Changzhou Weiden Electronic Equipment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Weiden Electronics") officially delivered a high-precision fully automated etching production line to an AVIC-affiliated research institute in June 2024. This production line will be applied to the manufacturing of turbine blades for next-generation fighter jet engines, addressing the bottleneck challenge of micro-hole processing in high-temperature alloys.
At the core of the production line is Weiden's independently developed multi-axis precision etching chamber. Through a sub-micron spray pressure control system and visual compensation algorithms, it achieves stable etching tolerances within ±0.02nm, representing a 300% improvement in precision over traditional equipment. It also integrates a zero-discharge module for exhaust gases and wastewater: acidic exhaust undergoes two-stage alkaline spray scrubbing and activated carbon adsorption purification, achieving emission concentrations below 1mg/m³. Nickel-containing wastewater employs membrane separation and electrolytic recovery technology, achieving 99% heavy metal recovery and over 90% water reuse rates, fully complying with the special limit requirements of GB31573-2015 "Emission Standards for Pollutants from Inorganic Chemical Industries."
"This production line marks the first seamless integration of etching processes with six-axis robots," explained Weiden's Technical Director during the acceptance inspection. "Automated robotic gripping combined with 3D laser scanning positioning boosts processing efficiency for complex curved parts by 50% while reducing manual intervention by 80%." Projected annual savings include RMB 2 million in hazardous waste disposal costs and a reduction of 15,000 tons in wastewater discharge.
This 18-month collaboration saw Weiden's team overcome challenges including stress crack control in high-temperature alloys and achieving a micro-pore aspect ratio of 1:20, securing two utility model patents. The project marks the formal entry of domestically produced high-end etching equipment into the core aerospace manufacturing supply chain, laying a technological foundation for future applications in aerospace engines and semiconductor lithography masks.