Fused Silica for Aerospace Optics: Fused Silica (CTE 0.55 x 10^-6 /K, 185 nm – 2.5 um). Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
What fused silica for aerospace optics actually buys from a glass shop: sensor windows, star-tracker flats, radiation-tolerant ports. The requirement underneath is thermally stable optics qualified for vibration and vacuum. Fused Silica is the fit here because it offers near-zero thermal expansion.
Key parameters
| Material | Fused Silica (JGS1 (UV), JGS2 (standard), JGS3 (IR)) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 0.55 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 1,100 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 185 nm – 2.5 um |
| Density | 2.20 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 500 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.458 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.10 – 50 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 450 x 450 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Design guidance
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: its hardness and brittleness demand diamond tooling and controlled feeds.
- 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.
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Fused Silica we also quote coring, sandblasting, grinding, polishing, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Application context
Orders for fused silica for aerospace optics cluster in laboratory instruments (cuvettes, sight glasses, stir-cell windows); mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids); medical diagnostics (flow cells, slides, microplate bottoms, cuvette windows). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: fused silica.
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 fused silica wafers 2-12 inch, fused silica wafer applications, glass wafer bonding.
Frequently asked questions
How does Fused Silica behave under heat?
CTE is 0.55 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 1,100 C continuous, which is what drives its use where near-zero thermal expansion matters.
What do aerospace optics programs usually order?
Sensor windows, star-tracker flats, radiation-tolerant ports. Typical spec: fused silica preferred, full material certs.
Is there a minimum order for fused silica for aerospace optics?
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.