Industry
Invar and Kovar Machining for RF, Microwave and Telecom Hardware
Send an RFQ for a custom hermetic connector, telecom package, waveguide component or RF housing and we match you with up to three vetted machine shops that quote directly against your drawing. We are a matching service, not a machine shop.
Why RF, Microwave & Telecom Hardware programs specify these alloys
RF, microwave and telecom hardware puts unusual demands on a handful of small, precision parts: a connector that has to stay hermetic through years of thermal cycling, a laser diode package that has to keep its optical alignment, a waveguide section that has to hold its cross-section against temperature. Invar, Kovar and Alloy 42 solve different halves of that problem, matching a glass or ceramic seal on one hand and minimizing dimensional drift on the other, and getting the alloy and the process right the first time avoids a redesign after qualification testing.
Finding a shop that has actually run these alloys for RF and telecom work, rather than a generalist shop willing to try, is the harder part of sourcing. We ask the qualification questions before a shop sees your drawing, then send your RFQ to a small number of shops that have already answered them, so your search starts further along than a cold search or an open marketplace bid would.
Where RF, Microwave & Telecom Hardware uses Invar, Kovar and Alloy 42
Hermetic RF connectors
Custom Kovar connector bodies, bulkhead feedthroughs and pin headers for interfaces no catalog connector was designed to fit.
Telecom optoelectronics packages
Kovar butterfly packages, TO-can headers and laser diode housings with seam weld ledges and glass-sealed pin rows.
Waveguide components
Invar 36 waveguide sections and flanges machined and finished for dimensional stability across the operating temperature range.
RF and microwave housings
Invar, Kovar or Alloy 42 housings selected to match a bonded ceramic substrate, a glass seal, or to hold their own geometry as a reference structure.
What to put on the RFQ, and what to vet in a supplier
We match your RFQ. You still own supplier qualification. These lines get you a comparable quote and a shop that can answer the qualification questions your program asks.
State the alloy and its governing spec (ASTM F1684, F15 or F30), not just a trade name.
Call out which features are seal-critical, hermetic or optically aligned, separate from ordinary tolerances.
Specify internal or seal-face surface finish and any plating requirement explicitly.
Give the full operating temperature range so the shop understands why the alloy was chosen.
State quantity for each stage: prototype, qualification and expected production volume.
Say who is responsible for sealing, plating and leak testing if those steps are subcontracted.
RF, Microwave & Telecom Hardware guides
- Materials
Kovar Machining for RF and Microwave Hermetic Connectors
Custom Kovar machining for RF hermetic connector bodies, pins and bulkhead feedthroughs: when catalog connectors do not fit and what to put on the RFQ.
- Materials
Kovar Hermetic Packages for Telecom Electronics Manufacturers
Machining Kovar lids, headers and butterfly packages for telecom optoelectronics: seam weld ledges, pin counts and when to machine versus stamp at volume.
- Choosing a Supplier
Invar Waveguide Component Machining and Supplier Sourcing
How to write an RFQ for an Invar waveguide section or flange: surface finish and plating callouts, typical order quantities and what a supplier quote should cover.
- Materials
Choosing Invar, Kovar or Alloy 42 for RF and Microwave Housings
Decision guide for RF and microwave housing designers: matching Invar 36, Kovar or Alloy 42 to ceramic substrate CTE, sealing needs, cost and machinability.
- Materials
Invar for Antenna and RF Waveguide Structures
Why some antenna reflectors, waveguide structures and RF reference frames specify Invar to hold electrical performance stable across temperature.
- Materials
Machining Kovar for Glass to Metal Seals: What the Seal Needs
Kovar glass to metal seal machining: why ASTM F15 Kovar matches borosilicate glass, how it machines, the anneal and oxide steps before sealing and the RFQ.
- Materials
Invar 36 vs Kovar vs Super Invar: Which Alloy for Your Part
Invar 36 vs Kovar vs Super Invar: typical CTE bands, Curie point, specs and machining notes, with a decision table for mounts, glass seals and space parts.
Alloy pages: Invar 36 machining, Super Invar machining, Kovar machining, Alloy 42 machining. Spec numbers and CTE by temperature band on the Invar specs reference.
Have a drawing ready?
Send the short version now. We will ask for anything missing. For full details up front use the full RFQ form. Reply within 24 business hours.
Your files go only to the shops we match. Ask for an NDA and nothing is shared until it is signed.
Questions from RF, Microwave & Telecom Hardware buyers
Something else? Email .
Do you manufacture RF connectors, packages or waveguide components yourselves?
No. We are a matching service. We connect your RFQ with independent machine shops that manufacture these parts, and each shop quotes and contracts with you directly.
Are the shops you match certified to AS9100, ISO 9001 or a telecom quality standard?
We do not hold or claim any certification ourselves, and we do not certify the shops in our network. Shops describe their own certifications directly during the RFQ process, and you should verify any certification claim with the shop before placing an order.
Can one shop handle my prototype run and a later production order?
Many can, and reusing the same shop often carries prototype fixturing and process qualification into the production quote. Others focus on one stage. State your expected volume trajectory on the RFQ so shops can tell you honestly which stages they support.
What is the difference between Invar 36 and Kovar for this kind of hardware?
Invar 36 minimizes its own expansion and suits reference structures and waveguide sections with no bonded substrate. Kovar is tuned to match glass and ceramic and suits hermetic seals, connectors and packages. Alloy 42 fills a similar role to Kovar without cobalt, mainly in thinner or stamped parts.
How do I get a quote?
Send your drawing through the RFQ form with the alloy, seal-critical features and operating temperature range noted, and we match it with up to three shops experienced in the specific application.