
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel also serves as an excellent alternative to aluminum due to its strength, fatigue properties, and ability to withstand high temperatures. It is especially recommended over aluminum if the application depends on material strength and/or the material’s ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions. Ferritic stainless steel can be more than 10 times stronger than aluminum, while austenitic stainless steel can be five times stronger. Stainless steel surfaces can be passivated for improved corrosion resistance if necessary and can handle conditions of up to 700°C. Aluminum components are only optimal in low-temperature applications of less than 300°C.
For these reasons, we often recommend stainless steel as a reliable alternative to aluminum. If material weight is an important factor in the success of your application, titanium may serve as a better option.

Our Capabilities
- Etching of many grades of stainless steel, including 304, 316, 420, 719, 17-4 PH, 2205, 4130, and 5510
- Combining CNC machining and photochemical etching on sheets up to 2mm thick
- Etching of up to 0.025″ thick sheets ranging up to 22×12 inches
- Tolerances of ±.0005″ in many applications

Applications
- Prototyping components
- Fine mesh screens and filters
- Sensor components
- Machine actuators
- Medical components
- Surgical blades and tools
- Springs
- Alternative for aluminum components