Abstract: In a cell comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, flat substrates, and an edge seal maintaining the substrates in spaced apart relation, a fabrication process in which the two substrates are disposed in oppositely disposed relation and in contact with a glass frit bead disposed therebetween, and spacer plates are disposed between the substrates between the bead and the edges of the substrates. The glass bead is heat softened and the two substates forced towards one another against the bead until further inward movement is prevented by contact of the substrates with the spacer plates.