Photoetching is used to process very thin, very small components. Sheet metal (less than ~0.060”) is applied with a photoresist polymer on both sides. Then a transparency of the part—which is created from your model or design—is laid on top of the polymer. The sheet is exposed to UV light that cures and hardens the polymer that is exposed. Then the sheet is sprayed with acid and the parts are complete. You have your part! Photoetching can produce extremely tight tolerance parts and is very scalable. The more parts you can fit on your sheet of metal, the lower your piece price.
