Quick answer: Edge Grinding Soda-Lime Glass covers Soda-Lime Glass (CTE 9.0 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); Edge Grinding to chamfer +/-0.05 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
edge grinding soda-lime glass is a materials problem before it is a machining problem. Soda-Lime Glass has lowest cost per square meter and a Knoop hardness of 585 kg/mm2, so the edge grinding recipe – feeds, coolant, tooling – differs from what works on ordinary float glass. The line runs CNC edge grinders with profiled diamond wheels and holds chamfer +/-0.05 mm.
Key parameters
| Material | Soda-Lime Glass (Float per ASTM C1036, low-iron option) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 9.0 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 350 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.50 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 585 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.52 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.40 – 19 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 1,000 x 800 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: higher CTE means edge chips propagate under thermal load, so edge finishing quality drives reliability.
- 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.
Capabilities and limits
The core strength of Edge Grinding is edge strength – a finished chamfer roughly doubles the bend strength of a cut edge. The honest limit: profiles below 0.1 mm leg length are lapped by hand and priced per edge. Both belong on the drawing before quoting, not after.
One material, many routes: on Soda-Lime Glass we also quote lapping, drilling, grinding, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Typical applications
The recurring buyers of edge grinding soda-lime glass: led packaging (groove covers, phosphor carriers, package windows); industrial displays (touch covers, gauge windows, printed bezels). Background reading on the underlying material science: ASTM C1036 flat glass standard.
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: edge grinding overview, holes and edges design guide, beam splitter glass.
Common questions
What equipment runs the edge grinding work?
CNC edge grinders with profiled diamond wheels.
Is there a minimum order for edge grinding soda-lime 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.