Precision Micro, a specialist photochemical machining (PCM) company, has installed a Paragon 9000 laser direct imaging (LDI) system from Orbotech in its quest for continuous process improvement.
PCM is the process of manufacturing sheet metal components using a photo resist and etchant to selectively remove the unwanted material. PCM can accurately produce highly complex parts, with very fine detail and can provide an economical and technically superior alternative to stamping, punching, laser or water jet cutting, or wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) for thin gauge precision parts.
'Next generation' LDI is used extensively in the manufacture of minute advanced electronic components. LDI is said to have already provided great benefit to customers, allowing them to develop designs that were previously prohibitive on either technical or economic grounds. The new LDI system is reported to have created an increase in demand for tight tolerance components, as a result of the machine’s ability to image ultra fine, 15-micron features. Its CCD cameras and image recognition system also provide exceptionally precise front to back feature alignment.
