Chemical Etching - Tabbing Guidelines

Our etching tabbing guidelines

In order to further increase the precision of components and the ‘flawless look’ of decorative parts, Photofab ‘tab’ parts into sheets of metal. Tabs are slivers of metal, that serve to retain parts in sheet form. In other words, once completely etched, the components are not ‘loose’ parts, but instead are held into sheet form using these tabs.

Photofab have devised four different tab styles. These are shown below along with features of each.

Inboard twist tabs

• Full thickness twist tab
• Used on business cards as this tab leaves minimal material loss and no protrusion

Half etch outboard tabs

• Used when small protruding witness is acceptable, or when inboard is not an option
• Can be linished on thicker materials to remove protuding witness

Half etch inboard tabs

• Half etched break line style
• Used when a small protruding witness is not acceptable
• Breaks slightly inboard or on the component edge leaving no protrusion

Full thickness outboard tabs

• Used when small protruding witness is acceptable – or when inboard is not an option
• Can be linished on thicker materials to remove protuding witness

*1mm is not to dimension the feature, but is for scale reference only
Tabless parts can be made if required.