Quick answer: Edge Grinding Borofloat 33 covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Edge Grinding to chamfer +/-0.05 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
The combination of Borofloat 33 and Edge Grinding comes up constantly in RFQs for a reason – the material offers anodic bonding to silicon, and Edge Grinding is the right way to get accurate geometry into it. Expect chamfer +/-0.05 mm and ground C or R profile, polish option.
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 |
| Process | Edge Grinding |
| Working tolerance | chamfer +/-0.05 mm |
| Minimum feature | 0.1 mm chamfer leg |
| Surface finish | ground C or R profile, polish option |
| Thickness window | 0.1 – 25 mm |
| Edge condition | C-chamfer, R-round, pencil or OG profile |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Getting the drawing right
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Material note: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- Process boundary: profiles below 0.1 mm leg length are lapped by hand and priced per edge.
- 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.
Process window
Edge Grinding earns its place through edge strength – a finished chamfer roughly doubles the bend strength of a cut edge. Its boundary condition – profiles below 0.1 mm leg length are lapped by hand and priced per edge – is the first thing our DFM review checks.
Beyond this page, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through lapping, grinding, polishing, coring in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Application context
Orders for edge grinding borofloat 33 cluster in machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT BOROFLOAT product page.
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.
For adjacent specifications, see holes and edges design guide, Borofloat 33 selection guide, glass wafer coring.
Common questions
What equipment runs the edge grinding work?
CNC edge grinders with profiled diamond wheels.
Is there a minimum order for edge grinding borofloat 33?
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.