[AMRadio] Crystal Grinding

[Brian Carling]

On 12 Dec 2002 at 19:39, Barockteer at aol.com wrote:

> Along the same lines, does anyone know about chemical etching of
> crystals to shift frequency? I expect it requires some nasty hazmat
> stuff to cut the quartz. I saw a reference in an old QST but didn't
> have the issue mentioned.
> 
> -Tony, K1KP

I don't think chemical etching is recommended.

The commercial boys do it with first a grinder to shape the crystal "bar" and  then 
a SAW, to get the slices made aproximately right.
Of course the wafers then are actually thicker than they will need to be in the end.

The final step is to put them in a lapping machine which rubs them down to the 
required thickness, and up to the required frequency in a lubricative cutting paste 
slurry which combines lubricants, cutting compounds and a means to conduct 
heat away into the lapping machine
from the crystals so that they don't break.

Of course radio amateurs have been known to use all kinds of unconventional 
methods and perhaps that could include chemical etching....