Quick answer: Borofloat 33 With Stepped Profiles covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
Our borofloat 33 with stepped profiles cover the full route from blank to inspected part: sawing, CNC profiling, drilling, grinding, polishing and edge finishing under one roof. Borofloat 33 stands out for float-glass flatness off the line and anodic bonding to silicon, and both properties survive our processing because every step is tuned to the material.
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 | Stepped Profiles |
| Capability | step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear |
| 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: steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
- 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, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through double-side polishing, lapping, grinding, ultrasonic machining in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
These features are produced by cnc machining or grinding. Capability: step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear. Design rule worth copying onto the drawing: steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
Where these parts end up
The recurring buyers of borofloat 33 with stepped profiles: optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids); machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates). 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 wafer dicing process, Borofloat 33 selection guide, JGS1 quartz glass.
Common questions
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 stepped profiles?
Steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 with stepped profiles?
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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.