Posted by Mark Darrah on December 20, 1999 at 16:41:25 in 207.70.75.65:
In Reply to: Hey Mark! Darrah that is...... posted by Thomas Hartman on December 20, 1999 at 14:20:41:
: Could you email me. I lost your email address in the great crash back in May. I'm looking for info on Photo etch and I've be told your "the Man".
: Looking forward to your email
: thomas ;)
You should be able to just click my name in any of my posts and a letter will launch.
If not, my email address is mtdarrah@worldnet.att.net
I don't have the info with me right now, but the name of the company is Insight Designs, from somewhere in California. They don't have a web site, but there is a an email address.
They do some of the work for GMM. If you write them, they'll send a nice booklet telling you how to submit artwork for etching, and some small samples. If you have a good CAD program, that's the best way to create the artwork and they give you very specific guidelines for CAD work. They can also work from a crude sketch, as long as it's fully dimensioned, but it'll cost more to have them prepare everything obviously.
They won't quote a price until they see the artwork, since it's all based on the complexity. Once the initial setup is done, there is a flat charge on each sheet and you can get extra copies made later at that flat rate. I think sizes range from 3 x 5 up to 12 x 24.
The samples they sent are very nice. Even three level etching is possible!
I had some simple etchings done by them about three years ago, and I think it cost me about $150 total. Not cheap, but when you need something, you need it. While you can forgo much of the expense by submitting a complete drawing that includes everything and just have them etch it directly, I recommend giving them the artwork for the peices only and let them do the actual layout. They know how to adjust for undercut, etc.
Write me and I'll send you the info when I get home.