Source for photosensitized anodized aluminum

[cranetruck]

There was a time way back, when I made data tags "in the basement" by exposing and etching anodized aluminum sheets. Typically I used .02 thickness, anodized black, which came presensitized in light tight packaging. I think a company called Kepro supplied them, but they are no longer in business.
I have done some googling without success so ask the question here.

The artwork was done 4x actual size, photographically reduced and the negative film was my templet. The sensitized surface was exposed with UV light and finally etched. A typical sample is shown below. This was in 1979.

 

[TexAndy]

How did you do the etching?

I've got a light duty home-made 3 axis cnc that could probably handle something like this...

 

[cranetruck]

All work was done in a darkroom (closet space actually) and the etching was chemical, just sloshing it around in a tray for a while after exposure, like when you do photographs w/enlarger etc...in the days before the computer.

 

[cranetruck]

Did printed circuit boards too. Here is one instruction sheet for that procedure. The etchant was Ferric Chloride for copper.
Typical home made PCBs in 2nd and 3rd images. I could go from concept to sellable product in just a few days...wonder what happened to my ambition...

 

[stumps]

The anodized label material was made initially by 3M, and later spun off to form a company called Dynamark.

The label material was exposed to UV light, and where the light exposed the resist, it became insoluble in the developer. The developer was a dilute isopropyl alcohol solution. Dynamark too decided to stop making the label material, and sold the rights to make it to another company.

Here is the result:

http://www.horizonsisg.com/metalphoto/metalphoto-photosensitive-anodized-aluminum.html

-Chuck

 

[cranetruck]

Thanks Chuck, they have it, but it's this minimum quantity thing. I don't want to have to buy 10 sqft at a time, was looking for a hobby/crafts parts supplier.

 

[stumps]

I used to buy the stuff from the local artist/graphics arts supply store when it was Dynamark. They told me they would get the new company's stuff when and if it finally came out. It wasn't cheap, and I changed my prototype labels to a sticky aluminized label that I could run through the laser printer... Not great, but did the job. I also started engraving front panels on a CNC engraving mill.

Check with your local sign maker, or screen printer. They sometimes use the stuff.

-Chuck