Custom Glass Windows
Glass windows create a transparent barrier in front of a light source, sensor, display, camera or process chamber. The glass may need optical transmission, mechanical protection, sealing, electrical insulation, chemical resistance or a combination of these functions.
China Lampoptics supplies round, rectangular, stepped, curved and project-specific windows from drawings or approved samples. Material choice follows the wavelength, temperature, environment and processing required by the assembly.
Window Glass Options
| Material route | Useful characteristic | Selection basis |
|---|---|---|
| Soda-lime glass | Cost-effective visible window material | General lighting, display and equipment covers |
| Borosilicate glass | Low thermal expansion and good chemical durability | Heat-exposed lighting, instruments and process equipment |
| Optical crown glass | Controlled refractive index and optical homogeneity | Sensors, imaging and precision optical windows |
| Colored or filter glass | Defined spectral transmission | Indicators, sensors and wavelength selection |
| Project-specific glass | Property set selected for one environment | Special chemical, thermal or optical duty |
The actual Lampoptics grades available in each material route are ____. Supplier property sheets must match the production lot and the required wavelength range.
Optical Specifications
| Transmission wavelength range | ____ nm to ____ nm |
|---|---|
| Average transmission | ____ |
| Refractive index / Abbe number | ____ / ____ |
| Flatness | ____ |
| Parallelism / wedge | ____ |
| Surface quality | ____ |
| Clear aperture | ____ |
| Coating and coated side | ____ |
| Angle of incidence | ____ |
| Environmental durability | ____ |
A window with parallel surfaces can create reflections or ghost images in a sensor or camera. Wedge, coating and installation angle are therefore optical design variables, not only drawing tolerances.
Mechanical and Seal Specifications
| Outside diameter / length x width | ____ mm |
|---|---|
| Thickness / step | ____ mm |
| Edge finish | ____ |
| Holes / notches | ____ |
| Supported area | ____ |
| Gasket contact | ____ |
| Service temperature | ____ |
| Pressure / impact duty | ____ |
The edge and supported span determine how the window carries assembly load. Holes, notches and steps must be located relative to the optical clear aperture and sealing surface.
Processing Capabilities
Lampoptics can provide coating, sandblasting, drilling, physical tempering and chemical tempering in addition to glass forming and annealing. The compatible process sequence depends on glass grade, thickness, edge condition and optical tolerance.
Available flatness, surface quality, hole size, coating and strengthening capability are ____.
Glass Window Processing
Material and Optical Review
Wavelength range, transmission, surface quality, environment and mechanical support are defined.
Cutting and Shaping
The window blank is cut or formed to the specified round, rectangular, stepped or custom outline.
Grinding, Polishing and Coating
Faces and edges are finished before any approved optical or protective coating is applied.
Optical and Dimensional Inspection
Clear aperture, surface quality, flatness or transmitted wavefront, dimensions and coating are checked.
Applications
- Lighting fixtures: protective cover glass over LEDs, lamps and reflectors
- Sensors and cameras: clear, filtered or coated optical windows
- Meters and displays: printed, stepped and strengthened cover glass
- Industrial equipment: sealed viewing and process windows
- Automotive and transport: lamp, indicator and instrument windows
Glass Window FAQs
How is an optical window different from ordinary cover glass?
An optical window has controlled transmission, flatness, wedge, surface quality and clear-aperture requirements.
Can Lampoptics supply stepped windows?
Yes. Stepped and other drawing-defined profiles can be evaluated; available size and tolerance are ____.
Can windows include holes or printing?
Lampoptics has drilling and coating capability. Hole geometry and printed or coated artwork must be controlled to the mechanical and optical datums.
Can a glass window be tempered?
Physical or chemical tempering may be used when compatible with material, thickness and optical quality.
Which material should be selected?
Selection depends on wavelength, temperature, chemical exposure, thermal shock, strength and cost; available Lampoptics grades are ____.
