Cover Lens – The Comprehensive FAQ Guide

Are you constantly worried about where you can get the best and the highest quality of cover lens for your business? Do you want to work to find the best cover lens supplier you can find in the market today?

For today’s guide, we will be covering everything you need about cover lens from A to Z! Whether you’re looking to find out more information about cover lens, if you want to know what specific customizations you can do – or if you are looking for the best cover lens manufacturers, stay tuned because we’ll be covering all of those up!

What Are Cover Lenses?

Cover lenses are glass or plastic lenses that you can use to project the display to the user of certain devices.

Image of what a cover lens looks like

It is the part or the component utilized to ensure that the display is properly projected. It’s not the typical glass that could produce the reflection like a mirror, it’s more of like a treated glass unit that is strengthened and toughened for better effectiveness and efficiency.

What is Soda Glass Cover Lens?

Soda glass, in case you weren’t aware, is one of the most basic and the simplest types of glass you can purchase in the market.

It’s the basic form of glass and it accounts for up to 90% of all the manufactured glass in the market.

What is the General Thickness of Cover Lenses?

We really couldn’t have an average general thickness for cover lenses.

Sample of a standard-thickness cover glass lens

However, there are thicknesses that are considered to be the most sought after by many clients, businesses, and companies.

The following most customary thickness levels include, but are not limited to:

• 0.55 mm
• 0.7 mm
•  1 mm
• 1.1  mm
• 1.5 mm
• 2 mm
• 3mm

NOTE: These aren’t the only thicknesses. There are others, these are just the most commonly used and sought-after dimensions and thicknesses.

Cover Lens HS Code

The HS code, short for the harmonized system code, is a type of classification for the goods of a certain sector or industry. You use it to be able to identify what type of goods or products are being handled.

These are important and imperative especially if you are exporting or importing goods and commodities from other countries to your country. So, even if millions and millions of products come in, through HS codes, they’ll easily be distinguished and classified.

The HS code of cover lenses is HS code 9002 in the glass industry and/or sector.

What Are Cover Lenses Used For?

You can find many different applications for cover lens in the industry.

You can use cover lenses in a wide variety of applications

But, the most common uses and applications of cover lenses include, but are not limited to:

• LCD Displays and Monitors
• Touchscreen and Interactive Kiosks
• Smartphones and Tablets
• Interactive Gaming Consoles
• Digital Keypads
• Capacitive Switches
• Cover For Chemical or Harsh Environments
• And Many More!

While the vast majority of its usability steers toward consumer electronics, it’s not just limited to these!

Glass used for display screen

Surface Coating or Films Available For Cover Lens

Since you can consider cover lenses to cover a vast array of uses and applications, you can consider it to be eligible for a wide array of coating options, too.

Cover lenses being finished with surface coating for a final touch

You can choose to have your cover lenses coated and finished via the following:

Anti-Smudge or Anti-Fingerprint (AF) Coating

You apply this particular type of coating to prevent scratches on the surface of the cover lens. The oil that’s released by our bodies often causes the smudge that we see on surfaces like this.

So, the anti-smudge or the anti-fingerprint coating that you can apply can help take care of the smudges and the oils that could be on the surface.

Cover Lens with AF looks

Anti-Glare or Non-Glare Etching

This type of coating is what you want if you aim the light that touches the surface of the cover lens diffused.

You will easily be able to see its effects physically because the surface’s texture will be modified. In this type of coating, what you do is you submerge the piece of cover lens on an acidic bath, allowing its surface to be altered.

When it does, you will notice the surface to have a tint-like feel.

AG glass looks like

Hard Coating

This particular type of finishing or coating utilizes plasma deposition. It gives out tons of beneficial and advantageous factors compared to regular soft coatings.

Therefore, you’d want it hard-coated if you expect that its usage and application will be harsh, forceful, and will be more than just the average touch.

Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating

Last but absolutely not least would be the anti-reflective (AR) coating. This particular type of coating is multifunctional.

