Borosilicate Glass Glass Tubes: Borosilicate Glass (CTE 3.3 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); OD 3 – 200 mm, cut length +/-0.1 mm. Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
A drawing for borosilicate glass glass tubes is mostly a conversation about edges and datums. We produce them in Borosilicate Glass at OD 3 – 200 mm, cut length +/-0.1 mm, with end squareness 0.05 mm as the controlling tolerance, and finish the perimeter per spec.
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 Tubes |
| Size envelope | OD 3 – 200 mm, cut length +/-0.1 mm |
| Key tolerance | end squareness 0.05 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Capabilities and limits
One material, many routes: on Borosilicate Glass we also quote sandblasting, drilling, etching, lapping, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Production route: cnc machining, grinding, drilling – selected per geometry and volume. Edge condition: chamfered 0.1 – 0.5 mm as standard.
Getting the drawing right
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: sheet stock carries more thickness variation than float wafer stock, so lapping is often the first step.
- Hold the controlling dimension (end squareness 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.
Application context
The recurring buyers of borosilicate glass glass tubes: 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.
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: JGS1 quartz glass, ultra-thin glass materials, FTO conductive glass.
Buyer questions, answered
How does Borosilicate Glass behave under heat?
CTE is 3.3 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 450 C continuous, which is what drives its use where chemical durability matters.
What sizes are available for glass tubes?
OD 3 – 200 mm, cut length +/-0.1 mm, held to end squareness 0.05 mm.
Is there a minimum order for borosilicate glass glass tubes?
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.