Borofloat 33 With Grooves: Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); depth from 0.2 mm, V, U or square section. Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
Buyers come to borofloat 33 with grooves 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.
The numbers
| 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 | Grooves |
| Capability | depth from 0.2 mm, V, U or square section |
| 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: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- Feature rule: depth under 50% of thickness preserves strength.
- 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.
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Borofloat 33 we also quote sandblasting, grinding, edge grinding, drilling, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
These features are produced by cnc machining or ultrasonic machining. Capability: depth from 0.2 mm, V, U or square section. Design rule worth copying onto the drawing: depth under 50% of thickness preserves strength.
Application context
borofloat 33 with grooves shows up across 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.
For adjacent specifications, see wafer dicing process, Borofloat 33 selection guide, fused silica material guide.
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 is the design rule for grooves?
Depth under 50% of thickness preserves strength.
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 with grooves?
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.