Enabling New Technologies Through Metal Etching Applications
508-478-2025
pei@photofabrication.com

Division Specialties –
- - Precision Metal Parts
    - Photochemical Machining at PEI is a process for the selective removal of a material by chemical action, and is a machining process recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
      
      Advantages of photochemical etching:
      
      Rapid Prototyping
      
      No Burrs
      
      No Stresses
      
      No Effect on Magnetic Properties
      
      No Deformation
      
      No Tool Wear
      
      Precise Control of the “Z” (depth) Dimension
      
      Why you should use photochemical etching:
      
      Reduced Set-Up Costs (only cost is a phototool)
      
      Rapid Turnaround (ideal for prototyping new projects)
      
      Learn More
  - Titanium Parts
    - PEI was one of the first manufacturers to etch pure titanium. Light-weight, strong parts that are resistant to corrosion and high temperature. Titanium’s smooth surface also limits adhesion of foreign materials, reducing contamination from extraneous sources.
      
      Industries using Titanium Parts:
      
      Medical
      
      Aerospace
      
      Military
      
      Commercial
      
      Examples of Titanium Parts:
      
      Pacemakers
      
      Oxygen Generators
      
      Hydrogen Generators
      
      Reconstructive Surgeries
      
      Hydrogen Fuel Cells
      
      Learn More
  - Microelectronic Parts
    - PEI is a global leader in the supply of photochemically etched metal parts to the microelectronics industry. Examples of these parts are etched Step Lids, Flat Lids, Lid with Getters, Lead Frames (semiconductor/glass-to-metal seals), etched carriers, carriers with solder dams, circuit stators amongst various other metal products.
      
      Step Lids and Flat Lids
      
      Establishing an entire department dedicated to the production of custom and standard Step Lids & Flat Lids for seam-weldable microelectronic packages, including lids with getters for hydrogen and moisture absorption.
      
      Photo Etched Metal Parts for Microelectronics
      
      Custom and standard metal parts to the microelectronics industry, including lead frames, Kovar and molybdenum tabs, and chip carriers.
      
      Learn More
  - EMI/RF Shielding
    - PEI’s EMI Shielding & RF Shielding line further extends our penetration into the electronics market. PEI offers an inexpensive solution to your shielding needs. We can create a custom shield that is designed to protect components from radio frequency/electromagnetic interference and environmental hazards, and provide electrical grounding.
      
      Shielding options include:
      
      One-piece Designs
      
      Two-piece Design (Cover & Fence)
      
      Base materials include:
      
      Brass
      
      Tin
      
      Tin-lead
      
      Nickel
      
      Nickel/Silver
      
      Copper
      
      Cold-rolled steel
      
      Learn More
  - Decorative Etching
    - Whether you’re an artist looking to have a concept chemically etched, a board member for a non-profit who would like to have a design concept transformed into a commemorative / ornament, or a savvy salesperson looking to etch an impression with a snazzy business card, our team of designers will help you unlock your creative potential with our unique services!
      
      Start Your Design:
      
      Design Toolbox
      
      Getting Started FAQ's
      
      Artwork Design Guidelines
      
      Standard base materials include:
      
      Ornaments & Commemoratives
      
      Jewelry and Findings
      
      Model Parts
      
      Direct Mail Spinners
      
      Out Of The Ordinary
      
      Learn More
Industries Served –
- - Automotive –
    - Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) began etching pure titanium to create anodes and cathodes for the domestic and international fuel cell markets. Since then, PEI has become the leading expert in titanium etching and the etching of other exotic materials for a broad variety of automotive applications, including anodes and cathodes for batteries, fuel cell plates, electrical contacts, EMI & RF shielding, optical encoders for automotive manufacturing equipment, and fuel injector components.
      
      Etched metal parts and products:
      
      Anodes and Cathodes
      
      Fuel Cell Plates
      
      Electrical Contacts
      
      EMI and RF Shielding
      
      Optical Encoders
      
      Our photochemical etching machines were developed specifically to meet the demanding requirements of exotic metal etching. They are 30 in. (762 mm) wide, and all of them are two- or four-chambered for high production quantities.
      Learn More
  - Energy
    - Photoetched Metal Parts for Fuel Cells
      
      PEI produces photochemically-etched fuel cell plates in a wide variety of metals, including stainless steel, pure titanium, and other non-corrosive metals, for the solar and energy generation markets. Our photochemical machining process allows very large, very thin single- or double-sided plates to be etched without incurring the stresses typical of other machining methods.
      
      Photoetched Metal Parts for Solar Energy
      
      Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) etches pure titanium to create anodes and cathodes for the fuel cell industry. As the leading expert in etching exotic materials and titanium for a broad variety of solar and energy generation applications (including fuel cells, batteries, and nuclear and desalination systems), PEI’s unique capabilities allow us to etch metals to multiple depths without the resist failures common to this etching process.
      Learn More
  - Medical
    - For over 20 years, PEI has been manufacturing intricate, burr-free and stress-free etched metal parts from both standard and exotic non-corrosive metals. We can etch an extremely broad range of metals, from aluminum to zirconium, including zircaloid/zirconium alloys and beryllium copper.
      