Apart from it countering reflection, you can also take advantage of it to provide better vision to whatever the display is. For instance, if you use the cover lens for interactive kiosks, even if there’s direct sunlight, you will easily be able to see the digital content of the kiosks.

Those are the most common procedures of finishing available for cover lens. There are others but they’re for particular utilities and applications.

AR glass

Substrate Options For Cover Lens/Glass

Contrary to popular belief, cover lenses aren’t just limited to “glass” substrates. In fact, you can even use other types of substrate materials for the production of your cover lens.

The alternatives that you can choose from apart from glass cover lenses include:

Acrylic Glass (PMMA)

Acrylic glass is a type of transparent thermoplastic that you can use as a substitute for glass. Many businesses and companies consider using acrylic glass due to their property of being shatter and shock resistant.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonates are close and near the frame and properties of acrylic glass. However, they do not usually undergo the same procedures; meaning, they’re not entirely the same.

Compared to PMMA, though, polycarbonates are more expensive and are considered to be less-commercially available than them. This is due to the strength, durability, and the overall capacity of polycarbonates.

Thin Films

Thin films are thin and usually narrow layers of glass that are deposited in thick measurements to carry their properties over the base material.

For instance, it’s like a coating but is meant to be used to be the exterior of the surface instead.

These are the different substrate and raw material options that you have to create and manufacture the cover lenses that you need!

Can You Use Schott For Cover Glass Lens?

Yes, since Schott Glass is one of the rawest materials you can use, you can consider as one of the main materials to create cover lens.

Sample of a Schott Glass used for cover lenses

Apart from Schott Glass, you can also use Gorilla Glass, regular float glass, Dragontrail Glass, and more to create and to make the cover lens you need.

Not only that, you can use acrylic glass for them, too! There’s a wide array of acrylic glass materials you can use for your cove lens, such as PMMA or polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate or PC, plexiglass, and many more!

What Shapes Can You Purchase Cover Lenses In?

There are no limits as to what shapes and forms you can purchase cover lenses in.

You can have customized shapes of cover lenses for your business!

You have the option to purchase them in squares, rectangles, flats, 3D – literally whatever shape you can think of.

While there are tons of pre-made shapes and forms, you wouldn’t have to worry about what’s available because of the fact that you can purchase custom cover lenses!

Whatever your business needs are, many businesses like us here at SXET got you for the shapes you need!

Any cover lens’s shape is available

What is PMMA Cover Lens?

PMMA, short for polymethyl methacrylate is a type of acrylic glass that you can use as a primary substitute for glass.

Sample image of how a PMMA cover lens looks like

The way to determine it is that it’s a perfect combination of what glass and plastic look like when you combine them.

PMMA cover lenses are typically stronger, more durable, and tougher than regular glass. Due to this, some businesses and companies like you consider using PMMA for their cover lenses as well.

PMMA cover lens

PMMA Cover Lens vs. Corning Gorilla Glass Cover Lens

Is PMMA really comparable to Gorilla Glass? We can put them side-by-side and compare them together, but not to the extent that you’ll try and substitute each for another.

Sample of a Gorilla Glass cover lens

You can use Gorilla Glass to create cover lenses, stepped glass, anti-reflective glass, 3D glass, and other types of glass. PMMA, on the opposite side of the rope, is a classification of acrylic glass that you can use for cover lenses, screen lens, and other types of glass substitutes.

Thanks to the durability and the superior strength that it has over regular glass, it can work together with Gorilla Glass.

Safety Options For Cover Lens (Thermally Tempered and Chemically Strengthened)

Should you look for a way on how you can keep cover lenses safe and secure, you have the option of choosing between thermal tempering or heat tempering and chemically strengthening it.

One of the many and the primary benefits of chemical strengthening is that when the surface gets shattered, it wouldn’t spread and scatter. You actually will be able to ensure safety better and more effectively.

Heat tempering, since it compresses the molecules together, crumbles, and breaks into smaller, thicker, and larger chunks of glass.

You can choose chemical strengthening of your cover lenses if you are to use it for display applications, such as interactive LED screens, digital kiosks, smartphones and tablets, and many more.

