Glass CNC Machining

Premium glass CNC machining services for your custom optical designs and specifications.

Precision CNC Glass Machining at Runsom Precision

Our machine shops are equipped with a variety of top-notch multi-axis CNC machines to fabricate precision glass components with intricate geometries, especially the 5-axis CNC machining centers that are capable of processing glass optical parts in need of special bevels, mounting interfaces, inserts, and lightweight structures. Additionally, we also work with a broad array of demanding materials such as ceramics, tungsten carbide, corundum, and even composites.

Our products include glass flat sheets with precise perimeters, as well as low to high-volume optical lenses, light pipes, and prisms. Numerous components like flow cells, cuvettes, glass, and quartz wafers, are used for advanced, technology-driven applications across industries. Our machining processes are accurate, repeatable, and stable whether for prototyping or high-volume production.

Request an instant quote to get started with your glass machining project now!

CNC Machining of Optical Components with Complex Geometries

CNC machining is rapidly gaining favor as an affordable method for processing optical components with sophisticated geometries or features. This process involves electro-mechanical devices controlled by computers, programmed in a machining language called "G-code", and confers dozens of benefits over traditional machining that requires manipulation. When it comes to manufacturing components beyond basic shapes, CNC machines offer the highest flexibility, repeatability, and precision.

Metals and plastics are common materials to form components using CNC machining for a long time, but with the growing demands and technological advances, some materials like glass or other optical materials also become accessible in this process. Besides optical glass, a variety of other demanding materials including ceramics, tungsten carbide, corundum, and even composite materials, are available for CNC machining, especially some of which cannot be machined with traditional machining methods.

CNC Machining of Optical Components

Speed up the fabrication of optical components with intricate geometries

A wealth of materials are available when they cannot be processed by conventional methods

Make special features such as steps, grooves, counterbores, bevels, chamfers, etc

Higher repeatability than traditional manual operations

Advantages of CNC Glass Machining

In contrast to conventional grinding and polishing, CNC machining is advantageous in manufacturing optical components. Part of the key benefits it offers are as shown below:

Advantages of CNC Glass Machining

CNC machines are capable of running uninterruptedly all day, 365 days a year, and only need to be shut down for repairs or maintenance.

A CNC machine is unique in its ability to produce components with geometrical details, including steps, slots, bevels, deep holes, notches, counterbores, chamfers, and more. The grade of accuracy and repeatability it created is impossible to realize by conventional machines even manipulated by expert machinists.

CNC machines are highly automated, so technicians don’t need to pay too much attention and time on the supervision of the work of the CNC machine. Their autonomy enables a machinist to observe the operation of several machines for hours after programming, significantly reducing labor costs and operating costs.

CNC machining is a highly repeatable process in which hundreds to thousands of parts are identically produced following the same procedure at fast production runs. However, it seems inevitable that there are slight differences between components in traditional machining.

Disadvantages of CNC Glass Machining

The disadvantage of CNC glass machining mainly lies in its higher upfront cost of purchase of CNC equipment than conventional machines. As a result, more expensive equipment is, higher expense customers have to undertake.

But on the other hand, products made from CNC machines typically host high precision, repeatability, and consistency with complex geometries. For the manufacture of simple optics such as spherical lenses and rectangular prisms, CNC machining of glass is not a cost-effective method but is ideal for making components requiring high accuracy and complexity.

Applications

The areas of applications for CNC machined glass or precision optical parts are broad, including medical, electronic, aerospace, automotive industries, and more. Our glass milling solutions have served a range of industrial, residential, and commercial arenas.

Semiconductor

Semiconductor

High-precision polygonal mirrors, wafer stages, reference frames and cubes, and more

Advanced Telescopes

Advanced Telescopes

Stable mirror substrates made of advanced materials

Defense and Aerospace

Defense and Aerospace

Ultimate-lightweight mirror substrates and components with complex bevels and cuts

Biotechnology

Biotechnology

Flow cells and other glass parts with complex holes and channels

Why Choose Us?

1. Complicated Features

No matter how complex features and geometries your parts require, we are proficient in delivering high-quality and precision components to accommodate your crucial specifications and demands.

2. Exceptional Performance

We employ a variety of techniques to realize the effect of lightweight glass or optical components through design patterns and achieve the best performance for your products. We’re always in pursuit of excellent functions in that the overall weight of a part is reduced while its required strength and integrity are still maintained.

CNC machined glass part
CNC machined glass part

3. Incredible Capacity

In virtue of the latest CAD/CAM software system, state-of-the-art CNC machines as well as highly skilled specialists, Runsom Precision has the capability to handle even the most intricate optical designs, specifications, and requirements.

4. Remarkable Quality

If you’re looking for a timely solution that exactly matches your project or application, rely on Runsom Precision. We are always dedicated to presenting the best result that fulfills customers’ specifications and even exceeds their expectations.

CNC Glass Fabrication Specification

Minimum Thickness 0.76 mm [0.030″]
Maximum Thickness >25.4 mm [1.0″]
Tolerance ±0.508 mm [±0.020″] up to ±0.127 mm [±0.005″]
Minimum Size 50.8 mm x 50.8 mm [2″ x 2″]
Maximum Size 2,286 mm x 1,524 mm [90″ x 60″]
Minimum Hole Size (Diameter) 0.76 mm [0.030″]

Materials Available for CNC Glass Fabrication

We work with a broad variety of glass types to meet diverse demands on CNC glass manufacturing, including:

D263

B270

Pattern glass

Gorilla glass

Filter glass

Borofloat®

Teleprompter Mirror

Anti-Reflective & Non-Glare Glass

Float Glass (Soda Lime & Low Iron)

Other more

CNC Machining Glass FAQs

In addition to optical glass, CNC machining is also a feasible method to process a variety of demanding materials, including corundum, ceramics, tungsten carbide, and even composite materials.

This process may involve laser machining, grinding, micro-cutting, EDM, or silicon etching. Optical machining requires the processing of flat and free-form optical surfaces. Micro-cutting is the only method that can achieve the required accuracy, precision, and structural size on both optical surfaces.

CNC machining is ideal for cutting, drilling, and shaping the glass into the desired shape, size, or curved edge. Internal cutouts, including perfect holes, can be removed and delicately polished. Your glass parts can be completely customized in line with your own drawings and produced with exceptional precision and the highest quality.