Optical Glass for Scientific Instruments – Optical Glass (CTE 7.1 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um). No minimum order; DFM review included with every RFQ.
What optical glass for scientific instruments actually buys from a glass shop: reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts. The requirement underneath is custom one-off and small-batch precision parts. 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 |
Design guidance
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- 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.
What the process holds
Beyond this page, Optical Glass routinely runs through sandblasting, grinding, ultrasonic machining, laser cutting in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Typical applications
The recurring buyers of optical glass for scientific instruments: machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass); 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.
Related reading on this site: JGS1 quartz glass, AR coated glass materials, AR coating process.
Buyer questions, answered
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 scientific instruments programs usually order?
Reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts. Typical spec: to-drawing tolerances with inspection reports.
Is there a minimum order for optical glass for scientific instruments?
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.