ENGINEERING GUIDE
The difficulty in narrow strip processing lies in edges and lot-to-lot consistency
Bars, Lids and Spacers are usually narrow and produced in high volume, with a long edge used as the assembly reference. Cutting skew, edge chipping or corner damage accumulate into positional deviation during volume assembly, and thin strips are also prone to breaking during cleaning and handling.
Applications
Where it can be used
- Bars, Lids, window strips and V-groove cover strips in optical communication devices
- Cover strips and spacer strips for sensors, MEMS and microelectronic packaging
- Slit plates, light-shielding strips and transparent support strips in optical systems
- Precision shims, insulating spacers and locating strips
- Long glass parts in laboratory equipment, microfluidics and small structures
Material Selection Logic
Why glass
Glass bars and strips can simultaneously provide electrical insulation, transparent viewing, stable spacing, sealing boundaries and thermal matching. Compared with polymers they usually offer better dimensional stability and heat resistance, but brittleness, edges and assembly stress must be controlled.
Material Selection
Common materials and their applications
| Material | Applications | Selection focus |
|---|
| BOROFLOAT® 33 | General Bar/Lid, sensor cover strips and shims | Low expansion, wide specification range, good cutting and polishing compatibility |
| Alkali-free glass substrates | Thin electronic-glass strips; verify the selected grade and surface condition | Focus on protecting thin plates and edges |
| Fused quartz / JGS1 | Strips for optical paths, high temperature, low CTE or high purity | Confirm the band, material grade and subsurface damage |
| Aluminosilicate Glass | Thin cover strips requiring higher mechanical reliability | Confirm the strengthening sequence and edge quality |
Typical Parameters
Common enquiry parameters
| Item | Common starting points or wording | Engineering notes |
|---|
| Thickness | Commonly 0.10-3.00 mm | Must be considered with stiffness and handling method |
| Width | Commonly 1-20 mm; minimum evaluable down to 1 mm | Related to thickness, length and handling |
| Length | Can range from a few millimetres to several hundred millimetres | The greater the length, the more straightness and parallelism matter |
| Width/length tolerance | Generally discussed from ±0.05 mm; precision parts can be evaluated to ±0.03 mm | The reference and inspection method must be specified |
| Edge chipping | Precision small parts assessable to <0.10 mm | Functional and non-functional edges can be graded separately |
| End face | Cut, ground or polished end faces | Where in the optical path, the angle and surface quality are specified separately |
Structure and Function
What it usually needs to look like
Commonly rectangular Bars, narrow Lids, transparent Spacers, strips polished at both ends, locating strips with holes or notches, profiled strips with steps/slots, and dual-function strips ground on one face and polished on the other.
- Protect chips, optical fibers, adhesive layers or microstructures
- Control assembly gaps and device height
- Serve as a transparent window, narrow optical path or optical support
- Provide insulating isolation and a precision locating reference
Performance Requirements
Performance items recommended for confirmation
- Consistency of width, length, parallelism and straightness
- End face angle and surface condition
- Low chipping, low micro-cracking and stable corners
- Thickness, A/B faces and functional area identification
- Compatibility with volume pick-and-place, cleaning and segregated packaging
Preparing Your Enquiry
Please provide in the drawing or enquiry
Material, length/width/thickness, key reference, width/length/parallelism tolerance, end face condition, chamfer, allowable chipping, A/B faces, functional area, quantity, arrangement and packaging method.
The parameters above are for preliminary material and process selection and do not constitute a uniform guarantee for all dimensions, thicknesses and materials. Final specifications, measurement methods and delivery standards are governed by the drawing, samples and order documents confirmed by both parties.
