Overview

Titanium shim etching uses photochemical machining to cut thin titanium shims with precise outlines, holes and slots out of flat sheet. A photoresist is laminated, exposed with the shim artwork and developed, then the unprotected titanium is dissolved in a matched etchant to leave a flat, burr-free part. Shims are typically made from commercially pure titanium Grade 1 and Grade 2, supplied between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm thick. Because the metal is chemically removed rather than blanked or laser-cut, the edges carry no roll-over, burr or heat-affected zone, and the shim stays dead flat.

Titanium is chosen for shims that must resist corrosion, stay light, and survive temperature swings without creeping. Etching holds the profile and hole positions to a tight tolerance while preserving the sheet's original thickness, which is what makes a shim accurate as a spacer. The stress-free edge also means the part will not warp or crack in service. This is why titanium shim etching is specified for aerospace, marine, chemical and medical assemblies where a stainless shim would be too heavy or too prone to crevice corrosion.

Parameter Window

• Available Materials: titanium Grade 1 (CP), titanium Grade 2 (CP)
• Material Thickness Range: 0.05–1.0 mm
• Tolerance: ±0.05 mm on profile, ±0.02 mm on hole position, sheet thickness per mill standard
• Minimum Feature: 0.1 mm hole, 0.15 mm slot width
• Surface Options: pickled, passivated, bright annealed, anodized
• Compliance: ISO 9001 process control, RoHS/REACH material traceability

Manufacturing Process / Workflow (8 Steps)

1. Shim Design — Convert the outline, holes and slots to vector artwork and confirm the thickness callout against the drawing.
2. Material Selection — Choose Grade 1 for maximum formability or Grade 2 for higher strength, and verify sheet flatness.
3. Cleaning & Lamination — Degrease the sheet and laminate dry film with no bubbles so the edges etch clean.
4. UV Exposure — Expose the shim artwork registered to the sheet edge for accurate hole positions.
5. Development — Wash out the unexposed resist to open the profile, holes and slots, then inspect for blocked features.
6. Etching — Spray etch at controlled temperature; feature size is set by time, pressure and conveyor speed.
7. Stripping & Finishing — Remove resist, neutralize, then pickle or passivate to restore the natural oxide surface.
8. Inspection & Packaging — Measure thickness, outline and hole positions, then pack flat to prevent bending.

Core Advantages

1. Corrosion resistance: Titanium Grade 1/2 shrugs off seawater, chlorides and most process chemicals without pitting.
2. Light weight: Titanium shims weigh about half of stainless at the same thickness, saving mass in aerospace assemblies.
3. Burr-free edges: Chemical removal leaves no roll-over or heat-affected zone, so shims seat flat and evenly.
4. Accurate thickness: The sheet's original gauge is preserved, keeping spacer height true to the mill specification.
5. No tooling cost: Each shim design is a new film, so prototypes and short runs stay economical.
6. Temperature stability: Titanium keeps its dimensions across wide temperature swings without creep or cracking.

Typical Applications

• Aerospace shims: Corrosion-resistant spacers for airframe and engine assemblies.
• Marine spacers: Shim sets for seawater-exposed pumps, valves and fittings.
• Chemical equipment: Flat spacers for process vessels and piping that resist acids and chlorides.
• Medical devices: Light, biocompatible shims for instruments and implants.
• Battery and fuel cells: Thin titanium spacers and flow-field plates.
• Precision optics: Flat adjustment shims for alignment and spacing.

Design Notes & Process Considerations

1. Thickness callout: Shim accuracy comes from the starting sheet gauge; specify the mill tolerance you require.
2. Feature versus thickness: Keep holes and slots at 1.2 × material thickness or more for clean, straight walls.
3. Flatness: State flatness per 100 mm if the shim must seat against a machined surface without gapping.
4. Surface finish: Call out pickling or passivation when the shim is exposed to seawater or aggressive media.
5. Edge condition: Require burr-free edges, since titanium edges are hard and difficult to deburr by hand.
6. Handling: Provide tab or carrier features if thin, large shims must be handled without bending.