Quick answer: Borofloat 33 With Edge Notches covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); notch width from 0.5 mm, positioned +/-0.05 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
Buyers come to borofloat 33 with edge notches with two kinds of parts: catalog-adjacent blanks that need accurate finishing, and genuinely custom geometry. We quote both from the same dataset – SCHOTT float production, wafer grade stock in 0.70 – 25.4 mm, blanks to 500 x 500 mm.
Specification envelope
| 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 |
| Feature | Edge Notches |
| Capability | notch width from 0.5 mm, positioned +/-0.05 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Process window
Beyond this page, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through ultrasonic machining, laser cutting, etching, sandblasting in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
These features are produced by cnc machining or laser cutting. Capability: notch width from 0.5 mm, positioned +/-0.05 mm. Design rule worth copying onto the drawing: radius every internal notch corner – sharp corners crack.
DFM notes from the shop floor
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- Feature rule: radius every internal notch corner – sharp corners crack.
- 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.
Who orders this
Orders for borofloat 33 with edge notches cluster in machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers). 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.
Useful companion pages: 4 inch Borofloat wafers, wafer dicing process, glass wafer bonding.
Common questions
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 with edge notches?
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.