Electro-etching

has anyone experience of photopolymer films used as resists for electro-etching ?

I personally hav'nt done this, but in case you hav'nt seen this ,have a look at this link http://homepage.usask.ca/~nis715/
Hope it might be of some use to you,
This is my first visit to the site, and I think its going to be very useful. I'm an etcher who uses photopolymer and photogravure as well as acrylic relief. I've just set up an open access printmaking studio as well. everfree.

thanks for reply, I have visited this site, another useful site for anyone interested in electro-etching is that of Cedric Green - google the name to find it.

I agree with you, this will be a very useful site, hopefully it will not be invaded with SPAM

bobP

Yes,
I'm familiar with the writing of Cedric Green, I'm interested in the concept of electro- etching but the set up seems complicated and all my current energy is taken with getting the correct set up for photopolymer . I'm looking at present for a better UV light ..... getting an Olec in the UK is like getting liquid gold. The cost of setting up a studio /workshop is worse. everfree.

while I had never tried using Riston or Image-On with Electro-etching, I can't see why it wouldn't work. These films are destroyed by alkaline solutions, but the electrolyte used in Electro-etching is acidic by nature. Just make sure all areas you don't want any pitting, is covered with resist of some sort as this process can find the smallest hole to leave its' mark.

Thanks Nik,
(deathly silence) God has spoken. All doff caps. This really is going to be a useful site!
SORRY IF I QUOTED YOU'RE LINK INCORRECTLY.
everfree.

I'm sorry if my comment seems to have stifled all conversation. Its a real honour to have Nik contribute to this forum. I'd be most interested to learn more about waterless lithography. I read avidly anything I can find about it, is there any way in the U.K to see it done? I have just founded an open access printmaking studio and am keen to introduce the method. everfree.

I never expected such a dramatic response, and didn't know how to take it. Thank you for your comments. While I have started a new website with a blog and discussion forums, it looks like this one has more action for some reason. I have some new data on waterless lithography there, that you might be interested in knowing. Some is applicable to traditional litho as well.

Since you are in the UK, you might get in touch with Paul Croft in Wales, who has been to my workshop and teaches waterless at a university there. Mark Hunter at the university in Dundee, Scotland has also attended a workshop and teaches the process. Using the basic techniques, it is extremely simple to produce prints. These simple principals are just about all that most traditional lithographers use anyway.

Maybe this subject should be on the litho forum?

I find this experience rather unprecedented, and I am a forthright Scot. The printmaking world is not so large, but there are a few people who deserve a lot of respect, and you are one of them Nik. Yes, you are right, this topic should now be on the litho forum. I'm going to move over to there. everfree.

Hello everyone, I have been in Devon for a week while you have had a useful discussion about other things. Thanks Nik for your views on puretch - according to the puretch website someone has used it successfully for electro-etch but we have not flushed them out yet.

Another related question: do you know anything about dura-film? it is used/sold by the Martronics corporation as part of a stencil kit for their electrochemical marking(etching). it appears to be a polyester mesh impregnated with a photopolymer to enable the production of stencils from computer generated transparent film. Everfree you may be interested in their website(www.etch-o-matic.biz) for the simple UV exposure units. Also in the UK see mega electronics for exposure units for circuit boards(www.megauk.com).

best regards BobP

Hi Bob,
I know the site you mention - I use them to buy materials. However the spec I need for a new UV is quite specific and somewhat larger than is available there. At present I have an ancient Waldorf with banks of UV Tubes and a polythene vacuum. It works in fits and starts which is'nt acceptable.It seems to choose which areas to expose..... can be quite creative but more usually it is annoying.I also possess a Theimer Montakop which is great, but it demands phase 3 power source and my studio does'nt have it- at present it is in storage.
I need a single light source with a good vacuum, and the size is important too. The trouble is finding the cash for it. I've been quoted £3,000 for one.... thats a lot of money. So its swings and roundabouts. everfree

I would suggest a 1000 watt Metal Halide grow light, like those use in green houses. I built my own expose unit for $350 for the light instead of looking at over $6000 for a commercial unit. While these have output up to 5000 watt units, I don't need 20 second exposures like a commercial printing firm. There is more than enough UV to do the job.

These and mercury vapour lights take a while to warm up and turning them on and off for an exposure will greatly shorten their life. Waiting for the bulb to heat up is also time wasting, so I have enclosed the bulb within a ventilated metal box that has a shutter like arrangement. Mine is connected to a light integrator that automatically closes, but a simple hinged door and a stop watch works just as well.

If anyone is interested in building their own light integrator from a schematic and circuit board layout, I have them to give you for free. You will need a friend knowledgeable in electronics, but it is very simple and cheap to build.

Hi Nik, I'm interested and would like to try this!
The integrator on my NuArc unit is not consistent and I have thought about getting it checked out but I'd probably pay more for the repair than I did for the unit from Ebay, $82. Luckily it was only a 3 hr drive to pick it up. You're full of all kinds of cool information. You can e-mail me through my main site.

I have a couple of customers who use Puretch photopolymer with electro etching, I'll try to see if I can get them to join up here and help out.

Thanks,
Jennifer

Jennifer,

thanks for offer to get some of your users of puretch/electro-etch to join the forum.

BobP

Nik,
I too am interested in the instructions to build a light integrator and would appreciate them.
However I have a question about it. You don't mention a vacuum, and for my purposes that is very important (etching). At Edinburgh printmakers Alfons uses the silk screen Natgraph for etching/ dual purpose, saves money, and does the same job except that the exposure is the other way round. Not really a problem though.
Would it be possible to incorporate a vacuum in your design? everfree