Quick answer: Dicing Optical Glass covers Optical Glass (CTE 7.1 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Dicing to +/-0.01 mm index accuracy. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
Ask any process engineer what makes optical glass difficult and the answer is specific: index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability. Our dicing line is tooled around exactly that – automatic dicing saws with resin and metal-bond blades – holding +/-0.01 mm index accuracy on parts from 0.05 – 3 mm thick.
Specification envelope
| Material | Optical Glass (N-BK7, H-K9L and filter glass sets) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 7.1 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 400 C (Tg 557 C) |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.51 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 610 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.5168 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.30 – 50 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 300 mm diameter |
| Process | Dicing |
| Working tolerance | +/-0.01 mm index accuracy |
| Minimum feature | 30 um kerf |
| Surface finish | edge chipping under 15 um |
| Thickness window | 0.05 – 3 mm |
| Edge condition | saw edge, optional etch relief |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Manufacturing capability
The core strength of Dicing is singulating wafers into dies with tight index accuracy and low chipping. The honest limit: straight-line cuts only; contours route to laser cutting instead. Both belong on the drawing before quoting, not after.
One material, many routes: on Optical Glass we also quote edge grinding, ultrasonic machining, coring, etching, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Design guidance
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability.
- Process boundary: straight-line cuts only; contours route to laser cutting instead.
- 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.
Typical applications
dicing optical glass shows up across laser systems (windows, beam splitters, debris shields); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: optical glass.
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: AR optical windows, AR coating process, laser glass cutting.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment runs the dicing work?
Automatic dicing saws with resin and metal-bond blades.
Is there a minimum order for dicing optical glass?
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.