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Designing With Ceramics

There are many aspects to consider when designing with ceramic materials. However, STC can manufacture to nearly any configuration or tolerance that can be manufactured in metal or other materials.

A Few Things To Remember When Ordering:
Any components that can be considered complete in the “as fired” state will be more cost effective. Most of the expense in manufacturing ceramic parts and components is in diamond grinding parts after firing. If your design can be made to net or near net shape in the “green state” (compressed powder, before firing) which can be machined with standard tooling, grinding costs can be reduced.

Keep in mind:

  • The industry standard tolerance for an “as fired” dimension is +/-1% or +/- .005″, whichever is greater, as there is approximately 20% controlled shrinkage when firing ceramics. 
  • There is a .006″ per inch camber allowance on as fired components and a .025″ maximum radius or chamfer on all corners. Diamond grinding can easily produce tolerances of +/- .002″. Tighter tolerances within tenths can be produced on a cost basis.

(Further information is available under Manufacturing Processes).

Use this website to help determine the best, most cost effective ceramic components to meet your requirements.

Defining Your Requirements

Why Ceramics?
Answering this question will give you most of the information about your design needs.

What is the working environment?

  • Dielectric strength
  • Electrical isolation
  • High temperatures
  • Corrosive chemicals and gases
  • Thermal shock
  • High wear and abrasion
  • Liquid & gas impermeable (vacuum)
  • Matching thermal expansion rates

Ceramics are recommended for all of these environments.

You can follow the property charts on this website listed under the Materials section or give us a call at (802) 527-7726 and let one of our knowledgeable ceramic applications engineers assist you with your requirements

Understanding Ceramic Applications

Many industries have established standard materials and configurations for their applications. STC supplies both standard and custom ceramic parts. Your industry may fall in line with one of the industries we currently service. In these cases STC’s knowledge can lead you in a direction that will be less time-consuming and less costly, without sharing information that is proprietary to our customers.

Some of the industries and product lines STC currently serve:

  • Semiconductor
  • Telecommunications
  • Pumps and Valves
  • Medical
  • Lamps/Lighting
  • Electro-Optics
  • Plasma
  • Laser Systems
  • Refractories
  • Military
  • Electrical Insulators
  • X-Ray Systems
  • Mass Spectroscopy
  • Material Handling Systems
  • Igniters
  • Wear Components
  • Textile
  • Analytical Instruments
  • Electrical Appliances
  • Heaters

Give us a call at (802) 527-7726 and let one of our knowledgeable ceramic applications engineers assist you with your requirements.