Precision Metal Masks
Custom shadow masks, printing masks, etch and plating masks, shielding masks, and optical aperture masks cut directly from your pattern.
Custom part manufacturing
Custom Metal Photomasks, Laser-Cut to Your Pattern
Laser-cut metal masks that control exactly where material passes, deposits, prints, plates, or is blocked. Send your pattern for a practical review of aperture size, flatness, material, and registration.
- Fine laser-cut apertures with clean edges
- Flat, low-stress foil for reliable registration
- Stainless steel, Invar, nickel, and more
Clear scope
What Is a Metal Photomask?
We make thin metal sheets with laser-cut openings. The openings let material, paste, chemicals, airflow, or light pass only where your process requires it.
Chrome-on-Glass Reticles
Wafer-lithography photomasks are patterned chrome on quartz or glass and require a different manufacturing process. We do not make those reticles.
Applications
Common Metal Photomask Applications
A precise open pattern in a flat metal sheet can support many controlled manufacturing processes.
Thin-Film Deposition & Evaporation
Use a shadow mask to place metal, dielectric, or optical films only where needed. Low-expansion alloys help the pattern stay aligned as the mask heats.
Typical uses: MEMS sensor electrodes, thin-film resistors, and optical coatings.
Screen & Thick-Film Printing
Clean-edged openings control the placement of conductive or dielectric paste on ceramic, glass, and other substrates.
Typical uses: hybrid circuits, printed electronics, heaters, and antennas.
Selective Etching & Plating
Expose the areas to be etched or plated while protecting adjacent features, so the process acts only where the drawing requires it.
Typical uses: connector contacts, PCB features, and precision marked areas.
EMI & RF Shielding
Create precisely patterned shielding masks, vents, and openings for RF modules, electronics enclosures, and waveguide hardware.
Typical uses: vented shields, RF covers, and controlled airflow openings.Quality
Why Photomask Quality Matters
A mask can look correct and still transfer a poor pattern. Aperture quality, edge condition, flatness, and registration all affect the result on your substrate.
Fine Apertures
Laser cutting can produce openings finer than the foil thickness, without the undercut that can widen etched features.
Features from 0.015 mmClean, Burr-Controlled Edges
A smooth, low-burr edge helps the mask sit close to the substrate and keeps the transferred pattern defined.
Oxide-aware finishingFlat, Low-Stress Foil
Controlled heat input and cut sequencing help thin sheets stay flat for close contact and reliable pattern transfer.
Heat zone reviewed to the partAccurate Registration
Openings, datums, and locating features are inspected around the drawing so the mask aligns consistently from run to run.
Positioning from ±0.005 mmMaterial selection
Choose the Right Metal for Your Process
The material determines how the mask handles heat, chemicals, and repeated use. We select the foil around your process, flatness requirement, and dimensional stability.
Stainless Steel
304 is a reliable baseline for print, etch, and shielding masks; 316 is used where added corrosion resistance matters.
Invar & Kovar
Low-expansion alloys for deposition and evaporation masks that need to hold their pattern as process temperature changes.
Nickel & Nickel Alloys
Fine-detail, corrosion-resistant options for chemical and plating environments.
Molybdenum & Tungsten
Refractory thin metals for high-temperature masking where stainless steel is not suitable.
Capabilities
Photomask Sizes, Features & Tolerances
Use these values as a starting point. Final capability depends on the foil, thickness, aperture geometry, overall size, and inspection requirement.
| Parameter | Process capability |
|---|---|
| Minimum feature / aperture | From 0.015 mm line; 0.02 mm hole, reviewed against foil and geometry |
| Cut kerf | To 0.01 mm on qualified thin-gauge material |
| Aperture vs. thickness | Openings can be finer than the foil when the pattern is suitable |
| Workable thickness | 0.01 mm to 3 mm, depending on material and required detail |
| Dimensional positioning | From ±0.005 mm, based on drawing and inspection requirement |
| Edge condition | Burr-controlled, oxide-aware, and smooth for the process |
| Material families | Stainless, Invar, Kovar, nickel alloys, molybdenum, tungsten, and more |
| Production fit | Prototype, validation lots, pilot builds, and repeat custom production |
Work runs under ISO 9001 with material traceability and inspection methods agreed around the drawing and critical mask features.
Answers
Metal Photomask FAQs
What is the difference between a metal photomask and a chrome-on-glass photomask?
A metal photomask is a thin sheet with laser-cut openings used to control deposition, printing, etching, plating, shielding, or light. Chrome-on-glass reticles are used for wafer photolithography and are made with a different technology; we do not manufacture those reticles.
What materials are available for metal photomasks?
Stainless steel is the usual starting point for print, etch, and shielding masks. Invar and Kovar suit deposition work that needs low thermal expansion; nickel alloys help in chemical environments; molybdenum and tungsten are available for high-temperature masking.
How small can the apertures be?
Features can begin at approximately 0.015 mm, with kerf to 0.01 mm on qualified thin-gauge material. Final limits depend on the metal, foil thickness, aperture pattern, overall size, and flatness requirement.
Why does mask flatness matter?
The mask must sit consistently against or above the substrate. If a thin sheet distorts, the gap changes and the transferred pattern can lose definition or registration. We review heat input, fixturing, and inspection around the part requirements.
Do you make shadow masks for deposition?
Yes. We laser-cut metal shadow masks for controlled thin-film deposition and evaporation. For high-temperature or highly stable patterns, low-expansion alloys such as Invar can be reviewed.
Custom metal photomasks
Start Your Custom Metal Photomask Project
Send your drawing or CAD file, material, thickness, required aperture size, and process. We will review the pattern for manufacturability and prepare a quotation.