Quick answer: Borofloat 33 Special-Shaped Glass covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
We build borofloat 33 special-shaped glass to print – Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm – primarily in Borofloat 33. Typical use: anything a drawing describes – notches, tabs, arcs.
Key parameters
| Material | Borofloat 33 (SCHOTT float production, wafer grade) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.25 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 450 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 480 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.471 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.70 – 25.4 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 500 x 500 mm |
| Geometry | Special-Shaped Glass |
| Size envelope | Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm |
| Key tolerance | contour +/-0.05 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Design guidance
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- Hold the controlling dimension (contour +/-0.05 mm) and let secondary dimensions carry standard tolerance – it is the single biggest cost lever.
- Over-specification is the quiet budget killer: a 20/10 scratch-dig face costs roughly three times an 80/50 face, so grade each surface individually.
The full rules live in our tolerance design guide and holes and edges design guide.
Capabilities and limits
One material, many routes: on Borofloat 33 we also quote laser cutting, polishing, dicing, drilling, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Production route: cnc machining, laser cutting, edge grinding – selected per geometry and volume. Edge condition: chamfered 0.1 – 0.5 mm as standard.
Who orders this
Orders for borofloat 33 special-shaped glass cluster in optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT BOROFLOAT product page.
Dimensions still moving? Configure this part live in the 3D + 2D builder below, or open the full custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder to start from a blank canvas.
For adjacent specifications, see wafer dicing process, Borofloat 33 selection guide, optical polishing capability.
Common questions
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 special-shaped glass?
No. Single prototypes are accepted, and pricing steps down at 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces.
How fast can prototypes ship?
Machined prototypes ship in 5 – 10 working days. Coated or bonded parts add 1 – 2 weeks depending on queue slots.
What files do you need for a quote?
A dimensioned PDF plus DXF or STEP geometry. If only a sketch exists, our drawing review service formalizes it before quoting.
Do parts ship with inspection data?
Dimensional reports, surface certificates and material certs per melt are available; specify the level on the RFQ.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.