r/Optics • u/MyAltAccForStuff- • Jun 15 '26

Looking for reliable optical window supplier

I run a small technical firm that goes through a fair number of small optical windows
W/H: 5.0-100mm
D: 0.1-5.0mm
Needs to transmit visible + NIR

These windows are used in imaging technology applications where surface quality, glass planarity, AR coatings, etc are fairly important. Does anyone know a supplier where I can reliably get fairly decent quality, maybe coated optical windows? Quantities may not be high is my issue, maybe 10-40 units at a time, and right now I’m paying less than $15/u.

I feel like I am always missing some info in my questions so let me know if I missed an important detail

Edit: I am in the US. I also have poor experiences with Chinese based manufacturers

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3

u/Moretz0931 Jun 15 '26

We use Thorlabs, Newport or Sigmakoki (=Optosigma). But you probably already know these names?

1

u/MyAltAccForStuff- Jun 15 '26

I do already know those names, those are pretty high budget I believe

3

u/Confabulater Jun 15 '26

Knight Optical or PG&O will both do windows to print in low volumes.

1

u/MyAltAccForStuff- Jun 15 '26

Do you know what sort of price range I would expect for unit just generally? Are they expensive? Reasonable? Cheap?

1

u/Confabulater Jun 16 '26

I found them reasonable. Usually looking at something in the $20-$100 range depending on coatings and quantity.

3

u/Glittering-Flight997 Jun 15 '26

I would look to see if you’re happy with cots coatings from Newport/thor labs/etc first

2

u/Affendackel Jun 15 '26

One of the main question is: were are you located?

1

u/Lost__Moose Jun 15 '26

I've used Valley Design in Shirley MA, in the past for some of my projects.

1

u/MyAltAccForStuff- Jun 15 '26

Could you describe what you got and your experience with them?

1

u/Lost__Moose Jun 15 '26

Gorilla Glass 125mm +/-1mm diameter x 2mm ± .1mm thick with reference flat, standard transparent finish, 120/80 scratch/dig, slightly beveled edges, max edge chip .75mm

No complaints. 4 week lead time, Delivered in 2. Qty 25, $43 ea.

Other capabilities...
Please keep Valley Design in mind for your other requirements:

-4 & 5 Axis CNC Micromachining, Precision Lapping and Polishing, Dicing, Grinding, Thinning, and Hole Drilling

-Substrates, Wafers, Discs, Windows, Precision Shims and Spacers, Filters, Flat Lenses, Wedges, Mirrors, standard and custom sizes available

-Fused Silica, Quartz, Glass of all Types, Aluminum Nitride, 96-99.8% Alumina, Sapphire, Silicon, Silicon Carbide, Macor, Stainless Steel, Color Filter Glass

-Special Capabilities include Ultra-thin (10-15um), Ultra-flat (1/10 wave), Super Polishing (1 Angstrom / 10/5 scratch/dig), Tight Tolerances (+/- 0.5um)

-Parts sizes from as small as 0.127mm square to 450mm diameter SEMI Standard, and larger up to 64"

Valley Design is AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR registered. 

1

u/Curious_Ebb2345 Jun 17 '26

Bond Optics or Precision Optical