Sandblasting Borosilicate Glass – Borosilicate Glass (CTE 3.3 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); Sandblasting to mask registration +/-0.1 mm. No minimum order; DFM review included with every RFQ.
We blast Borosilicate Glass daily, in thicknesses from 0.7 – 25 mm. The controlling numbers: mask registration +/-0.1 mm working tolerance, 1 mm masked window minimum features, and uniform matte, gloss 4 – 8 GU off the machine. Where the drawing asks for more, downstream lapping and polishing take over.
Specifications at a glance
| Material | Borosilicate Glass (3.3 expansion group per ISO 3585) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.3 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 450 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 480 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.473 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.50 – 30 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 600 x 400 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 |
Manufacturing capability
The core strength of Sandblasting is uniform diffusing texture and masked logos or windows at panel scale. The honest limit: blasted faces lose roughly 30% bend strength; safety-critical faces get a post-etch. Both belong on the drawing before quoting, not after.
One material, many routes: on Borosilicate Glass we also quote ultrasonic machining, edge grinding, lapping, laser cutting, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Specification advice
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Material note: sheet stock carries more thickness variation than float wafer stock, so lapping is often the first step.
- 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.
Application context
The recurring buyers of sandblasting borosilicate glass: medical diagnostics (flow cells, slides, microplate bottoms, cuvette windows); scientific instruments (reference flats, cells, prism mounts, stage inserts); laboratory instruments (cuvettes, sight glasses, stir-cell windows). Background reading on the underlying material science: ISO 3585 borosilicate glass 3.3.
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.
For adjacent specifications, see glass sandblasting, material selection guide, ultra-thin quartz discs.
Buyer questions, answered
How does Borosilicate Glass behave under heat?
CTE is 3.3 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 450 C continuous, which is what drives its use where chemical durability matters.
What accuracy does sandblasting hold?
Mask registration +/-0.1 mm with minimum features of 1 mm masked window. Blasted faces lose roughly 30% bend strength; safety-critical faces get a post-etch.
What equipment runs the sandblasting work?
Automated cabinets with alumina media and photoresist masks.
Is there a minimum order for sandblasting borosilicate 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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.