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Abstract

The specification discloses an automated chemical milling process for metal articles. The metal article is first coated with an etchant resist coating. In one embodiment the area to be etched is digitized to define the x,y coordinate values for the perimeter line around the area. A CPU is used to control a flat bed drafting table with a tangially controlled scribing tool to cut through the resist coating along the perimeter line. If plural etching steps are used, each perimeter line is digitized and scribed or cut in a similar manner. All but one of the perimeter lines are recoated and marked and the resist coating within the remaining perimeter line is removed. The metal part is then etched as desired. If plural etching steps are used the resist coating for each separate area is removed between sequential etching baths. In a second embodiment, the x,y,z point coordinate values for a perimeter line on a three dimensional work piece are defined, and the scribing operation is done by a robotic device controlled by a CPU. In a third embodiment, new template or mask geometry is created on a CRT and digitized for subsequent control of the plotting table or other robotic device. Digital signals are used to define the x,y or x,y,z point coordinates values while analogue signals are used to control the scribing tool.

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First Claim