Custom Photoetching?

[PATMAT]

I've done a little P/E making on my own... and find that my ability to make crisp high density blacks on my transparencies is limited, which really hurts part quality and my ability to make the finer details... also, not sure I want to invest in the processing equipment to do fast and efficient etching.

So, anyone have ACTUAL experience with, and recommendations for any custom PE suppliers?

[EJFoeth]

http://www.etchworks.eu/

Turnaround sometimes as little as one week from sending in an order to receiving the parts. Good quality for very small work, images : here

[PATMAT]

Thanks! I even have some contacts in Brno, perfect!

[Jon]

I've had far better success with glossy photo paper than transparencies. It's much different process. After you iron on the glossy photo paper to your brass, you have to water soak the paper and rub off all the paper just leaving the ink. I found a lot more ink transfers to the brass in this process. The ink was much harder to remove which is a good thing. Photo paper is cheaper than transparencies where I live.

Critical for crisp image is a true vector based program in conjunction with a laser printer.
For software, I use Corel Draw.

[PATMAT]

OK, I took EJFoeth's advice and used Hauler in CZ (http://www.etchworks.eu/).

So with about 1 month elapsed (not so bad really), I have my custom PE fret in hand. Only real issue- I had the privilege of paying for a bad fret as well as the good revised design... well, that's just to be expected in "product development", it was my design after all!

The issue was that the design is defined by an outline, and on whatever print device is used, the line has thickness. On small parts with holes close to edges, with the extra etching that occurs with thick stock (1/2 mm), and with the slight registration errors that will always happen between front and rear transparencies, you can expect some trouble! Many of the stanchions just broke in half at the holes. The fixed design widened the stanchions a wee bit, and shrunk the holes a tad. Looks like I may have to open up some holes now, but that's OK.

Now the fun starts- despruing, cleaning, and then soldering the rails. The top rail actually sits on top of the stanchion, that should be interesting.

BTW, this is for my 1:72 3D Printed CCG MSRV: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=151938

[lichmodel]

Try http://www.precisionmicro.com/6/photo-etching/