The curing of materials like adhesives, coating, encapsulants, potting compounds, temporary masking materials or gaskets with UV light offers many process advantages, and can deliver productivity enhancements to manufacturers. The ability of the technology to deliver full cure in seconds (rather than minutes or hours) is a prime example.
The materials are predominantly single part (no mixing) and only cure on demand, so application or dispensing is straightforward and readily automatable. The light curing process looks quite simple, and indeed it is. But like most things, there is a learning curve.
The latest publication from Intertronics, Top Tips for getting the best from your UV curing process, breaks down the elements of this technology. The aim is to give a better understanding of the way that UV curing works and to discuss the process variables. A good grasp of the fundamentals will help engineers, technicians and operators to set up an established process which is effective, robust and repeatable. Along the way, there are some rules of thumb and tricks of the trade to make things easier and to ensure success.
The free guide discusses some of the differences between conventional UV curing lamps and the latest lamps based on LED technology.
Five ways to prepare for your first day
If I may add my own personal Tip No. 6 it goes something like this: From time to time a more senior member of staff will start explaining something...