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 |
Design guidance
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- 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.
Process window
Beyond this page, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through double-side polishing, edge grinding, laser cutting, polishing 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.
Who orders this
borofloat 33 with stepped profiles shows up across optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); 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.
Related reading on this site: 4 inch Borofloat wafers, Borofloat 33 selection guide, LED groove cover glass.
Common questions
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.
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.