Laser Cut Stencils
LASER CUT STENCILS
Metal Etch Services, Inc. provides high quality stencils for use in PCB assembly. We start with the best available base materials from trusted sources in the US who adhere to our strict quality standards.
Our team of skilled in-house CAD technicians filter through your data optimizing aperture design to provide the most effective design for your specific application.
We then utilize the most modern and accurate laser equipment available, manufactured by the industry leader in stencil laser technologies. Our machines are rigorously maintained to ensure proper calibration and optimal cut quality.
All this is accomplished in a time frame that allows you to meet your deadlines.
ENHANCEMENTS
Our product is superior even in its standard form, however, there are enhancement options such as Nano Clear coating and Nickel or Fine Grain foil that you may benefit from depending on your specific application.
Unsure if you would benefit from an enhancement? Let our experts know!
MULTI-LEVEL STENCILS
More and more of today's PCB assemblies are comprised of mixed technologies. You may have large components such as connectors, DPAKs, or ground planes that require a fair deal of paste volume and height which in turn require a thick foil. Conversely, some assemblies may also have ultra-fine pitch devices and micro BGAs requiring a very thin foil. Multi-level stencils prevent you from having to choose the "Goldie Locks" thickness and allow for the optimal foil thickness across the board.
In addition to optimizing foil thickness, multi-level stencils can be utilized for providing clearance on the substrate contact side of the stencil to avoid raised areas on the PCB. They also allow for clearance of flux in a dual print scenario or to account for other topographical variances present in some assemblies.
Our multi-level stencils are fabricated using one of two methods. Our experts are always happy to assist you in choosing which method best fits your specific application needs.
Chemically Milled Multi-Level Stencils: Our chemically milled multi-level stencil process provides a fast, flexible, and budget friendly option for the majority of assemblies.
Micro-Profile Multi-Level Stencils: The micro-profile process adds additional measures of accuracy and precision for your most challenging multi-level stencil requirements. Superior accuracy, surface roughness, and a gradual transition into stepped areas are some of the benefits that have made the micro-profile process the preferred method.
STENCIL FRAMES
We stock a variety of cast and tubular frames ranging in size from 5x5 to 29x29. Custom tubular frames can be manufactured per your specifications.
We also stock many reusable frame formats such as QTS, Apshen (VectorGuard® compatible), ProFrame®, Zelflex and Anodized green frames for lead free identification.
Screens
SCREENS
Today's high technology applications such as Thick Film, LTCC, Solar, and all other micro-electronic applications demand the use of high quality screens. We use only the highest quality raw materials including Swiss made stainless steel mesh, durable epoxies, and a variety of emulsion selections to meet your exact application needs.
BARE SCREEENS
Bare Screens are stretched using your specified mesh count, mesh bias and frame size. Screens are stretched to industry tension standards or to your specific tension requirements.
SENSITIZED SCREENS
Sensitized screens go one step further in the process with the application of emulsion per the customers specified type and thickness.
Emuslison thickness can be ordered in increments of 5um. We can help you determine which emulsion type will best fit your application. We stock both liquid emulsion and capillary film. Screens are shipped sealed in light safe bags for processing at our customer's facility.
We can offer help in identifying the correct exposure rates of our sensitized screens based on your exposure equipment.
IMAGED SCREENS
Imaged screens are fully developed and ready for your printer right out of the box. Our imaged screens can be made with your choice of mesh type, emulsion thickness and mesh bias. We can use a customer provided photo-plot, or generate the photo-plot for you in our on-site photo lab. Let us do the work for you!
SCREEN FRAMES
We stock a variety of cast and tubular frames ranging in size from 5x5 to 29x29. Custom size tubular frames can be manufactured per your specifications.
Customer returned frames are cleaned to remove the epoxy and mesh, followed by glass bead blasting to remove any contaminates. These frames are then checked for coplanarity and mounting hole thread condition. Frames are returned to service only after meeting our quality criteria.