Fused Silica With Microchannels – Fused Silica (CTE 0.55 x 10^-6 /K, 185 nm – 2.5 um); width from 10 um etched, 100 um machined. No minimum order; DFM review included with every RFQ.
When a drawing calls out Fused Silica, three numbers matter before any machining starts: CTE of 0.55 x 10^-6 /K, service temperature to 1,100 C continuous, and a transmission window of 185 nm – 2.5 um. fused silica with microchannels here begin with those numbers and end with dimensional reports.
The numbers
| 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 |
| Feature | Microchannels |
| Capability | width from 10 um etched, 100 um machined |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Specification advice
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: its hardness and brittleness demand diamond tooling and controlled feeds.
- Feature rule: isotropic etch widens channels ~2x depth – masks are compensated.
- 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.
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Fused Silica we also quote dicing, etching, cnc machining, double-side polishing, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
These features are produced by etching or laser cutting. Capability: width from 10 um etched, 100 um machined. Design rule worth copying onto the drawing: isotropic etch widens channels ~2x depth – masks are compensated.
Who orders this
The recurring buyers of fused silica with microchannels: medical diagnostics (flow cells, slides, microplate bottoms, cuvette windows); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); aerospace optics (sensor windows, star-tracker flats, radiation-tolerant ports). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: fused silica.
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: wafer dicing process, material selection guide, high-temperature quartz windows.
Buyer questions, answered
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 is the design rule for microchannels?
Isotropic etch widens channels ~2x depth – masks are compensated.
Is there a minimum order for fused silica with microchannels?
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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.