Mecanizado fotoquimico or machining photochemistry is a process that is used to create recorded designs and images on thin sheets of metal by using a computerized system and exposing them to various types of chemicals and light. This process is also known as photochemical machining, and photo chemical etching, etc. This process can be used on various types of metal sheets like brass, copper, silver, nickel, and aluminum, etc. to create high precision metal parts used in medical implants, engraving intricate designs and electronic devices, etc. Since long, citric acid is used for such chemical procedures.
Many businesses and industries like Qualitetch etc. use Mecanizado fotoquimico for creating images of their choice on the metal parts by using automated drawing and designing software like CAD etc. The team of their technicians uses this process for cutting a number of images of the desired design on a surface in rows and columns. They use a computer to transfer the images to the layer of photosensitive film on the cleaned, washed and dried sheets of metal suggested by their customers.
However, in this process, the technicians will sandwich the metal sheet between the two layers of photosensitive film. It makes Mecanizado fotoquimico different from etching or engraving as in them only one side of the metal sheet is covered with a layer of photo-sensitive solution. While laminating the metal sheet from both sides the technicians will use the method of wet or dry roller immersion. In order to ensure proper alignment of photosensitive film and a metal sheet of identical sizes, they will use cameras.
In this method, when they use the dry immersion method then the metal sheet is passed through a roller by inserting it into two pieces of photosensitive film in a pollution-free environment after eliminating air bubbles from between them. While using the wet immersion method the metal sheet is immersed in a photo-sensitive liquid to coat a film on it and the sheet is then baked in the oven to make the coating hard. The rolled metal sheet is then exposed to ultraviolet light of high intensity to complete the process of photochemical etching or Mecanizado fotoquimico.
After exposing the rolled metal sheet to UV light the technicians of Qualitetch will expose it to a developing solution to remove the undeveloped portions of the design. Te rolled metal is then entered into a chamber containing a number of spray nozzles around the conveyor belt through which it is inserted. hot acid is sprayed on the metal sheet from all sides to get the desired design etched on it. The uncoated portion of the metal sheet is dissolved by the acid to provide a high quality and precision design without leaving rough edges on them. The remaining lamination is then removed by exposing it to a pickling solution and washing it with water. The metal sheets are then rinsed and dried with hot air. Before supplying to their customers all the products have to undergo final inspection by using microscopes.
Thus by using the method of Mecanizado fotoquimico the technicians of Qualitetch can create, an image drawn and recorded by using CAD software, on the metal sheet