Quick answer: Borofloat 33 vs Borosilicate Glass: How to Choose covers custom precision glass machined to drawing with inspection reports. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
The borofloat 33 vs borosilicate glass: how to choose decision is really about float flatness versus stock availability. The short version: Borofloat for wafers and bonding; generic 3.3 for fixtures and thick sections.
Side by side
| Borofloat 33 | Borosilicate Glass | |
|---|---|---|
| CTE | 3.25 x 10^-6 /K | 3.3 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temp | 450 C continuous | 450 C continuous |
| Transmission | 350 nm – 2.0 um | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Hardness | 480 kg/mm2 | 480 kg/mm2 |
| Density | 2.23 g/cm3 | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Signature trait | float-glass flatness off the line | chemical durability |
The decision axis is float flatness versus stock availability. Borofloat for wafers and bonding; generic 3.3 for fixtures and thick sections.
DFM notes from the shop floor
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- 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.
Application context
Orders for borofloat 33 vs borosilicate glass: how to choose cluster in oled packaging (cover lids, frit-seal frames, fill-port plates); laser systems (windows, beam splitters, debris shields); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks).
If the part is easier to draw than describe, the custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder turns dimensions into an RFQ in a few minutes.
Useful companion pages: glass hole micromachining, custom microfluidic chip, 4 inch Borofloat wafers.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which should I choose?
As a rule: Borofloat for wafers and bonding; generic 3.3 for fixtures and thick sections. Borderline cases are worth a materials review with our engineers.
Is there a minimum order for borofloat 33 vs borosilicate glass: how to choose?
No. Single prototypes are accepted, and pricing steps down at 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.