Borosilicate Glass Glass Frames – Borosilicate Glass (CTE 3.3 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); Window cutouts with 2 mm minimum web. No minimum order; DFM review included with every RFQ.
We build borosilicate glass glass frames to print – Window cutouts with 2 mm minimum web – primarily in Borosilicate Glass. Typical use: bezels, gasket carriers and bonded lids.
Specifications at a glance
| Material | Borosilicate Glass (3.3 expansion group per ISO 3585) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.3 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 450 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 480 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.473 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.50 – 30 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 600 x 400 mm |
| Geometry | Glass Frames |
| Size envelope | Window cutouts with 2 mm minimum web |
| Key tolerance | cutout +/-0.05 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Borosilicate Glass we also quote ultrasonic machining, dicing, coring, double-side polishing, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Production route: cnc machining, laser cutting – selected per geometry and volume. Edge condition: chamfered 0.1 – 0.5 mm as standard.
Getting the drawing right
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Material note: sheet stock carries more thickness variation than float wafer stock, so lapping is often the first step.
- Hold the controlling dimension (cutout +/-0.05 mm) and let secondary dimensions carry standard tolerance – it is the single biggest cost lever.
- 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.
For the complete framework, see the tolerance design guide and the holes and edges design guide.
Typical applications
Orders for borosilicate glass glass frames cluster in medical diagnostics (flow cells, slides, microplate bottoms, cuvette windows); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); laboratory instruments (cuvettes, sight glasses, stir-cell windows). Background reading on the underlying material science: ISO 3585 borosilicate glass 3.3.
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: optical glass options, FTO conductive glass, CCD screening plates.
Common questions
Is there a minimum order for borosilicate glass glass frames?
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.
What tolerances are achievable on Borosilicate Glass parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Sheet stock carries more thickness variation than float wafer stock, so lapping is often the first step.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.