Practical knowledge, lessons learned, company stories, industry perspectives, and ideas from the people who work with precision glass, optics, ceramics, sapphire, and advanced materials every day.
Explore technical topics, manufacturing insights, IRD news, and the occasional idea that simply caught our attention.
134 articles
AIM Photonics’ September field demonstration shows why material, packaging, inspection, and repeatability matter as optical sensors move beyond the lab.
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IRD has achieved ISO 13485:2016 certification, the internationally recognized quality management standard for the medical device industry, issued by EAGLE Registrations Inc. and effective July 21, 2026.
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Choosing the right light pipe starts with a practical question: what does the component need to do inside the larger optical system? The answer may involve beam uniformity, illumination shape, assembly space, wavelength range,…
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When a glass component changes the path of light, it can affect how the larger optical system performs. Refractive index is one of the material properties engineers use to predict that behavior. Understanding the refractive ind…
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Material choice shapes how an optical component performs inside a larger assembly. Fused silica and nBK7 are both common optical glass materials, but they solve different problems. For teams weighing fused silica vs. nBK7 for t…
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Choosing a custom optical component partner is not just a sourcing decision. It affects manufacturability, inspections, repeatability, and how confidently your team can move from a print or concept to a finished part. For engin…
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Why Thin Substrates, Tough Tolerances, and Tight Timelines Demand More Than Just the Lowest Quote Small mistakes can lead to significant consequences in precision glass manufacturing. When substrates get thinner, tolerances get…
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Innovation at IRD Glass: A Culture of Continuous Improvement At IRD Glass, innovation isn’t just about bringing new capabilities to market —it’s a mindset that drives us to improve every process, every product, and even ourselv…
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In the precision-driven world of glass manufacturing, IRD Glass stands apart by blending cutting-edge technology with a people-first philosophy. While advanced machinery and processes are crucial, our competitive edge lies in o…
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At IRD Glass, we’ve always believed there’s more to our work beyond the precision glass and ceramic components we manufacture. While product quality and customer satisfaction are central to our work, our leadership has always c…
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When creating components for applications in the aerospace, medical, outer space, and defense industries, there’s no room for error. At IRD Glass, we know that our customers rely on our precision to enable their visions. That i…
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In today’s globalized world, ensuring the security of sensitive information and technology is more crucial than ever. To maintain this integrity, businesses operating in the defense and aerospace sectors must follow strict regu…
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