Light guides or pipes are glass optical rods and quartz rods with each end of rod optically polished to a range of flatness, angles and radiuses.

Light guides and rods act as a thick optical window or when they are in long lengths they act to steer and transmit the light down the rod.

Light pipes are used in restricted areas where it is not possible to illuminate with a light source. The light guide transfers and gathers the light for fibre optic, UV curing systems, process illuminations, scientific instruments and medical instrumentation equipment.

Glass light guides can be manufactured in a range of industry standard diameters to any given length. Some applications require one end to be polished to an angle or a polished radius. To eliminate light scatter the outside diameter is diffused or blackened. Anti-reflection coatings are applied to the ends to eliminate reflection and in some cases can be bent into a 90º angle to steer the light to inaccessible areas.