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US4113549A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Chemical milling process

Assignee: Chem-Tronics Inc
•
Filing: 1977-04-06
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Granted: 1978-09-12
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Expires: 1997-04-06
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Abstract

Abstract Chemical milling processes which employ a series of masking and metal removal steps. Apparatus for orbiting the workpiece in a prescribed manner about mutually perpendicular axes during the metal removal steps.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel J. Brimm

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:25
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23F; C23F1/00; C23F1/02; C23F1/04; C23F1/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24174

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece to impart a selected configuration thereto which comprises the steps of: masking said workpiece; removing the masking from those areas of the workpiece in which metal is to be removed; immersing the workpiece in a body of a liquid etching composition to effect a controlled removal of metal from the workpiece; stripping the remaining original mask from and remasking said workpiece; removing that masking from areas in which the removal of additional metal is wanted; and immersing the workpiece in a body of liquid etching composition to effect said additional removal of metal, the workpiece being simultaneously rotated about two mutually perpendicular axes during these periods that it is immersed in a liquid etching composition to promote even and uniform etching of the workpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 132 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece to impart a selected configuration thereto which comprises the steps of: masking said workpiece; removing the masking from those areas of the workpiece in which metal is to be removed; immersing the workpiece in a body of a liquid etching composition to effect a controlled removal of metal from the workpiece; stripping the remaining original mask from and remasking said workpiece; removing that masking from areas in which the removal of additional metal is wanted; and immersing the workpiece in a body of liquid etching composition to effect said additional removal of metal, the workpiece being simultaneously rotated about two mutually perpendicular axes during these periods that it is immersed in a liquid etching composition to promote even and uniform etching of the workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which the ratio of the revolutions made by the workpiece about said mutually perpendicular axes is in ratios of 2:1 up to 50:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 65 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which the ratio of the revolutions made by the workpiece about said mutually perpendicular axes is a decimal fraction, thereby maximizing uniformity and evenness of the etching by increasing the number of cycles of displacement of the workpiece that will occur before it returns to its original position in said bath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which one of said mutually perpendicular axes extends horizontally and in which the workpiece is rotated about said horizontally extending axis at a rate in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 revolutions per minute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 72 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which one of said mutually perpendicular axes extends horizontally, in which the workpiece has an axis of symmetry and in which, in at least one of the steps in which the workpiece is immersed in body of liquid etching composition, said workpiece is supported with its axis of symmetry coincident with the other of said mutually perpendicular axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 89 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which, in the step of removing masking from the workpiece following the step of remasking said workpiece, the masking is left only on the outer part of at least one portion of the workpiece appearing in relief after the first immersion of the workpiece in an etching composition, whereby the etching composition can attach the sides of and reduce the thickness of said portion to impart an undercut, generally T- or I-shaped cross-sectional configuration thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 81 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which, in at least one of the steps in which the workpiece is immersed in a liquid etching composition, the workpiece is intermittently or cyclically withdrawn from the bath of liquid etching composition to thereby expose different parts of the workpiece to the etching composition for dissimilar periods of time and thereby impart a tapered or other non-uniform configuration to at least one portion of the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 1 in which the workpiece is comprised of titanium, niobium, iron, nickel, aluminum, magnesium or beryllium or an alloy of one or more of the foregoing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece to impart a selected configuration thereto which comprises the steps of: masking said workpiece; removing the masking from those areas of the workpiece in which metal is to be removed from the workpiece; immersing the workpiece in a body of a liquid etching composition to effect a controlled removal of metal therefrom; and, while said workpiece is immersed in said body of liquid etching composition, simultaneously rotating it about each of two mutually perpendicular axes at speeds such that the ratio of the revolutions made by the workpiece about said mutually perpendicular axes is in a ratio between 2 to 1 and 50 to 1.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece to impart a selected configuration thereto which comprises the steps of: masking said workpiece; removing the masking from those areas of the workpiece in which metal is to be removed from the workpiece; immersing the workpiece in a body of a liquid etching composition to effect a controlled removal of metal therefrom; and, while said workpiece is immersed in said body of liquid etching composition, simultaneously rotating it about each of two mutually perpendicular axes at speeds such that the ratio of the revolutions made by the workpiece about said mutually perpendicular axes is in a ratio between 2 to 1 and 50 to 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 65 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 9 in which the ratio of revolutions made by the workpiece about said mutually perpendicular axes is a decimal fraction to thereby maximize uniformity and evenness of etching by ensuring that every segment of the workpiece is exposed to essentially identical conditions without repetition except after a large number of cycles of movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 50 words
A method of chemically shaping a metallic workpiece as defined in claim 9 in which one of said mutually perpendicular axes extends horizontally and in which the workpiece is rotated about said horizontally extending axis at a rate in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 revolutions per minute.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2801909A Cited
US2977228A Cited
US3082137A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-09-11 1982-03-13 1982-09-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-09-11 1986-03-13 1986-09-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-09-11 1990-03-13 1990-09-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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