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Fused quartz and technical glass are remarkably versatile engineering materials, with unique physical properties. Unlike metals, they are transparent, relatively immune to corrosion in most environments, and strong and stable. Literally thousands of different types of glass are available, each with its own unique combination of optical, mechanical, electrical and chemical properties. With proper selection and processing, a single glass or fused quartz component will often perform better than a complex subassembly utilizing several different materials.
The very low coefficient of thermal expansion of fused quartz, together with its strength, rigidity, and high electrical resistance makes it an ideal substrate for many thin-film and semiconductor devices, where dimensional stability is critical. Its combination of far UV transmittance and low expansion also make it an excellent choice for substrates for optical masks used in exposing semi-conductor wafers during the production of integrated circuits. And its superior resistance to chemicals and thermal shock gives laboratory equipment made of fused quartz a longer service life.
The exceptionally broad scope of PG's capabilities and experience presents design engineers, scientists and researchers with a unique source for the fabrication of a wide range of quartz and glass components -- precision manufactured to highest quality standards. Blanks for windows, flats, lenses and prisms are diamond sawn from optical slab glass with has passed rigorous inspection for accuracy of refractive index, dispersion, striae, and bubbles. Highly skilled operators maintain precise control of parallelism, radius, centering and overall figure during grinding and polishing. Tolerances of one wave are regularly held on production work up to four inches in diameter with thickness/diameter ratios of 1/6 or greater. All optics are meticulously tested on masters, or by other precise interferometric methods.
Through the use of state-of-the-art computer controlled drilling equipment, PG maintains highly accurate centerline position tolerances and tight noncumulative error tolerances on components requiring a pattern of small or deep holes.
PG also custom fabricates blown glass components and intricate apparatus for analytical, biological and research laboratories.
PG has long been a leader in applying unique fabrication processes, including electrostatic bonding of similar and dissimilar materials and vacuum forming, to the development of prototypes for design feasibility studies and product testing.
For example, PG produced a series of wind tunnel test models with complex profiles for NASA's reentry vehicle nosecones. These were accurately machined, ground and polished to complex curves from ceramic-glass, quartz, and Zerodur.
PG also developed anew x-ray mask substrates and mounting jigs for use in silicon photolithography research for the next generation of ultra-dense integrated circuits. These ring-shaped wafer jigs required flat surfaces plane-parallel to 40 micro inches as well as both sunken and precisely flat, polished sealing surfaces to maintain the vacuum during printing.
PG's expertise in these and other fabrication techniques for prototype development and production, based on over 30 years of experience, provides engineers and specifiers with cost-effective solutions to prototype development and manufacturing problems.
Precision Glass Products Company
145 Montgomery
Avenue,
Oreland, PA, USA 19075
215-885-0145
Fax: 215-885-2792
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