Can anyone here photo etch?

[jpolacchi]

I was curious to know if anyone here can photoetch? For years I've contemplated buying the small photo etch machine that Micro Mark sells. I'm sure it works great for small, 'one of' custom parts, buy I need something that can do more and it sounds expensive. I was wondering if anyone else here can make their own photo etch parts or if there was an affordable service that can? I don't have any of the equipment to make the parts or the actual B&W drawing (negative and positive picture) film that goes on the sheet of brass to make the actual parts.

[EVApodman]

I don't know about Micro-Mart's machine but from what I've heard it is a very difficult and involved process. The chemicals are very caustic and require good ventilation. Remember you are dissolving brass. The printing process is fine and delicate to create the mask and requires precise handling to work properly, making sure the mask is firmly set onto the brass.

Companies that do it will charge a lot for small volume orders ( less than a hundred sets maybe).

[jpolacchi]

Well, the Micro Mark photo etcher is too small for my needs, plus I don't have a printer. I suppose you could hand draw the parts, but I think most use some sort of 2d software to make the parts? I don't need to mass produce anything, so I don't know where to go or who to ask to have parts made?