Quick answer: Optical Glass Special-Shaped Glass covers Optical Glass (CTE 7.1 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
optical glass special-shaped glass are ordered for anything a drawing describes – notches, tabs, arcs. The geometry envelope is Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm, held to contour +/-0.05 mm, in Optical Glass.
The numbers
| 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 |
| Geometry | Special-Shaped Glass |
| Size envelope | Any DXF/STEP outline within 600 x 400 mm |
| Key tolerance | contour +/-0.05 mm |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Design guidance
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.
- Hold the controlling dimension (contour +/-0.05 mm) and let secondary dimensions carry standard tolerance – it is the single biggest cost lever.
- 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.
Manufacturing capability
One material, many routes: on Optical Glass we also quote sandblasting, double-side polishing, laser cutting, ultrasonic machining, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Production route: cnc machining, laser cutting, edge grinding – selected per geometry and volume. Edge condition: chamfered 0.1 – 0.5 mm as standard.
Where these parts end up
optical glass special-shaped glass shows up across laser systems (windows, beam splitters, debris shields); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); machine vision (camera windows, ring-light diffusers, calibration plates). Background reading on the underlying material science: RP Photonics: optical glass.
Dimensions still moving? Configure this part live in the 3D + 2D builder below, or open the full custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder to start from a blank canvas.
Useful companion pages: AR coating process, AR optical windows, custom ITO glass.
Buyer questions, answered
Is there a minimum order for optical glass special-shaped glass?
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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.