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 |
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 dicing, polishing, ultrasonic machining, cnc machining in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Application context
The recurring buyers of optical glass for scientific instruments: scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates); ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass). 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 AR coated glass materials, JGS1 quartz glass, high-purity quartz guide.
Buyer questions, answered
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.
Do parts ship with inspection data?
Dimensional reports, surface certificates and material certs per melt are available; specify the level on the RFQ.
What tolerances are achievable on Optical Glass parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Index-certified blanks must be oriented and serialized through the shop to keep melt traceability.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.