Copper & Copper Alloys
Copper Etching
Copper is an excellent electrical and thermal conductor making it suitable for many applications such as microwave device components, busbars and washers. It is soft and ductile making it easy to etch, machine and form. This makes it an excellent choice for very small microelectronics parts and formed parts such as RFI shielding, lead frames, grounding clips and contacts.
Beryllium copper (BeCu) has a small amount of beryllium (<3%) added to copper to improve its strength, hardness and durability. It is the strongest of all copper alloys and is an excellent material for wave springs, washers, formed leadframes, RF shielding and for other applications subject to repeated mechanical forces.
Elcon photochemically etches high precision components from copper and copper alloys, including OFC, BeCu, brass, and bronze. We also plate these same materials with nickel, gold or silver to help improve electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and to prepare for brazing or soldering. We etch up to 0.025″ thick sheets that range up to 22” X 12”, with tolerances of ±.0005” achieveable in many applications. Thicker sheets up to 2mm can be used for fabrication by using a combination of high-speed CNC machining and photoetching.
Copper Capabilities & Benefits
- Etching up to 0.025″-thick sheets ranging up to 22×12 inches
- Fabrication of thicker sheets up to 2mm
- Tolerances of ±.0005 inches in many applications
Copper & Copper Alloy Applications
- Microelectronics
- Carriers and ribs
- RF/EMI shielding
- Leadframes
- Grounding clips
- Microwave device components
- Washers
- Conductors
- Wave springs and washers
- Electronic circuits
- Heat sinks