      Medical Product Applications
      
      Medical Apparatus
      
      Medical Implants
      
      Medical Parts:
      
      Medical Implantables
      
      Hearing Aid Components
      
      Electrical Contacts
      
      Thermal Planes/Heat Sinks
      
      EMI/RF Shielding
      
      Filters & Screens
      
      Optical Encoder Discs
      
      Learn More
  - Microelectronics
    - Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) is a global leader in the supply of photochemically-etched (or milled) precision parts to the consumer electronics industry because we can help reduce product weight and cost. From fan screens to electrical contacts, as well as covers to seal electronic devices, PEI is the etcher of choice for precision machining of all metal parts from 0.0005 in. (0,0127mm) to 0.1250 in. (3.175mm) thick.
      
      Microwave Applications
      
      Products supplied to the Microwave industry include microwave circuits, electrical contacts, EMI Shielding & RF Shielding, Step Lids & Flat Lids, and a myriad of precision etched metal components including gaskets, face plates, and screens.
      
      Telecommunications
      
      We provide RFI Shielding & EMI Shielding, Step Lids & Flat Lids, custom etched gaskets, face plates, screens and other components.
      
      Learn More
  - Military/Aerospace
    - Photofabrication Engineering (PEI) has been awarded certification under AS9100, quality standards established by the aircraft and aerospace industry. Achieving this award in recognition of high quality levels in “photochemical machining and assembly of precision and decorative metal parts” signifies that PEI is among the top companies providing photochemically-etched metal parts and components for the aerospace and defense industries. In addition, the company’s manufacturing process has achieved ISO-9002:2008 certification.
      
      Aerospace/Defense Products:
      
      Electrical Contacts
      
      Microwave Circuit Stators
      
      Heat Sinks & Carrier Plates
      
      Lead Frames
      
      Stabilization Shims
      
      Optical Reticals
      
      Weapon Range Gauges
      
      EMI Shielding & RF Shielding
      
      Step Lids & Flat Lids
      
      Learn More
Gallery
- - Automotive
    - Automotive Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Stainless Steel Filter Screen in Strips VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Top Surface) VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Bottom Surface) VIEW Stainless Steel Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Stainless Steel Automotive Fuel Filter VIEW Kovar Selectively Gold Plated Lead Frame VIEW Stainless Steel Encoder Wheel VIEW Brass Etched Precision Part VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Copper Lead Frame Formed VIEW
  - EMI/RF Shielding
    - EMI/RF Shielding Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Shield Formed with CDE Bend Lines VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield (Flat) VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield VIEW Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Through Hole Shield (2) VIEW Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Through Hole Shield (1) VIEW Custom Formed Etched Precision Part VIEW Brass Tin Plated EMI-RFI Surface Mounted Shield VIEW BeCu Silver Plated Formed Heat Treated Contact Strip VIEW Nickel Sliver EMI-RFI Flat Shield VIEW Nickel Silver Electronic Shield Cover with Etched Graphics VIEW
  - Energy
    - Energy Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (2) VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (1) VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Top Surface) VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Bottom Surface) VIEW Stainless Steel Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Stainless Steel Precision Channel Plate VIEW Titanium Etched Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Custom Copper Heater Coil VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Cathode VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate VIEW
  - Medical
    - Medical Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Titanium Purple Anodized Surgical Mesh VIEW 201 Nickel Anode Mesh VIEW Titanium Etched Maxillofacial Mesh for Jaw Reconstruction VIEW Stainless Steel Vascular Surgical Blades VIEW Stainless Steel Medical Measuring Tool VIEW Titanium Surgical Mesh Herring Bone Configuration VIEW Titanium Green Anodized Surgical Mesh VIEW Titanium Surgical Mesh VIEW Titanium Mesh for Joint Replacement VIEW Titanium Cranial Mesh VIEW
  - Microelectronics
    - Microelectronics Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Shield Formed with CDE Bend Lines VIEW Copper Encoder Disc VIEW Etched Black Oxide Coated Stainless Steel Screen VIEW Stainless Steel Filter Screen in Strips VIEW Molybdenum Electron Gun Grid VIEW Copper Light Chopper VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (2) VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (1) VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield (Flat) VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield VIEW
  - Military/Aerospace
    - Military / Aerospace Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Shield Formed with CDE Bend Lines VIEW Copper Encoder Disc VIEW Etched Black Oxide Coated Stainless Steel Screen VIEW Stainless Steel Filter Screen in Strips VIEW Molybdenum Electron Gun Grid VIEW Copper Light Chopper VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (2) VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (1) VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield (Flat) VIEW Nickel Silver Surface Mount RFI-EMI Shield VIEW
  - Precision Metal
    - Precision Metal Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Titanium Purple Anodized Surgical Mesh VIEW Nickel Silver EMI-RFI Shield Formed with CDE Bend Lines VIEW Copper Encoder Disc VIEW Etched Black Oxide Coated Stainless Steel Screen VIEW Stainless Steel Filter Screen in Strips VIEW Molybdenum Electron Gun Grid VIEW Copper Light Chopper VIEW 316 Stainless Steel Precision Part VIEW 201 Nickel Anode Mesh VIEW Stainless Steel Micro Channel Plate (2) VIEW
  - Titanium
    - Titanium Gallery
      View Gallery
      
