Glass With Microchannels: width from 10 um etched, 100 um machined. Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
glass with microchannels – manufactured to drawing with documented tolerances, from single prototypes to production.
The numbers
| 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:
- 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.
What the process holds
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.
Typical applications
glass with microchannels shows up across optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); medical diagnostics (flow cells, slides, microplate bottoms, cuvette windows); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks).
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: glass sandblasting, high-temperature quartz windows, alkali-free glass wafers.
Frequently asked questions
Do parts ship with inspection data?
Dimensional reports, surface certificates and material certs per melt are available; specify the level on the RFQ.
What is the design rule for microchannels?
Isotropic etch widens channels ~2x depth – masks are compensated.
Is there a minimum order for glass 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.
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 September 2026.