On the other hand, heat tempering is the type of safety option you want to use if you’re going for strength, durability, and resistance.

While both of them undergo different processes, you will be able to achieve the safety, security, and durability you’re looking for.

Can You Color Cover Lens?

The coloring of cover lenses we’re talking about isn’t really the one that you see on their displays.

It is the literal color of the glass lenses, because, as we all know, the usual physicality of cover lenses is transparent.

But yes, you have the option to have your cover lenses color printed, depending on what use you’ll have for it. It’s possible to color it for aesthetics and display purposes, so if you’re planning to purchase custom cover lenses, don’t fret.

What Edging Processes Are Available on Cover Lens?

You can also have multiple types of edging procedures and processes on the cover lens. Akin to the different types of glasses in the market, you can choose to have your cover lenses finished and edged in 2D, 2.5D, and 3D edges. These are the most common edging finishes you can have for cover lenses.

In addition to that, you can also choose your cover lens to have a stepped edge, a beveled edge, and an angled edge.

The options for edging cover lenses are limitless; you don’t have to worry about choosing the specific edge you want your cover lenses to be in.

How Are Cover Lenses Cut?

One of the main advantages of cover lenses is that they’re easy and simple to cut, form, and shape. Regardless if they’re made out of glass, or if you choose PMMA to be the material you want for it, you can cut and shape them with ease.

Many cover lens suppliers and manufacturers don’t actually stress about how they’re going to cut cover lenses. You can use a multitude of ways – computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting and machining, among others.

So, if you want your cover lens to take on a specific shape, let’s say, an automated teller machine (ATM) shape, for instance, you’ll easily be able to work on that.

Just like here with us at SXET, you can tell us the specific shape and design of the cover lens you want. We utilize highly advanced and specialized CNC machines and equipment for our processes.

They are actually the reason why all of the cover lenses, as well as our other products, have specific and custom shapes and forms precisely and accurately. We’ll talk about more of what we can do with your cover lenses later.

Are Cover Lenses Eligible to Undergo 3D Hot Bending?

Yes, hot bending is one of the different options you have when it comes to the finishing of your cover lenses.

Hot bending is the procedure in which you subject it to high changing and modifying temperatures in order for it to be bent, folded, twisted, and curved!

Therefore, no matter how complex and how difficult you think the shape of your cover lenses need to be, you can expect accurate and precise measurements, thanks to hot bending!

Can You Purchase Cover Lenses With Adhesive Sticking?

Yes, many cover lens manufacturers offer adhesive sticking as an add-on for their purchase.

Since businesses like you will be purchasing hundreds to thousands of these cover lenses, it’s not for you to place and install the adhesive tape or glue onto the cover lens.

We at SXET proactively offer these adhesive sticking options to our clients. More often than not, they forget that this add-on is actually available; therefore, it is our responsibility to help them remember it.

Apart from adhesive sticking, you can also opt to have hole drilling on these cover lenses for specific shapes, forms, and sizes.

What is the Manufacturing Process of Cover Lens?

The creation and manufacturing procedure of cover lenses starts just like any other type of glass.

Machine/equipment cover lens manufacturers use to produce cover lens

To cut the long story short, we’ll pretend that the original glass, PMMA, PC, or other types of acrylic glass has been created.

We’ll then detail out all of the other procedures involved. The procedure by which you can manufacture and make cover lenses is:

Step 1: CNC Cutting and Forming

The regular glass is cut, formed, and shaped specifically using computer numerically controlled or CNC machines.

This is imperative because cutting it manually might produce inconsistencies and inaccurate dimensions and measurements.

NOTE: Between steps 1 and 2 is where we can insert other coating and finishing options, such as anti-fingerprint, anti-glare etching, anti-reflective, and other types of treatments and finishes for the cover lens.

Glass’s shape machining

Step 2: Chemical and Physical Tempering

This particular procedure is done to ensure that the durability and strength of the glass is intact. You can choose to have it thermally tempered or chemically strengthened, depending on the use you’ll have for it.

On the flip side, you can also choose to have it both thermally tempered and chemically strengthened. But, you need to expect that it’ll be more expensive and costly.

