A window is an optic. A core is a cylinder of crystal. An edged blank is a core that has seen a generating machine. Do not RFQ them as synonyms.
Windows
Plano-plano (or specified wedge) with inspected surfaces. Uncoated they cover roughly 0.6–16 µm. AR is on request — including 10.6 µm and dual-band with a HeNe. Standard starting diameters people actually order: 12.7 mm and 25.4 mm, plus whatever the print says. Example SKU from the shop: KM-ZnSe-W12.7mmX3.0mm. Soft. Gloves. We take spent windows back for disposal if you ask.
Core-drilled blanks
This is the part you still have to grind, polish and coat. The allowances we run, because they are the ones that keep incoming inspection from fighting the shop:
- Diameter: +2.032 mm (0.080") over the requested size
- Thickness: ±0.254 mm (0.010")
- Edge chip: <0.762 mm (0.030")
Laser grade and optical grade both core. The drill does not magically purify the boule. Pick the grade first.
Edged blanks and custom
Edged means we have already taken the core closer to a round ready for polish. Domes and non-plano shapes are custom — send STEP or DXF. Water-jet profiles that are not circles belong here, not in the window bin.
If you are an optic shop, buy cores or SMTY. If you are a laser OEM who does not want to own a polisher, buy windows. Mixing those on one PO is how lead time grows a week of clarification emails.