Utilizing Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The process of photochemical metal etching begins with the creation of a design using CAD or Adobe Illustrator. Although the design is the first step in the process, it is not the end of computer calculations. Once the rendering is finished, the thickness of the metal is determined as well as the number of pieces that will fit on a sheet, a necessary factor for lowering the cost of production. A second aspect of the thickness of the sheet is a determination of part tolerances, which hinge on the part dimensions.

The process of photochemical metal etching starts with creating a design using CAD or Adobe Illustrator. However, this is not the only computer calculation involved. After completing the design, the thickness of the metal is determined, as well as the number of pieces that can fit on a sheet to reduce production costs. Additionally, the part tolerances depend on the part dimensions, which also factor into the thickness of the sheet.