Fused Silica With Stepped Profiles – Fused Silica (CTE 0.55 x 10^-6 /K, 185 nm – 2.5 um); step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear. 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 stepped profiles 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 | Stepped Profiles |
| Capability | step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Getting the drawing right
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: its hardness and brittleness demand diamond tooling and controlled feeds.
- Feature rule: steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
- 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
One material, many routes: on Fused Silica we also quote coring, sandblasting, ultrasonic machining, edge grinding, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
These features are produced by cnc machining or grinding. Capability: step depth +/-0.02 mm, concentric or linear. Design rule worth copying onto the drawing: steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
Application context
The recurring buyers of fused silica with stepped profiles: 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.
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, fused silica wafers 2-12 inch, AR coating process.
Common 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 is the design rule for stepped profiles?
Steps let windows seat without adhesive in the aperture.
Is there a minimum order for fused silica with stepped profiles?
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.