Parts Materials & Processes
For over 25 years, StenTech Parts has manufactured thin metal components from .002" to .250" using advanced processes such as chemical etching and laser cutting. From rapid prototypes to large-scale production, our network of facilities has the capacity and precision to deliver exactly what you need.
We work with a wide range of materials, including aluminum, copper alloys, steel, titanium, and exotic metals. Our capabilities span laser cutting, chemical etching, electroforming, punching, machining, casting, forging, welding, bending, and forming, producing high-quality, high-precision parts for any requirement.
Our Material Line-up & Processes
- Stainless Steel (SST)
- Copper
- Silicon
- Beryllium Copper
- Brass
- Phosphorus Bronze
- Nickel Silver
- Aluminum
- Iron
- Invar
- Plastic
- Blue Spring
- Inconel
- 17-7C
- 18-8
- FR4
- Nickel
- Titanium
- Co-Netic
- J85
- Laser Cutting
- Electroform
- Chemical Etching
- Machining
- Punching
- Casting
- Forging
- Welding
- Bending and Forming
Materials – From Ultra-Thin to Heavy-Duty
At StenTech, we have the expertise and resources to manufacture precision parts from virtually any material. Whether you need ultra-thin components or heavy-duty thicknesses, we deliver consistent quality and accuracy at any production volume.
Stainless Steel – Available in numerous alloys, including 303, 304, 17-7, and 15-5, stainless steel offers exceptional strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Ideal for industries from aerospace to medical, it often undergoes finishing processes such as passivation or polishing for enhanced performance.
Aluminum – Lightweight, highly machinable, and available in grades like 6061, 7075, and MIC-6. Aluminum is used in aerospace, electronics, and industrial applications for its ductility, corrosion resistance, and thermal conductivity. It is often anodized for added protection and aesthetics.
Titanium – With a high strength-to-weight ratio and 40% lighter than steel, titanium is essential in aerospace, medical, and high-performance automotive parts. It withstands extreme environments while maintaining structural integrity.
Brass – Machined in grades such as C-260, C-360, and C-646, brass offers excellent machinability, corrosion resistance, and durability, making it ideal for bushings, bearings, gears, and fittings.
Copper – Used in applications requiring high electrical and thermal conductivity. Grades such as C10100, C11000, and C10200 are machined into busbars, heat exchangers, shielding components, and more.
Plastics – High-performance plastics like PEEK, HDPE, and polycarbonate are machined for industries such as medical, semiconductor, and food processing, offering lightweight, corrosion-resistant alternatives to metals.
Laser Cut Parts Technology
Our laser cutting technology uses high-powered, computer controlled beams of light to cut with extreme precision. The focused laser energy melts or vaporizes material along an exact path, creating clean, burr-free edges and highly accurate geometries. Because the process is non-contact, even the most intricate features can be produced without tool wear or deformation, and heat-affected zones are kept to a minimum.
This capability allows us to process metals from ultra-thin foils to heavy-gauge sheets with consistent accuracy and repeatability. Combined with our advanced automation and in-house engineering expertise, laser cutting delivers the speed, flexibility, and quality needed for both prototypes and full-scale production.
Unmatched Accuracy Through Electroforming
StenTech leads the industry in electroform technology, a process that uses electrodeposition to build features atom by atom onto a mandrel. This technique creates parts with ultra-smooth walls, superior edge definition, and exceptional durability, far exceeding what can be achieved through traditional cutting methods. Electroforming allows for extreme control of thickness and geometry, making it possible to produce highly complex designs with precision and repeatability.
While nickel is the most common base, the process also supports nickel alloys, cobalt, copper, and other specialty metals. This versatility enables us to tailor parts for specific performance requirements such as corrosion resistance, conductivity, wear resistance, or strength-to-weight optimization.
Electroformed components are ideal for applications ranging from semiconductor and medical devices to aerospace, automotive, and RF/microwave systems, where flawless detail and consistent quality are critical.
Chemical Etching: Precision Without Compromise
Chemical etching, also known as photochemical machining—is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses controlled acid exposure to dissolve unwanted material and create precise features in sheet metals. Unlike methods such as stamping, laser cutting, or EDM, chemical etching produces parts without introducing stress, burrs, or heat distortion, ensuring that the base metal’s properties remain unchanged.
Because tooling is produced from simple photoresist patterns, it is fast, low-cost, and easily modified, making chemical etching ideal for both prototyping and full-scale production. This flexibility allows manufacturers to produce highly complex and intricate geometries, such as fine holes, slits, and unusual profiles, with tight dimensional tolerances and repeatability.
From ultra-thin foils to mid-gauge metals, chemical etching works with a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, copper alloys, nickel, titanium, and more, making it one of the most versatile processes for precision part manufacturing.
Expert CNC Machining
Machining is one of the most established and reliable methods for producing custom metal parts. What began as manual work by skilled craftsmen operating lathes, mills, and drills has evolved into today’s highly advanced CNC (Computer Numerical Control) systems. Early numeric control laid the groundwork with punch-card automation, but modern CNC machining now drives efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability across industries worldwide.
By using computer-controlled tools to remove material from solid stock, CNC machining achieves extremely tight tolerances and consistent results in complex geometries. It is a versatile process that supports a wide range of materials and applications, from automotive and aerospace components to medical instruments, electronics, and everyday consumer products.
Governed by rigorous industry standards such as ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100, CNC machining has become a cornerstone of modern manufacturing, ensuring reliable quality at both prototype and production scales.