      Titanium Purple Anodized Surgical Mesh VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Top Surface) VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate (Bottom Surface) VIEW Titanium Etched Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Titanium Etched Maxillofacial Mesh for Jaw Reconstruction VIEW Titanium Surgical Mesh Herring Bone Configuration VIEW Titanium Green Anodized Surgical Mesh VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Cathode VIEW Titanium Fuel Cell Plate VIEW Titanium Surgical Mesh VIEW
  - Watch Our Videos –
    - Video Gallery
      View Video Showcase
Explore –
- - Etching Process –
    - The Photochemical Machining Process
      
      The photochemical machining (PCM) process consists of several important steps. Each step is a critical prerequisite to the next. Although companies that produce parts using the PCM process have unique and sometimes proprietary methods to achieve the final goal, the basic operations are similar.
      
      Photo-Chemical Machining Process
      Videos:
      
      Photo-tool Design
      
      Material Prep/Cleaning
      
      Coating
      
      Printing/Imaging
      
      Developing
      
      Etching
      
      Stripping
      
      Inspection, Packaging & Shipping
      
      Learn More
  - Quality / Certifications
    - ISO9001:2015
      
      The ISO:9001:2015 standard is an internationally recognized management system standard developed by the International Organization for Standards. It was established for all companies and organizations, and is recognized worldwide. Compliance with this standard indicates that a company has met the stringent audit requirements of a third-party ISO authorized registrar.
      
      AS9100:2016
      
      PEI has been awarded certification under AS9100:2016, quality standards established by the aircraft and aerospace industry. These high global quality standards were published by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) in cooperation with the AAQG and with input from ANAB and IAAR (the Independent Association of Accredited Registrars). PEI can now be found on OASIS – the On-line Aerospace Supplier Information System – and is subject to continual audits by the NQA, with the results of these audits reported on OASIS.
      
      Quality Policy Learn More
  - Document Center –
    - PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys
      
      When designing or specifying photo-etched / chemically machined parts, there are certain guidelines which will help expedite your project. In the sections that follow, data is given for a variety of metal thicknesses. This data is generally applicable to the equipment, processes, metals and configurations. They do not however, define the ultimate capabilities of photochemical machining.
      
      PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Titanium
      
      When designing or specifying for photo-etched or chemically machined titanium parts, there are a few guideline adjustments required. These modifications become more dramatic as the part thickness requirement increases. PEI offers this Design Guideline addendum as a general instruction to help our customers produce prints which take the titanium etching process modifications into consideration.
      
      Learn More
  - About Us –
    - A State-of-the-Art PCM Facility
      
      PEI broke ground in 1983 in Milford, Massachusetts’s Granite Park. Once the facility was completed in 1984, design and manufacturing equipment was installed; a four-stage metal hydroxide precipitation process area for waste treatment was built; and the corporate, sales, and marketing offices were relocated to Milford.
      
      Industry Expansion in 2010
      
      Today Chip Lehrer, President of PEI, continues the expansion of PEI’s Precision Products Division by manufacturing mission critical parts for most technology-driven industries. The company etches almost all metals, including Stainless Steel, Copper, Brass, Kovar, Sterling Silver, Beryllium Copper, Nickel Silver, Titanium, Zirconium and other standard and specialty metals and alloys. PEI is also the industry leader in Titanium etching for a wide variety of applications, including medical implants and fuel cells.
      
      Learn More
  - News & Events –
Contact Us –
- Contact Us
  500 Fortune Blvd., Milford, MA 01757 U.S.A
  
  1.508.478.2025
  
  1.800.253.8518
  
  pei@photofabrication.com
Request for Quote –

Precision Etching
Decorative Etching

Precision Etching
Decorative Etching

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Design Guides:

PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys

PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys

PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Titanium

PEI Design Guidelines for the Photochemical Machining of Titanium

Certifications:

thumbnail of ISO 9001-2015 & AS9100-2016 Certificate (10746_04.28.21)

ISO 9001:2015 & AS9100:2016 Certificate (10746_04.28.21)

Additional Resources:

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PEI Strengths and Advantages

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Precision Parts Flyer

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PEI’s We’ve Got You Covered brochure for lids & Covers

PEI Plating Reference Guide

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PEI – Conflict Minerals Reporting Template

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