Fused Silica for Optical Sensors: Fused Silica (CTE 0.55 x 10^-6 /K, 185 nm – 2.5 um). Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
fused silica for optical sensors programs need filtered, AR-coated apertures matched to detector bands. Fused Silica is the fit here because it offers near-zero thermal expansion. Typical parts: sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers.
Specifications at a glance
| Material | Fused Silica (JGS1 (UV), JGS2 (standard), JGS3 (IR)) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 0.55 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 1,100 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 185 nm – 2.5 um |
| Density | 2.20 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 500 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.458 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.10 – 50 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 450 x 450 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Fused Silica we also quote drilling, sandblasting, coring, grinding, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Specification advice
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: its hardness and brittleness demand diamond tooling and controlled feeds.
- 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.
For the complete framework, see the tolerance design guide and the holes and edges design guide.
Application context
fused silica for optical sensors shows up across optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); aerospace optics (sensor windows, star-tracker flats, radiation-tolerant ports); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: fused silica.
The fastest route to a quote is geometry: use the 3D builder below, draw a dimensioned 2D drawing from it, or open the site-wide custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder for fully custom parts.
Related reading on this site: optical polishing capability, fused silica material guide, precision glass grinding.
Buyer questions, answered
Is there a minimum order for fused silica for optical sensors?
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.
What tolerances are achievable on Fused Silica parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Its hardness and brittleness demand diamond tooling and controlled feeds.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.