Quick answer: Sandblasting Borofloat 33 covers Borofloat 33 (CTE 3.25 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); Sandblasting to mask registration +/-0.1 mm. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
sandblasting borofloat 33 is a materials problem before it is a machining problem. Borofloat 33 has float-glass flatness off the line and a Knoop hardness of 480 kg/mm2, so the sandblasting recipe – feeds, coolant, tooling – differs from what works on ordinary float glass. The line runs automated cabinets with alumina media and photoresist masks and holds mask registration +/-0.1 mm.
Key parameters
| Material | Borofloat 33 (SCHOTT float production, wafer grade) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.25 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 450 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 480 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.471 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.70 – 25.4 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 500 x 500 mm |
| Process | Sandblasting |
| Working tolerance | mask registration +/-0.1 mm |
| Minimum feature | 1 mm masked window |
| Surface finish | uniform matte, gloss 4 – 8 GU |
| Thickness window | 0.7 – 25 mm |
| Edge condition | not applicable |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Specification advice
Three items decide most of the cost and lead time on this work:
- Material note: float tin side must be tracked when parts see coating or bonding steps.
- Process boundary: blasted faces lose roughly 30% bend strength; safety-critical faces get a post-etch.
- 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
Sandblasting earns its place through uniform diffusing texture and masked logos or windows at panel scale. Its boundary condition – blasted faces lose roughly 30% bend strength; safety-critical faces get a post-etch – is the first thing our DFM review checks.
Beyond this page, Borofloat 33 routinely runs through cnc machining, coring, grinding, edge grinding in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Typical applications
sandblasting borofloat 33 shows up across mems devices (cap wafers, TGV substrates, motion-sensor lids); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers); microfluidic devices (chips, manifolds, via plates, bonded stacks). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT BOROFLOAT product page.
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: Borofloat 33 selection guide, 4 inch Borofloat wafers, CCD screening plates.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment runs the sandblasting work?
Automated cabinets with alumina media and photoresist masks.
Is there a minimum order for sandblasting borofloat 33?
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.