Knowledge centre
Guides to Photoengraving Plate and Etching
Seven guides written from the SGZ product specifications: what the plate is, which grade to buy, which additive to run it with, and how the powderless bath works.
All guides
7 Guides From the SGZ Specifications
Product Guide
What Is a Photoengraving Zinc Plate
A photoengraving zinc plate is rolled zinc carrying a light-sensitive coating, exposed and developed so acid cuts relief into the metal. Chemistry, sizes, thicknesses and back-side finishes explained.
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Comparison Guide
Coated or Uncoated Photoengraving Plate
Coated plate arrives ready to expose but is limited in thickness and size. Uncoated plate is bare metal, goes thicker and larger, and suits CNC engraving. A side-by-side comparison.
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Material Guide
Why Shops Move From Zinc to Magnesium Plate
Magnesium plate is lighter and etches faster than zinc, goes to 10 mm coated and 2000x1500 mm uncoated, and needs a magnesium-grade additive. What changes when you switch.
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Buying Guide
How to Choose an Etching Additive Oil
Four etching additive grades from SGZ: Velv-Etch E002 and the SGZ house oil for zinc, X-Flex E004 and Rev-Flex E003 for magnesium. Which to use, in what pack, with which plate.
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Specification Guide
Plate Size and Thickness Guide
Every SGZ plate size and thickness in one table: zinc, magnesium, brass, copper and magnesium tooling plate, with the maximum length and width for each.
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Process Guide
Powderless Etching Explained
How a powderless etching machine works: bath capacity from 20 to 200 litres, rotation to 450 r/min, temperature 15-30 C, time to 60 minutes, and how to size a machine to your plate.
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Buying Guide
How to Verify Genuine SGZ Plate
SGZ sells direct, has never appointed a marketing agent, uses only two email addresses and labels every package SGZ. The four checks that tell genuine plate from resold stock.
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About the Knowledge Centre
What do these guides cover?
Plate selection, coated against uncoated stock, zinc against magnesium, etching additive choice, the powderless etching process, the full size and thickness table, and how to verify that plate you are offered is genuine SGZ material.
Are the figures in these guides from SGZ?
Yes. Every size, thickness, model number and pack size quoted in these guides is taken from an SGZ product specification.
Can SGZ advise on a job that is not covered here?
Yes. Email [email protected] with the metal, the size and what you are producing.
Still Not Sure Which Plate to Buy
Send the sheet size, thickness, metal and what you are etching or engraving. SGZ will answer from the factory.