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Author Topic: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?  (Read 7282 times)

Faraday's Cage

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Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« on: November 26, 2008, 08:17:11 pm »

Hi Everyone,

I want to have a go at photo etching some small brass fittings from thin brass sheet but have no previous experience apart from photo etching printed circuit boards. Has anyone successfully done this and are there any pitfalls or tips before I jump in with both feet.

Thanks in advance.

FC
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plugger

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2008, 02:02:00 am »

Either MB or MMI had a feature on etching I guess about 18 months ago. I do not know the issue, but can look it up. Approx 8 to 10 pages long, detailed the process from drawing to finished product.

Dave
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Umi_Ryuzuki

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2008, 05:16:38 am »

It's not "Photo" etching, but it is brass etching...

I wrote this up a couple few years ago.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447591

 :-)

The SDM hose reel is etched, as are the
 railings on the crane and deck house of the barge.
And the square frames in the Ferry boat railing
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Faraday's Cage

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2008, 04:29:30 pm »

Thanks plugger for your input. I'll have a dig around and see what I can find in the mags.

UMI, nice job there, I'll have a look at the thread you mentioned.

Thanks Guys,

FC
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Circlip

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2008, 02:42:42 pm »

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wombat

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2009, 10:54:27 pm »

Not actually tried etching brass myself, but have been successful etching PCBs....

My thought is that you should use aerosol photoresist:

http://uk.farnell.com/electrolube/prp200/photo-resist/dp/130552?_requestid=240135

When doing the artworks, remember there will be some undercutting - you may have to adjust sizes to take that into account. If memory serves correct, horizontal etch distance is the same as vertical etch distance. Also remember to seal the rear face otherwise you will thin the overall material.

Wom
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amdaylight

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2009, 11:59:42 pm »

Greetings

I was doing some checking on line last night on this very subject and found out that  Micro Mark as a starter Photo Etch system ( http://www.micromark.com/MICRO-MARK-PRO-ETCH-PHOTO-ETCH-SYSTEM,8346.html ). They list both a regular kit and an export kit, the export kit does not have the etching chemicals in it for shipping reasons. I thought the price is OK as it gives you every thing you need to get stated and the instructions on how to it.

Andre :-)
over yonder in Portland Oregon
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Captbearuk

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2013, 09:23:34 pm »

Guys,
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but it's sort of relevant to my question. Has anyone had much success with these home brass etching kits? Also does anyone know of a place where suitable files may be found and used to create a brass etching? I've been looking into it, but my computer drawing skills are limited and you know what will happen. After 3 months of self teaching to draw a valve handwheel, someone will say that a set of cad drawings are freely available at X or Y location.
Regards
Glyn
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colin-d

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2013, 08:02:16 am »

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Captbearuk

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2013, 12:33:23 pm »

Colin-d,
That's certainly a site I'm going to bookmark, just in case I fail miserably at this brass etching thing. One of my projects has a lattice boom deck crane for which I have the drawings. Etching handwheels was to be a learning experience. But the site you mention has some other tasty bits so I may make an order for another ongoing project. Thanks for the pointer.
Glyn
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Pat Matthews

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Re: Anyone tried photo etching parts from brass ?
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2013, 12:01:47 am »

I've just got a fret in from Hauler in the Czech Rep. (http://www.etchworks.eu/).   It took about a month, but only because my first design had issues. Of course, I had the privilege of paying for the bad fret as well as the good revised design... well, that's just to be expected in "product development", it was my design after all!The issue was that the design is defined by an outline, and on whatever print device is used, the line has thickness. On small parts with holes close to edges, with the extra etching that occurs with the thick stock I used (0.5 mm), and with the slight registration errors that will always happen between front and rear transparencies, you can expect some trouble! Many of the stanchions just broke in half at the holes. The fixed design widened the stanchions a wee bit, and shrunk the holes a tad. Looks like I may have to open up some holes now, but that's OK. Now the fun starts- despruing, cleaning, and then soldering the rails. The top rail actually sits on top of the stanchion, that should be interesting.


But is it worth it? At the price for the one sheet, yes... But it gets debatable when you factor in the trial & error part!


BTW, this is for my 1:72 3D Printed CCG MSRV:
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=151938



Images: 1:1 stanchions; The full fret; Close-up
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Pat Matthews
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