Ultrasonic Machining Soda-Lime Glass – Soda-Lime Glass (CTE 9.0 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); Ultrasonic Machining to +/-0.02 mm form. No minimum order; DFM review included with every RFQ.
The combination of Soda-Lime Glass and Ultrasonic Machining comes up constantly in RFQs for a reason – the material offers temperable for 4-5x strength, and Ultrasonic Machining is the right way to get accurate geometry into it. Expect +/-0.02 mm form and matte machined surface.
The numbers
| Material | Soda-Lime Glass (Float per ASTM C1036, low-iron option) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 9.0 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 350 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.50 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 585 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.52 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.40 – 19 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 1,000 x 800 mm |
| Process | Ultrasonic Machining |
| Working tolerance | +/-0.02 mm form |
| Minimum feature | 0.3 mm blind features |
| Surface finish | matte machined surface |
| Thickness window | 0.5 – 25 mm |
| Edge condition | crack-free feature edges |
| 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: higher CTE means edge chips propagate under thermal load, so edge finishing quality drives reliability.
- Process boundary: material removal is slow, so it is reserved for features other processes cannot form.
- 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.
Capabilities and limits
The core strength of Ultrasonic Machining is blind cavities, non-round holes and stepped profiles that rotary tools cannot reach. The honest limit: material removal is slow, so it is reserved for features other processes cannot form. Both belong on the drawing before quoting, not after.
One material, many routes: on Soda-Lime Glass we also quote polishing, etching, edge grinding, sandblasting, and multi-step drawings are the norm rather than the exception.
Where these parts end up
Orders for ultrasonic machining soda-lime glass cluster in led packaging (groove covers, phosphor carriers, package windows); industrial displays (touch covers, gauge windows, printed bezels). Background reading on the underlying material science: ASTM C1036 flat glass standard.
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 fused silica material guide, optical polishing capability, precision glass grinding.
Buyer questions, answered
What equipment runs the ultrasonic machining work?
20 kHz ultrasonic spindles with shaped diamond form tools.
Is there a minimum order for ultrasonic machining soda-lime 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.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.