Etching

Laser etching, also called laser engraving or laser marking, is used to create a visible mark on the surface of many substrates, including metal, plastic, stone and glass. The process involves the use of a high-heat laser to modify the surface of the substrate.Electrolytic etching has the same goal as laser etching: to create an aesthetic mark on an object. However, this type of etching can only be done on metal.The first step in chemical etching is to laminate a sheet of metal, or the substrate, with a layer of light-sensitive resist. Once the photoresist is exposed to UV light and a positive image of the product is produced, the masked sheet is exposed to an etching solution. Unmasked areas of the sheet are removed by the etchant, and the masked areas stay protected, creating a part. The photoresist is removed from the finished part, or sheet of parts.