Glass Chemically Tempering

Step 3: Color Printing (If Needed)

After you have it strengthened and tempered, the next step is to print color to it, if your business requires it.

Should you not need it to be color printed, you can keep the glass in its transparent form.

Color printing

Step 4: Finishing

Lastly, you can choose to have your cover lens finished, depending on your needs. Your manufacturer should be equipped with the materials, skills, and expertise in providing custom cover lenses.

For instance, if you want the stepped edge, 2.5D edge, 3D edge, or even a beveled edge, you can do so. Moreover, you can also consider and choose your cover lens to have an anti-fingerprint (AF), anti-glare etching, or anti-reflective coating on it.

Step 5: Packaging and Sorting

Before it gets delivered and sent out, it needs to be packaged and sorted accordingly. Most manufacturers have it sorted and packaged in their manufacturing plants, so you don’t have to worry about it being arranged when it gets delivered to you.

And there you have it! That’s the regular and the general method of producing or manufacturing cover lenses!

Is Cover Lens Stronger and Durable Than Ordinary Glass?

Compared to regular float glass, cover lenses are stronger, tougher, more durable, and more impact-resistant, since regular float glass is the raw material you use for the creation of the manufacturing of cover lenses.

Can You Replace Cover Lens on LCD Monitors?

Yes, you can have your LCD monitors’ cover lenses replaced.

Sample of a cover lens substitute/alternative for an LCD monitor

The procedure on how to replace LCD displays and monitors’ cover lenses don’t fall far from how you replace cover lenses on camera add-on lens, smartphones, display screens, kiosks, and other digital and interactive devices.

What Traits and Properties Should You Consider Before Purchasing Cover Lens?

While many people think that choosing the best cover lens is tedious, it’s actually not.

Before you decide on choosing which cover lens wholesale manufacturer you need to work with, it is important that you know about the different properties and traits you can consider as your options.

Here are some of the traits and characteristics you need to think of before deciding to go with a specific type of cover lens:

Scratch and Drop Resistance

Especially if you’re going to use it for touch panels, you would want your cover lens to be resistant to scratches and dropping impact.

The need and requirement to mitigate and to reduce the instances of scratch, drop, and impact is essential in making sure that your cover lenses will be durable.

Many sectors and industries, especially in industrial environments find the need to develop and enhance the drop resistance of their cover lenses because they’re the most prone to it. For those that are in the consumer electronic businesses, on the other hand, take it as a mission to make sure that their cover lenses are scratch-resistant.

While both of these can be carried through finishing and coating, the type of glass to be used is also important.

Weight

What would you feel if the cover lens you have is weighted and is heavy? Wouldn’t that make you feel uncomfortable?

While most glasses (including acrylic glasses) are lightweight, there could be better and more effective materials to create cover lenses.

Considering the weight of the cover lens while making sure that everything is intact is one of the best things you can think about before signing a deal with the manufacturer.

The weight of cover lenses is the property that really can’t be toggled with finishing or polishing. Therefore, try to find a manufacturer that can procure lightweight, but effective cover lenses for you.

Thickness

In a nutshell, the thickness of cover lenses is the symbol of how durable and how sturdy it’s going to be. The thicker the cover glass, the stronger it is, right? Apparently not.

Many cover lens manufacturing companies are starting to innovate on thin-but-strong-and-tough type of material.

What this means is that even if the cover lens is only about 0.6 mm thick, it’ll be as strong as a regular glass that is over 6.00 mm thick.

Transmittance

Transmittance is defined as the ratio that the energy falls onto a body that passes through it. It’s simply the quantitative measurement of how well light passes through the glass that is unchanged.

For instance, if the transmittance of a particular cover lens is 90%, then 10% of the light doesn’t pass through.

Getting a transmittance of cover glasses that are above 92% is the standard, and it’s actually the best and considered to be what everyone should get.

However, not all cover lens manufacturing companies are equipped with the right tools, equipment, people, and skillset to produce this type of glass.

