Quick answer: Borofloat 33 for Optical Sensors covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um). Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
borofloat 33 for optical sensors programs need filtered, AR-coated apertures matched to detector bands. Borofloat 33 is the fit here because it offers float-glass flatness off the line. Typical parts: sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers.
Specifications at a glance
| 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 |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Process window
Beyond this page, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through polishing, ultrasonic machining, double-side polishing, etching in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
DFM notes from the shop floor
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Material note: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- 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.
Typical applications
The recurring buyers of borofloat 33 for optical sensors: led packaging (groove covers, phosphor carriers, package windows); mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT BOROFLOAT product page.
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.
Engineers scoping this work usually also review precision glass grinding, Borofloat 33 selection guide, wafer dicing process.
Buyer questions, answered
How does Borofloat 33 behave under heat?
CTE is 3.25 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 450 C continuous, which is what drives its use where float-glass flatness off the line matters.
What do optical sensors programs usually order?
Sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers. Typical spec: band edges within +/-2 nm, outline +/-0.05 mm.
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.