In their attempt to sort out the problems faced by conventional cutting and etching machines from China in the contemporary market, Idea Factory Equipments Pvt Ltd has developed EtchCut, which is a dual jet cutting/etching machine manufactured in India. This New Delhi-based manufacturer of chemical milling machines has been serving the signage and exports segments since 2004 with its devotion to photo cutting technology used for cutting and etching of metals. Thus was the birth of the company’s EtchCut, a machine defined by the phrase ‘innovation is the solution!’.
EtchCut is indeed a new avatar in the innovation front of India’s cutting and etching technology. This ground-breaking machine is an outcome of Idea Factory’s years of technical research and analysis in the field of innovative technologies. In addition, EtchCut is a solution to all cutting and etching problems faced by the conventional machines in the contemporary market.
Comparative analysis
EtchCut has cutting capability of 1.2 mm on brass, copper and iron, and 0.56 mm on steel.
Width of etching area table of this machine is 650 mm/25.5” while other machines from China limit to 600 mm/24”. This cutting/etching machine is featured with specially designed interlock wheels with high temperature silicone sleeve, which creates equal gap forever. But in Chinese machines, sheet could fall down inside the tank due to change in gap between wheels after 2-3 months as they are made of synthetic rubber.
Glass window of size 16x14” in EtchCut is helpful in maintenance and inspection of the machine while such feature would be found totally absent in Chinese machines. Equipped with single phase pump of 5 HP (while normal machines have three phase pump of 3 HP), a glass stand with the glass having rubber sleeve in the machine is designed for everyday jet cleaning of the machine that protects spilling of chemicals. But in case of Chinese machines having one handle, one needs to remove the glass every time during cleaning and the chemical keeps spilling from the side of the glasses.
Width of front loading table in Chinese etching/cutting machine is normally found to be of 6” in size, but EtchCut boasts of its table of 12”. Since the control panel of the machine is being set on top, it becomes quite user friendly and helps avoid short circuit as well. But what it does in many Chinese machines is that the control panel is fixed in 45 degree angle, which makes chemicals penetrate inside the buttons and causes short circuit and involves replacement of the buttons every month. Also, the levers placed at the bottom of the machine help not only in levelling but also to avoid the bottom of tank touching the floor.
Genuine spares
All electrical parts in EtchCut are from Schneider, Larsen & Turbo and Hagger. These companies carry warranty everywhere. Also, EtchCut uses high-quality German sheets that give warranty of 150 degree for 15 years. Specially designed pressure gauge provided in the machine indicates the timing to change the chemical. PPR piping being welded using fusion technology in EtchCut would never break or bend while such structure in Chinese machines tends to bend due to high temperature of chemical.
Vertical gear system of EtchCut is rugged and smooth as against the one tending to wear and tear in due course of time. When it comes to power saving, Idea Factory designed EtchCut with four separate heaters possessing separate switches to conserve energy, and not just having single heater consuming 3.5 KW with no power saving options.
Complete portfolio
The line of machineries and equipments that form Idea Factory’s portfolio include other machines exclusively designed for PCB etching, metal cutting, chemical etching available under the names - Rapid Etcher, Rapid Exposure, Color Plus, Dual Jet Etching, Electroforming Machines, etc. These machines have been designed and fabricated with the company’s firm intention to eliminate all problems faced by the industry’s etching and cutting requirements.
