Quick answer: Alkali-Free Glass Glass Spacers covers Alkali-Free Glass (CTE 3.2 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Thickness 0.1 – 10 mm held to +/-0.005 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
We build alkali-free glass glass spacers to print – Thickness 0.1 – 10 mm held to +/-0.005 mm – primarily in Alkali-Free Glass. Typical use: optical path length control and stack assembly.
Key parameters
| Material | Alkali-Free Glass (AF32 / EAGLE-class display glass) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.2 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 600 C (Tg 717 C) |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.43 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 590 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.51 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.10 – 1.1 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 400 x 300 mm |
| Geometry | Glass Spacers |
| Size envelope | Thickness 0.1 – 10 mm held to +/-0.005 mm |
| Key tolerance | parallelism 2 um |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
DFM notes from the shop floor
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: thin sheets below 0.3 mm demand carrier-supported handling through every step.
- Hold the controlling dimension (parallelism 2 um) 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.
Process window
Beyond this page, Alkali-Free Glass routinely runs through double-side polishing, cnc machining, polishing, lapping in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Production route: grinding, lapping, double-side polishing – selected per geometry and volume. Edge condition: ground perimeter, squareness 0.02 mm.
Where these parts end up
alkali-free glass glass spacers shows up across mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids); ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass); industrial displays (touch covers, gauge windows, printed bezels). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT AF 32 eco.
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.
Useful companion pages: thickness and flatness guide, precision glass drilling, optical glass options.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for alkali-free glass glass spacers?
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.