UV spot curing is used for many adhesive applications for example, attaching hypodermic needles to the plastic injector. It is important to monitor the output from these systems as the lamp, reflector and light guide deteriorate with use. A radiometer, configured like the SpotCure Intensity Meter, measures the UV intensity from the liquid light guide and can be used to determine when the output has dropped below a usable level. The radiometer can also be used to optimize the positioning of the light guide. Each time the light guide is bent or twisted some UV output is lost.
More sophisticated measurements involve measuring peak UV intensity in addition to dosage.
Dosage is only a measurement of total energy, while the intensity at which the energy was delivered has profound effects on the cure characteristics of the finished product. 365nm wavelength light. This information reveals how the UV was delivered and at what wavelength. Often the user is interested in the spectral content of the UV source being used. Since different chemistry is affected by different UV wavelengths, it is desirable to optimize the curing process by matching UV lamps to the chemistry of the application.