Bertho,
I will certainly try using lye on AL. Thanks!
My goal here is to "find stuff out" and hopefully figure out a new way to
make graduated dials for hobby machine tools. I know what contact printing
can do with circuit boards and it is impressive. So I don't think accuracy
will be a problem. If I can get clean, relatively deep features, then I will
be happy. I will then fill the recesses with a contrasting material like
nail polish.
I already wrapped artwork around cylinders as I did on my homemade metal
shaper:
http://rick.sparber.org/Articles/CD/CDM/d.pdfIt works fine but did take a lot of parts to do it. Much better to etch into
the metal.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Boman33
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 3:16 PM
To:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.comSubject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: etching the OD of a cylinder to create a
graduated dial
Rick,
You can also try etching aluminum using lye.
I understand you desire to try new and different procedures but at the same
time what are your goals and tradeoffs? To me, the accuracy of a functional
(not decorative) scale is the most important requirement, then readability,
and I guess finally appearance.
Wrapping an artwork around a cylinder looks to me as an instant tradeoff in
accuracy.
Also to make initial testing easier, try your etching procedures on a piece
of flat metal and then afterwards progress to the cylinder.
Good luck and keep us up-to-date.
Bertho