Quick answer: Optical Glass for Machine Vision covers Optical Glass (CTE 7.1 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um). Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
What optical glass for machine vision actually buys from a glass shop: camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates. The requirement underneath is flat, coated protection windows that do not distort imaging. Optical Glass is the fit here because it offers certified refractive index and dispersion.
Key parameters
| Material | Optical Glass (N-BK7, H-K9L and filter glass sets) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 7.1 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 400 C (Tg 557 C) |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.51 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 610 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.5168 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.30 – 50 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 300 mm diameter |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Design guidance
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability.
- 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.
What the process holds
Beyond this page, Optical Glass routinely runs through drilling, ultrasonic machining, edge grinding, cnc machining in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Application context
The recurring buyers of optical glass for machine vision: ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: optical glass.
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: AR optical windows, fused silica material guide, laser glass cutting.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for optical glass for machine vision?
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 Optical Glass parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.