Copper Sheet Etching

5 rinse clean inspect the pcb.

Copper sheet etching.

These are fun to etch but i advise starting with something smaller. I love the resulting detail. First invented simply as a method of replicating an image intaglio printmaking has evolved over centuries into an art form in it s own right. Laser cutting copper is a subtractive manufacturing technology that uses a high power laser beam to cut flat sheet materials.

Buff the surface with steel wool once the etchant has been neutralized and rinsed away. Etch the resulting beads and bezels exactly the same way you etched the copper sheets. Place the cu clads in the ferric chloride fecl3 solution for around 5 8 minutes. For example punching in the stamping process can cause deformation especially with smaller and or numerous apertures.

I highly recommend stamping blanks unless you have a trusty pair of metal shears and a metal hole puncher. Because copper is a softer metal some sheet metal fabrication processes may compromise the structure of the part. You can cut your own pieces from copper sheet or purchase pre cut brass or copper stamping blanks. Firstly make sure you re wearing safety glasses and wearing appropriate gloves to protect yourself from any spillages of the acidic solution you ll be using.

The time for etching will depend on the levels of temperatures and the thickness of the copper sheet. Safety first when learning how to acid etch copper sheet it s best to follow some basic safety steps to avoid the possibility of injury. What are the benefits of photo etching copper. Clean and dry it thoroughly to remove any residue that might inhibit the etching process.

4 start your etch. I was looking a while for a good set of instructions for electric copper etching and found a quite good instruction at jake von slatts steampunkworkshop and decided to refine it a bit and create an own instruction set in german. Now that you have the blank copper sheet set the next step is to choose a design and put it in a resist either through cutting or printing. Create patina for your beads.

A computer directs this laser to follow the cutting line provided in your digital design. Before you wear them make sure to prepare the copper sheet you will be etching first. Copper plate etching is a traditional form of printmaking that delivers beautifully crisp line work and a wonderfully unique aesthetic. You can also find brass bracelet blanks.

The high precision laser vaporizes a cut line through the copper leaving a 90 degree high quality cut edge finish. After this check the traces remove any unwanted copper between the traces using a scratch pen.