Therefore, it will be important to check and assess whether or not the cover lens manufacturer you are going to work with is capable of producing cover lenses with high transmittance capacities.

Many of you might think that these aren’t as important as they seem, but they’ll actually be the game-changer of your devices and your technologies from the competition you have in the industry.

Can Cover Lenses be Ballistic-Resistant?

If your business involves utility and usage for outdoor purposes, durability and toughness should be two (2) of the most important factors you should think of. You can think of many different ways to make your cover lenses stronger, but is it capable enough to become “ballistic-resistant?”

Ballistic resistance is the measurement of how certain material is capable of being compressed and intact even if it’s subjected to heavy force and weight.

From its term alone, being ballistic-resistant is like cover lenses being complete and comprehensive as a whole even if it’s hit and pounded by weight double its size multiple times.

And to answer the question, yes, cover lenses can be ballistic-resistant.

Apart from withstanding tremendous weight, ballistic-resistant cover lenses should also be able to resist bullets, being driven over by heavy vehicles, and the like.

The separation of strong and durable cover lenses from being ballistic-resistant is far.

Can You Use Cover Lens For Replacement of Parts?

Not all of the businesses and companies that purchase cover lenses use them for raw installation. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of businesses that find the need to use it are involved in replacement.

For instance, if you have a cellphone repair business, you can secure 500 pieces of cover lenses for different smartphones like iPhones and Samsung cover glass screen lenses.

Another example would be the repair and replacement of interactive and digital kiosks and technologies like printers and photocopying machines, automated teller machines or ATMs, digital security pads, and many more.

Can You Order Custom Cover Lens?

More often than not, businesses and companies use custom cover lenses for their electronic devices and technologies.

This is because not all cover lens manufacturers would be equipped with the correct dimensions, sizes, types, and kinds of cover lenses for your projects.

So, cover lens manufacturers actually improve their craft by providing custom cover lenses for their clients and their customers.

To cite a concrete example, let’s say that your business offers home security. This can include digital locks, CCTVs, and security for the entire household. So, for your business, you would need cover lenses for, let’s say, the panel for the security code of the locks.

For your specific measurements, there might be suppliers and manufacturers that offer it, but would you spend your time finding them? Or would you rather work with a cover lens manufacturing company that can help you produce custom cover lenses?

Never settle for a company that’s capable of giving you the exact measurements of cover lenses for one (1) of your products. You can find a lot of these cover lens manufacturing companies that can produce irregular and custom cover lenses, so don’t fret!

Who Needs to Use Cover Lenses?

The functionality of cover lenses encompasses regular float glass. As a matter of fact, these are the types of glass materials that you can find a ton of use of.

Just like what we mentioned above, cover lenses aren’t only limited to the displays of smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices.

You can consider using cover lenses if you’re involved in the creation of digital and interactive technologies such as kiosks, touchscreen panels, point-of-sale (POS) machines, and the like.

Moreover, if your business involves touchscreen facilities like home and office security, vending machines, and interactive televisions, and the like, you’ll also need it, too!

So, it’s not really a matter of finding if you need to use cover lenses, but instead, figuring out how this particular technology can aid and assist you with your goals and objectives as a business.

How to Choose the Best Cover Lens Manufacturer?

As promised, you’ll not only be an expert in choosing the cover lens for your business. We will also be teaching you how you can land on working with the best and the most trusted cover lens manufacturers you can find in the market!

To start, it’s safe to say that Chinese cover lens suppliers and wholesalers are considered the best. Why? – Because most Chinese cover lens manufacturers have easy sources from where they can get their raw materials from.

Here are some of the other factors you would want to consider before choosing a manufacturer.

Production Capacity Levels

The first thing you would want to look at would be how well they’re able to produce. If your business relies on regular supplies, let’s say a weekly supply of 1,000 pieces of diverse cover lenses, then you need your manufacturer to be capable of producing 10,000 per week.

Why 10,000 if you only need 1,000? – Because they have other clients, too! You can’t disregard their offers to other businesses and services!

So, you want to work with a manufacturer that’s capable of providing 10 times what you need!

