Stainless steel electropolishes nicely.  Perhaps you could get a
reproducible feather edge by placing the thin stainless anode perpendicular
to a Pt cathode so that the current is concentrated at the near edge.
Straight 85% phosphoric acid at about 90 degrees Celsius works well as a
etch bath.  There are other formulations that add sulfuric and surfactants
that might help with control.

Kent Schubert
Microsensor R&D Department
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM  87185-1425


-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Cazzini [mailto:KarlCazzini@csi.com]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 2:13 PM
To: MEMS@ISI.EDU
Subject: forming feather edges / burrs in metals


I am trying to form, good quality, homogeneous feather edges (or burrs) on
thin metal strips (0.006" thick), by grinding and / or polishing methods. I
realise that most peolple want to eliminate these "burrs" or feather edges,
however I actually require them! I am grinding stainless steel strips (~1
inch long, 0.006" thick) at angle of about 15 degrees, on a rotating
abrasive disk. If the abrasive is too course, a poor quality, inhomogeneous
feather edge results. I want to form good quality, homogeneous and
REPRODUCEABLE feather edges in SS, for a MEMS application that I am working
on. Any and all assistance would be most welcome. Please remember that this
is something I must be able to do in-house. I do have access to quality
polishing and grinding equipment. Any assistance would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks very much, Karl.


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* Karl H. Cazzini (Ph.D)     *
* Conifer Group & Associates *
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