About

PEI utilizes a unique technology
providing precise tolerances to the aerospace, automotive, battery, electronics, fuel cell, medical apparatus and implant, and microelectronics industries among others.

PEI's Precision Products Division offers industrial designers and electrical/mechanical design engineers working for a myriad of different OEMs the opportunity to create precision parts at competitive prices. Our history of engineering excellence insures that your concept and design will be understood as our design staff offers unparalleled photo-etching expertise that adds value while lowering total project costs.

What is Photochemical Machining?

Photochemical Machining at PEI is a process for the selective removal of a material by chemical action and is a machining process recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.  Evolving from the time-tested process of photoengraving, chemical machining was first used in the production of gun sight reticles in the early 1940's.  Since then it has found broad application in such industries as aerospace, appliances, automotive, battery, fuel cell, medical, microelectronics, semiconductor and telecommunications to name but a few!

Chemical machining performs many operations similar to other traditional techniques such as "blanking" complex and precise shapes, "piercing" holes of infinite sizes and shapes, "drilling" blind holes and "milling" or "grinding" of surfaces to precise depths. The tooling used is a photographic image produced from one's electronic artwork.

What are the advantages of Photochemical Machining?

The advantages of photo chemical etching at PEI include:

• Rapid Prototyping
• No Burrs
• No Stresses
• No Effect on Magnetic Properties
• No Deformation
• No Tool Wear
• Precise Control of the "Z" (depth) Dimension

When should one use Photochemical Machining?

One should use photochemical etching when one wants:

• Reduced Set Up Costs (only cost is a photo tool)
• Rapid Turnaround (ideal for prototyping new projects)
• Avoid Secondary Operations (no need for deburring or annealing)
• Difficult to Machine Materials like Titanium
• Precision, Precision, Precision
• Repeatability, Repeatability, Repeatability

What materials can be processed by Photochemical Machining?

aluminum • beryllium copper • brass • bronze • copper • gold • kovar • magnesium • mild steel • molybdenum • nickel • nickel iron • pewter • phosphorous bronze • silver • stainless steel • tin • titanium • zinc • zirconium

Metal thickness generally ranges from 0.0005" to 0.1250".

PEI also offers finishing services such as....

• assembly
• forming
• heat treating
• plating
• polishing
• silk screening

Please click here for a PDF of PEI's Certifications for 9001:2008 and AS 9100:2009 Rev C.