Precision Glass Tubes and Rods for Optical Communication: Key Components in Fiber Optic Systems

Precision Glass Tubes and Rods for Optical Communication: Key Components in Fiber Optic Systems

In the rapidly evolving world of optical communication, precision glass tubes and rods play a critical role in ensuring the high performance of optical components. High borosilicate glass and quartz glass capillary tubes, including custom shapes such as semi-circular rods, have emerged as essential materials due to their superior precision, reliability, and versatility.

1. Manufacturing Process for Precision Glass Tubes

Precision glass tubes used in optical communication are manufactured through a high-temperature precision drawing process. This sophisticated technique ensures tight tolerances and exceptional geometric accuracy. While the production process is complex and requires high-precision equipment, the result is glass tubes with minimal dimensional deviation and excellent reliability, making them ideal for fiber optic components.

2. Customization of Special-Shaped Capillary Tubes and Rods

Meeting the specific demands of modern optical communication systems requires customization of glass tubes and rods in various shapes and sizes. High borosilicate glass and quartz glass are the two primary materials used for these precision components, offering the following advantages:

High Borosilicate Glass: Known for its excellent mechanical strength and stability, high borosilicate glass is the material of choice for optical component packaging. It has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (3.3 × 10^-6), making it highly resistant to temperature fluctuations. This material's superior durability ensures reliable performance in demanding environments.

Quartz Glass: For applications requiring exceptional optical clarity and low thermal expansion, quartz glass is an optimal choice. It is particularly valued in fiber optic systems for its high purity and excellent transmission properties.

Parameter performance comparison of quartz glass and high borosilicate glass

Performance parameter comparison (normal temperature and pressure)	Borosilicate glass	Quartz glass
Mohs hardness	6.5	7
Coefficient of thermal expansion	3.3*10-6k-1	5.5*10-7k-1
Deformation point	525℃	1120℃
Upper annealing point	560℃	1215℃
Softening point	825℃	1683℃
Density	2.23gcm-3	2.22gcm-3
Poisson's ratio	0.2	0.17
Thermal conductivity	1.2WM-1K-1	1.4WM-1K-1
Refractive index	1.473	1.589

We offer a variety of custom shapes, including square, round, triangular, and oval capillary tubes, as well as semi-circular rods. These custom configurations allow for precise alignment and packaging of optical components, enhancing performance and reliability.

Square Glass Tubing Ferrule For Fiber

Factory Supply Glass Ferrule For Fiber Holding

Borosilicate Glass sleeves for Fiber Holding

Custom Made Multiple Channels Fiber Opitc V Groove for Fiber Opitc Module

Precision Rectangle Quartz Glass Capillary Tubing

Round Quartz Glass Capillary Tubing

Fiber Optic Glass Collimator Sleeves

Rectangle Glass Capillary tube

Quartz glass Alignment Sleeves For Fiber Combiner

Quartz Glass Substrate for Fiber Coupler and WDM Manufacturing

3. Applications in Optical Communication

High borosilicate and quartz glass capillary tubes and rods are essential for various fiber optic applications, such as:

Optical Fiber Bundlers
Optical Fiber Couplers
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) Devices
Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) Splitters
Passive Optical Components
These components provide precise alignment, positioning, and support for optical fibers, ensuring stable and efficient performance in fiber optic systems.

4. Technical Requirements for Precision Glass Tubes

Precision glass tubes used in fiber optic systems must meet stringent technical standards. The key parameters include internal and external diameter tolerances, ovality, and concentricity. For typical applications, the tolerance for the internal diameter is within ±5 microns, while ovality is kept under 10 microns. In some cases, both internal and external diameters must have tolerances within ±5 microns, with ovality and concentricity less than 5 microns.

For packaging, high mechanical strength and stability against environmental changes are required. High borosilicate glass, with its minimal thermal expansion and high resistance to stress, is commonly used for packaging purposes in optical components.

5. Quality Inspection Methods

The precision of high borosilicate and quartz glass tubes is measured using advanced image processing systems and plug gauges. Ovality and concentricity are measured with specialized systems to ensure tight tolerances. Reliability testing involves subjecting the tubes to rapid thermal cycling, heating them to 300°C and quenching in water, to assess durability.


As fiber optic communication continues to expand, the demand for high-quality glass components like high borosilicate and quartz capillary tubes and rods remains strong. These precision-engineered products are essential for ensuring the reliable performance of optical systems, from fiber bundling to complex wavelength multiplexing. Whether standard or custom-shaped, our high borosilicate and quartz glass solutions provide the reliability and precision needed for today's advanced optical communication technologies.