Patent ID: 7254887

Claim:
A fuel cell separator manufacturing method comprising: (a) rolling with rolling means a metal material to be used as a fuel cell separator; (b) forming the rolled material into a predetermined shape with pressing means; (c) removing an abnormal layer arising at the surface of the metal material when it is rolled and press-shaped; (d) exposing portions of conductors included in the surface of the metal material; and (e) passivating the surface of the metal material, wherein the method further comprises a step of, after said forming step and before said removing step, examining the abnormal layer to observe the conductors extending therefrom and, based upon this observation, determining a thickness of the abnormal layer, wherein a single etching operation completes (c) and (d), and comprising the further steps of: providing a plurality of liquid tanks, each of said liquid tanks holding an etching liquid having a different composition than that of the other liquid tanks; and selecting a liquid tank to be used from said plurality of liquid tanks based upon the determined thickness of the abnormal layer.