Quick answer: Optical Glass for Machine Vision covers Optical Glass (CTE 7.1 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um). Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
What optical glass for machine vision actually buys from a glass shop: camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates. The requirement underneath is flat, coated protection windows that do not distort imaging. Optical Glass is the fit here because it offers certified refractive index and dispersion.
Key parameters
| Material | Optical Glass (N-BK7, H-K9L and filter glass sets) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 7.1 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 400 C (Tg 557 C) |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.51 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 610 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.5168 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.30 – 50 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 300 mm diameter |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
DFM notes from the shop floor
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability.
- 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.
Process window
Beyond this page, Optical Glass routinely runs through edge grinding, etching, grinding, laser cutting in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Typical applications
Orders for optical glass for machine vision cluster in machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: optical glass.
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.
Engineers scoping this work usually also review optical polishing capability, AR optical windows, alkali-free glass wafers.
Frequently asked questions
How does Optical Glass behave under heat?
CTE is 7.1 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 400 C (Tg 557 C), which is what drives its use where certified refractive index and dispersion matters.
What do machine vision programs usually order?
Camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates. Typical spec: TWD < lambda/4, AR both faces.
Is there a minimum order for optical glass for machine vision?
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.