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.
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.
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.
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.
Custom and standard metal parts to the microelectronics industry, including lead frames, Kovar and molybdenum tabs, and chip carriers.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We provide RFI Shielding & EMI Shielding, Step Lids & Flat Lids, custom etched gaskets, face plates, screens and other components.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1.508.478.2025
1.800.253.8518
pei@photofabrication.com
