Photo etch suppliers

[Dr PR]

I need a variety of photo etch parts for a couple of models I am working on. I have made some photo etch parts at home, bit I haven't been too successful with the fine detail parts.

 

I can produce the graphic images in many different formats.

 

Can anyone recommend a photo etch supplier?

[paul ron]

i wonder if you can use the stuff used to make diy electronic circuit boards? search amazon and found this...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=printed+circuit+board+etching+supplies&crid=32M7HVUEKZQ6L&sprefix=printed+circuit+board+etching+supplies%2Caps%2C102&ref=nb_sb_noss

 

 

[wefalck]

I wonder, whether there aren't any photo-etching service suppliers on your side of the pond that cater (also) for modellers? Over here in Europe we have several established in the market for years - I know one or two in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland (the latter two are price-wise quite competitve due to lower salaries).

 

I had a go at photo-etching myself a few years ago, but with mixed results. The main issues I identified was producing masks of sufficient black density with my printers and the primitive etching process in cuvettes I used. Even for the small frets I made uneven etching across the fret was a problem.

 

Our parts are quite different from PCBs, because we have parts that are to be etched through (no backing board) and we also etch in different layers (surface etching). Most home-made PCBs are also unlikely to have such fine and dense details as are required for modelling.