What is Acid Etching?
Acid etching is defined as the process of cutting a hard surface, such as a metal, by using a specially formulated acid for etching (etchant) in order to create a design onto the metal. Industrial metal etching is a manufacturing method for metals that uses acid baths to subtract material and create the desired shape. Typically, the industrial metal etching process involves five steps:
- Cleaning
- Masking
- Scribing
- Etching
- Demasking
Industrial metal etching is used in industries such as aerospace for manufacturing complex components. It is used when mechanical machining is not an option and the metal removal and finish have to be uniform.
There are two processes commonly used:
- Aluminium Etch: process by which a layer of the surface is removed, prior to penetrant inspection. Aluminium etching enhances the identification of surface defects before processing the component.
- Titanium Etching: This process is widely used in the aerospace industry. Titanium is commonly etched during the manufacturing process or prior to non-destructive testing using a variety of different acids.
The typical chemical process that are applied to etching plants are: alkaline cleaning, acid etching, chemical milling, descaling, and desmutting. The typical chemicals that are applied are: sulphuric acid, nitric, acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and fluorosilicic acid. The typical components processed in etching plants are nickel-based, steel alloy, and titanium components. Typical parts include blades, fan discs, compressors, turbine discs, and other parts.
Etching provides several different benefits:
- Removes ground in impurities
- Smooth out surface imperfections such as extrusion lines and mild scratches
- Removes ground in oxide and scale
- Produces a uniform smooth surface
- Changes the natural brightness to a dull matte finish
- Low cost tooling
- Quick turnaround times
- No “heat affected zone”
For our surface finishing lines we have in stock, check out the available machines below that could be suitable for acid etching.
HydraPower Dynamics Pre-Treatment Plant
13 Stage, Fully Automatic, Straight Line, Pre-treatment Line with 200kg SWL Transporter and in-line drying oven. Upgraded Siemens 7 Control configured for Qualicoat quality standards.
- Stock No
- BMF500
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- HydraPower Dynamics Rack Type Immersion Treatments Line
- Year of Manufacture
- Ref. 2018
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 3000 x 750 x 1750
- Process Stages
- 11 Station + Load & unload
- Other Info
- All wetted stages - Stainless Steel
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
- Direct Site Clearance Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Buyer's Premium [?]
- 10% BP will be added to your invoice
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Automated Immersion Pre-Treatment Plant
PMD (UK) Manual Multistage Pretreatment Cleaning Line
Originating from a specialist research and development facility, this 8 stage multistage pre-treatment cleaning line has been configured to deliver controlled, repeatable processing within a compact and professionally engineered layout.
- Stock No
- EXC100
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- PMD (UK) REF: PC1092
- Year of Manufacture
- 2001
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 600mm x 500mm x 1000mm
- Process Stages
- 8 Stations
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Newry, Northern Ireland, UK
- Direct Site Clearance Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Clearance ends
- 12 August 2026 00:00 GMT while stocks last
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Modular Plating & Process Lines Clearance
PMD (UK) Manual Composite Plating Line
Originally developed for research & development, this 7 stage, composite plating line delivers a refined and highly adaptable solution for specialist coating applications.
- Stock No
- EXC200
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- PMD (UK) REF: PC1092
- Year of Manufacture
- 2001
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 600mm x 500mm x 1000mm
- Process Stages
- 7 Stations
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Newry, Northern Ireland, UK
- Direct Site Clearance Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Clearance ends
- 12 August 2026 00:00 GMT while stocks last
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Modular Plating & Process Lines Clearance
PMD (UK) Manual Nickel & Alloy Plating Line
A 8 stage nickel & alloy plating line designed for precision performance, safety and flexibility, it is ideal for research, development and specialist production environments.
- Stock No
- EXC300
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- PMD (UK) REF: PC1092
- Year of Manufacture
- 2001
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 500mm x 600mm x 1000mm
- Process Stages
- 8 Tanks
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Newry, Northern Ireland, UK
- Direct Site Clearance Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Clearance ends
- 12 August 2026 00:00 GMT while stocks last
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Modular Plating & Process Lines Clearance
PMD (UK) Manual Acid Plating & Anodising Line
Designed and built within a specialist R&D facility, this 8 station manual acid plating and anodising line offers a flexible, high quality solution for precision surface treatment applications.
- Stock No
- EXC500
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- PMD (UK) REF : PC1092
- Year of Manufacture
- 2001
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 600mm x 500mm x 1000mm
- Process Stages
- 8 Tanks
- Condition
- From a working environment, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Newry, Northern Ireland, UK
- Direct Site Clearance Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Modular Plating & Process Lines Clearance
Jacquet Weston Engineering Packaged Demineralisation Water Treatment Plant
Manually operated, the de-mineralisation unit produces up to 200 l/h when connected to a 1,000 litre holding tank. At the estimated hourly production of 45 l/h demineralised water the unit will need regenerating every 75-80 hours.
- Stock No
- MA748
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- Jacquet Weston Engineering Ion Exchange Plant
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Brake / Storage Tank Ø900 x 1500
- Process Stages
- Single Stage
- Other Info
- Producing up to 200 litres/hour
- Condition
- From a working environment, Good Condition
- Sold As Seen Price [?]
- £ Login or Register for price.
Balco Engineering Ltd Manual Electropolish Line
An ideal opportunity to acquire a manual electropolishing line installed by Balco Engineering in 2013 and subject to an upgrade by them in 2016. The line previously utilised in the production of medical implants.
- Stock No
- TE367
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- Balco Engineering Ltd Manual Electropolish
- Year of Manufacture
- 2013
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 200/320/360/390 x 500 x 500
- Process Stages
- 6
- Other Info
- Wall mounted control cabinet containing
- Condition
- From a working environment, Seen working by RSW, Good Condition
Balco Engineering Ltd Automatic Electropolish Line
An ideal opportunity to acquire an automatic electropolishing line, installed by Balco Engineering Limited in 2016 utilised in the production of medical implants. The plant is fully operational and can currently be viewed working by prospective buyers.
- Stock No
- TE368
- Category
- Electroplating & treatment lines
- Model
- Balco Engineering Ltd Automatic Electropolish
- Year of Manufacture
- 2016
- Work Envelope (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 260/360 x 500 x 650
- Process Stages
- 6
- Other Info
- Full Line Is Now At Riley Surface World.
- Condition
- From a working environment, Seen working by RSW, Good Condition
Machines & equipment for sale
- Surface Treatment
- Cleaning & Degreasing
- Polishing & Belt Linishing
- Mass Finishing
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- Process Cooling
- Shot Blasting
- Dust & Fume Extraction
- Air Compressors
- Rectifiers & Transformers
- Miscellaneous
- Latest Stock
- Special Offers
- Direct From Site Clearances
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- Available Immediately
- Sell Your Machine
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