 1. Design Advice
Our specialists will advice you on the most cost-effective design of the prototype. We accept all major formats of your drawings Our specialists will advice you on the most cost-effective design of the prototype. We accept all major formats of your drawings
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 2. Phototool Design
After we receive the drawing from the customer, we can design the phototool. This process includes allowing for the milling compensation and to fit as many components as possible onto the film. This is then high speed laser plotted to create the phototool. Two tools are prepared; one for each side of the metal, which allows milling from both sides. Variances between the two tools can facilitate the ‘half-milling’ from one side.
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 3. Metal Selection
We stock the most commonly used metals. We carefully review the component usage to ensure that the correct metal has been selected both from a performance and cost perspective.
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 4. Metal Preparation
We cut the required sheet sizes. If required we even the sheets so that they are perfectly flat. After that metal sheets are thoroughly cleaned to remove all dirt, rust, greases and oils. This preparation is crucial for obtaining good adhesion to the photosensitive resist at the next stage.
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 5. Resist Lamination
UV light-sensitive polymers, also known as photosensitive resists, are applied to the metal sheets. These resists, in the form of a dry film resist, are applied to both sides of the metal sheets by hot roller lamination
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 6. Printing
At this state, the phototool carrying the component image is laid over both sides of the coated with the photosensitive resist metal. The coated metal is exposed to UV light through the phototool to transfer the image onto the metal coating. It works almost like picture printing from a negative.
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 7. Developing
At this state, the phototool carrying the component image is laid over both sides of the coated with the photosensitive resist metal. The coated metal is exposed to UV light through the phototool to transfer the image onto the metal coating. It works almost like picture printing from a negative.
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 8. Photo-Chemical Milling
This is the most crucial and interesting stage. The prepared metal sheets are passed through the milling machine to remove the exposed metal. The sheets that come out of the machine have only the required parts assembled into sheets holding them.
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 9. Stripping and Cleaning
The final stage is to remove the resist from the milled sheets and to clean the metal surface. This is done by applying designated chemicals and then washing away all the leftovers from the metal surface.
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 10. Post-Milling Services
In many occasions parts require more than just milling. We do Nickel, Tin, Gold, and Copper plating. We can do selective plating when only a portion of a part has to be plated. We also specialize in heat-treating. All these processes are done in-house. For more information please refer to Services
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 11. Quality Assurance
We monitor the quality of the parts during and after each stage of the process, but at this stage the final parts are inspected for required tolerances using state-of-the-art equipment.
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 12. Packing and Shipping
Whenever possible, the finished products are kept in sheets for easier and more secure transportation and shipped by the proffered by the customer method. Local customers can expect parts within hours of production. Otherwise, customers get their parts the same day.
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