Chemical Etching Nickel is a core capability at VT machining. We combine controlled etching with material-aware setup for Nickel — an alloy that is corrosion resistant; etched for meshes and EMI parts — to produce parts that meet your specification first time.
Chemical Etching Capability for Nickel
- Foil thickness 0.02–1.0 mm
- Minimum feature ≈ 0.8 × metal thickness
- Burr-free, stress-free edges
- Tooling-free: revise artwork digitally
Nickel Material Data
| Density | 8.89 g/cm³ |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 460 MPa |
| Yield strength (0.2%) | 148 MPa |
| Hardness | 110 HB |
| Melting point | 1435–1446 °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 70 W/m·K |
| Thermal expansion | 13.3 ×10⁻⁶/K |
| Electrical conductivity | 23% |
| Machinability (C36000 = 100%) | 30% |
| Grades we run | Nickel 200, Nickel 201, Alloy 400, Alloy 600 |
Published typical values for Nickel 200. Other grades in the family differ — the certificate supplied with your order carries the actual heat-lot figures.
Gummy and work-hardening at once. Sharp tools, positive rake, and a deliberate depth of cut that stays under the hardened skin from the previous pass.
How Chemical Etching Nickel Works
A photo-resist patterned from your artwork masks the Nickel, and an etchant dissolves the exposed metal evenly from both sides. Because there is no mechanical force, the part stays flat and stress-free.
Every job begins from your CAD model or 2D drawing. Fixturing and tool paths are planned so the most critical dimensions are produced in the most rigid, repeatable setup. Critical dimensions are checked on the first part and monitored through the run.
Achievable Tolerances for Chemical Etching Nickel
| Feature | Standard | Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Feature dimension | ±0.05 mm | ±0.02 mm |
| Minimum feature width | 1.0 × thickness | 0.8 × thickness |
| Foil thickness range | 0.02–1.0 mm | 0.05–0.5 mm |
| Edge condition | burr-free | burr-free, no HAZ |
| Flatness of etched part | 0.1 mm over 100 mm | 0.05 mm over 100 mm |
| Half-etch depth control | ±20% of depth | ±10% of depth |
| Tab / breakout size | 0.5 mm | 0.3 mm |
Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.
Chemical Etching Tolerances & Surface Finish
Etched Nickel holds tight, repeatable feature tolerances on thin gauge, with a minimum feature size around 0.8× the metal thickness and completely burr-free edges.
Final tolerances are governed by the material's behaviour, wall thickness and overall stiffness. We give honest DFM feedback if a callout would be costly or better achieved another way.
Secondary Operations & Finishing
We complete Nickel components with the secondary steps your drawing calls for. We arrange heat treatment, surface treatment, marking and assembly as needed. Tell us the final spec and we will plan the full route so parts arrive ready to use.
Chemical Etching Quality & Inspection
Consistent quality comes from disciplined process control. Critical dimensions on Nickel parts are checked in-process and verified at final inspection using calibrated instruments and, where required, CMM measurement. Full documentation — dimensional reports, mill certs, FAIR — is available when your programme needs it.
Design Tips for Chemical Etching Nickel
A few design choices make a real difference to cost and quality. Designing features no finer than ~0.8× foil thickness and allowing tab placement gives the best yield on etched Nickel. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.
Working with Nickel
Nickel offers a useful combination of properties: it is corrosion resistant; etched for meshes and EMI parts. Those characteristics shape how we approach chemical etching — from tool and parameter selection to work-holding and coolant.
If your application is sensitive to alloy condition, we agree the specification in writing and document it. Stock is sourced from reputable suppliers so what you order is what you receive.
Applications of Chemical Etching Nickel
Chemical Etching of Nickel supports parts across aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, semiconductor, energy and general industrial sectors. We scale from one-off prototypes to ongoing production while holding the same quality.
How to Order Chemical Etching Nickel
Ordering Nickel parts is straightforward. Provide the drawing, material, quantity and any certification needs. Our engineers reply — in English — with feasibility, pricing and a realistic lead time, usually within one business day.
Parts We Have Run in Nickel
Three representative Chemical Etching Nickel jobs, with the callouts that actually drove the process plan. Yours will differ — these are here so you can judge whether your part is in our range before you spend time on an RFQ.
Surgical mesh
- Material
- Nickel
- Size
- 50 × 25 × 0.2 mm
- Key callouts
- Feature 0.16 mm, edges burr- and stress-free
- Batch
- 2,000 pcs
Passivated after etching; a burr here is a patient-safety issue, not a cosmetic one.
EMI shielding mesh
- Material
- Nickel
- Size
- 120 × 80 × 0.1 mm
- Key callouts
- Aperture 0.20 ±0.02 mm, 55% open area
- Batch
- 8,000 pcs
Etched from both sides at once so the aperture wall stays symmetrical.
Lead frame
- Material
- Nickel
- Size
- 60 × 30 × 0.15 mm
- Key callouts
- Track width 0.15 ±0.02 mm, burr-free
- Batch
- 40,000 pcs
No mechanical force means no distortion — the frame is flat straight out of the etch line.
Finishing Options for Nickel
| Finish | Thickness / effect | Why it gets specified |
|---|---|---|
| Deburr / edge break | 0.05–0.3 mm | All parts unless the drawing says otherwise |
| Bead blast | Ra 1.6–3.2 µm | Uniform matt finish, hides tool marks |
| Laser marking | — | Part number, lot code, data matrix |
No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.
Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.
What We Need to Quote Chemical Etching Nickel
- GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
- MaterialThe exact Nickel grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
- QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
- TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
- FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
- DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.
Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.
Other Metals for Chemical Etching
Send the drawing, the Nickel grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.
Request a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Can VT machining make custom Nickel parts to my drawing?
Yes. Nickel Nickel etching is made to order from your CAD/2D drawing. Share your geometry, material grade, tolerance and quantity and we will confirm feasibility, lead time and pricing.
What is Chemical Etching Nickel and how is it done?
Chemical Etching Nickel refers to photochemical etching uses a patterned resist and etchant to dissolve metal precisely, with no mechanical force, burrs or induced stress. Applied to Nickel — corrosion resistant; etched for meshes and EMI parts — VT machining produces each part to your CAD drawing, selecting parameters from your tolerance, finish and quantity requirements.
What is the finest feature you can etch in Nickel?
As a guide, the minimum reliable feature size is roughly 0.8 × the metal thickness, so thinner Nickel foil yields finer apertures and detail — all produced burr-free and stress-free.
What material thickness or size range suits Chemical Etching Nickel?
Etching suits Nickel foil roughly 0.02–1.0 mm thick — the thinner the foil, the finer the achievable detail.
How clean are the edges produced by Chemical Etching on Nickel?
Chemical etching removes Nickel without mechanical force, so edges are completely burr-free and stress-free — no secondary deburring needed.
Which industries use Chemical Etching Nickel parts?
Chemical Etching Nickel parts are used across aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, semiconductor and general industrial sectors — anywhere precise Nickel components are required.