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 |
Capabilities and limits
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 drilling, edge grinding, double-side polishing, dicing, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Getting the drawing right
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.
Typical applications
sandblasting borosilicate glass shows up across 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 builder below, or open the full custom glass machining 3D builder to start from a blank canvas.
Useful companion pages: glass sandblasting, material selection guide, etched LED/OLED covers.
Buyer questions, answered
What tolerances are achievable on Borosilicate Glass parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Sheet stock carries more thickness variation than float wafer stock, so lapping is often the first step.
What thickness range do you stock for Borosilicate Glass?
Standard stock spans 0.50 – 30 mm, with blanks up to 600 x 400 mm. Other formats are sourced per order.
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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in July 2026.