspection and packing – first article report, dimensional CMM checks, visual and optical inspection, then PE bag and carton packing for export.

Etching Service Capabilities

Why Engineers Choose Chemical Etching

Etching removes metal by chemical dissolution rather than force. The workpiece never sees a punch, a die or a laser beam, so there is no work hardening, no tool wear and no heat affected zone. That difference matters for thin gauge parts:

• Prototype cost – tooling is digital artwork, so design revisions cost a fraction of a stamping die and take days instead of weeks.
• Edge quality – etched edges are burr-free and stress-free, which removes the deburring step and the risk of micro-cracks.
• Magnetic stability – because the process is non-mechanical and non-thermal, magnetic permeability of nickel and stainless grades stays consistent.
• Complex features – slots, screens, filters, spring fingers, apertures and stepped depths can be etched in one operation without additional setups.
• Flatness – sheet-level processing keeps thin parts flat, which is critical for downstream lamination and bonding.

Typical Etched Parts We Produce

Encoder discs and code wheels, EMI shielding cans and covers, filtration and aperture meshes, bipolar plates for fuel cells and electrolysers, vapor chamber wicks, lead frames, heater elements, razor and blade components, decorative grilles, sensor apertures, shims and spacers, and custom flat springs.

Quality System

Our etching service operates under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 certified systems. Incoming material comes with mill certificates and is verified for thickness and hardness. Each lot carries a first article inspection report, dimensional data from CMM or optical measurement, and a traceable process record. PPAP, FAI, RoHS and REACH documentation are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum order for an etching service project?
Prototype sheets start from a single piece, and volume production is quoted from trial order quantities upwards. There is no die cost that forces a large first order.

Can you etch half-etched or stepped features?
Yes. Multiple exposure and etching passes allow partial depth features, countersinks, stiffening ribs and stepped thickness in a single sheet.

How do you protect parts in transit?
Parts are packed in PE bags with bubble wrap, separated by tissue where surface finish is critical, and shipped in export-grade cartons or on trays.

Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. Customer drawings and tooling data are treated as confidential, and NDAs can be signed before files are shared.

Start Your Etching Project

Send your drawing, target thickness, material grade and expected annual volume. Our engineering team will return a DFM note and a quotation promptly, and standard sample orders are typically completed in 5-7 working days, while bulk lead time is set by order quantity and process route.