Machines They Use

Another thing most businesses and companies fail to look at is the machines and the equipment they utilize.

Since machines and tools produce the cover lenses you need, you really can’t rely on “skill and experience” all alone.

In fact, checking the capacity and the ability of their machines is as imperative as choosing the quality of the cover lenses you need as well.

Most cover lens manufacturing companies will often display the types of technology that they use. Check and see if they utilize computer numerically controlled or CNC machines; review and assess the versions of their equipment, and so on.

Factory Cleanliness and Organization

A good business will never tolerate an unorganized factory – and this is most often true. The status and the condition of the factory or the manufacturing plant of these businesses would clearly reflect their quality of service, as well as their ability to follow what you need.

Should you be from a foreign location, if your manufacturing company is confident about their factory, they shall give you a virtual tour or a showroom of some sort.

Never accept reasons on why you wouldn’t be able to see the manufacturing plant where the cover lenses are made, it’ll be an extremely important factor for you and for your business.

Assessment and Calibration

Lastly, let’s not forget to tackle about calibrations and assessments. Most cover lens manufacturers wouldn’t tell you the observations and the checks that they do, but, if the cover lens supplier is open to it, then you shouldn’t worry, they most likely perform all necessary testing before packaging and delivery.

An honest and a transparent cover lens manufacturer will be open to discuss all of the procedures and the processes they take into account before delivery.

These are some of the few but the best ways on how you can ensure that you’re working with a trustworthy and a high-profile cover lens manufacturing company. The areas of ability and factors we discussed aren’t the ultimatum of it, there could be other ways!

What Documents Do You Need to Import Cover Lenses From China?

Akin to other countries, you’ll need a few important documents in order to be sure of the orders you’ll have from China.

NOTE: These requirements vary per region, for instance, a CE certificate is a certificate that’s required if you’re going to export it to a country part of the European Union (EU). SAD, on the other hand, is for businesses and companies in other regions, etc.

Nevertheless, here are some of the most important documents you need to secure to successfully import cover lenses from China:

Pro Forma Invoice

A Pro Forma invoice is a type of bill that is sent to buyers for proof of shipment or goods delivery. The relevance of this particular document will describe the proof of the items that are purchased as well as other significant info such as transport charges, weight, dimensions, etc.

Certificate of Origin

This is a document that certifies that the goods came from a certain country. Since we’re talking about China, it’s proof that a Chinese cover lens manufacturing company was truly the one that made, manufactured, packaged, and prepared your goods to be delivered to you.

Bill of Lading

The bill of lading or the BoL is a type of list that contains all of the important details of the goods in the form of a receipt.

You don’t have to worry about how you can get it because your cover lens manufacturer shall be the one to prepare and send it to you.

Commercial Invoice

The commercial invoice is a document that proves that the buyer has dutifully paid for all of the goods and commodities they shall receive from the manufacturing company.

Consider cover lenses, these are, for sure, part of the most important documents you need to prepare for importation.

SXET’s Cover Lens Manufacturing and Producing Capabilities

We here at SXET are consistent in providing businesses and companies like you the cover lenses that you need.

From regular-shaped cover lenses, irregular and complex forms – to new and innovative cover lenses for your prototypes and new products, we got you!

Unlike other companies, we never force our clients to purchase out specific numbers of cover lenses! We don’t have a minimum order quantity or MoQ, therefore, you can be free from the stress of purchasing more than just what you need!

SXET’s Cover Lens Factory and Equipment

SXET’s full-range of equipment, tools, and machineries will astound you. Unlike other cover glass manufacturers, SXET’s machines and tools have been certified and verified in certain standards.

Apart from us having the best and the most experienced cover lens experts, we also house some of the best CNC machineries and developments that the industry has seen.

We have a complete spectrum of glass processing machines and equipment, such as:

• 3D Hot Bending Machines and Tools
• CNC Cutting Machines
• Multiple Ion-Exchange Tanks
• Ultrasonic Bath (Cleaning Machines and Tools)
• Verification and Assessment Tools and Equipment
• State-of-the-Art Machineries for Polishing and Finishing
• And Many More!