Some of the best curing ovens are based on either Ultra violet or infrared systems. The systems offer many advantages including guaranteeing a cheaper process. It is important for manufacturers to find more efficient ways to cure resins and costs. Both Infrared and UV can provide better results than the traditional convention process.
How they Work
The strength of these UV/IR systems is the ability to transfer heat energy to the targeted medium, without going through any other medium. In convention system the air has first to be transferred to the surrounding air by heating it, before the targeted is heated.
When trying to cure a surface it is important that the surface is dried up quickly to ensure that the adhesive dispensing and application is done faster. Heating through light is done directly to the surface and this improves the time it takes to heat, dry and cool the surface before the application is done.
Lower Capital Costs
The process is therefore much faster than the convention process. One of the most important advantages is lower capital costs. There are more products going through the line and this increases the manufacturera€?s ability to produce more units and at lower costs.
The manufacturer will require less equipment and floor space when using this system. The system eliminates the need for conveyors and other equipment needed to cure resins before porting. The need for humidity chambers is also eliminated. The elimination of all these equipment reduces the amount of floor space and this is another way that the process reduces operational costs for the manufacturers.
Another advantage of this system is that there are less hazardous byproducts resulting from heat staking through this process. When components and by products of the process are not fully cured, they are considered to be hazardous waste and may require the manufacturer to ensure that they get rid of this waste.
Choosing the Right System
There are several things you need to consider to ensure that you choose the right cure for your product. The first and perhaps the most important consideration is adhesion. This is important whether you will be using light based or conventional cure processes. This is an important concern whether you will be doing coating, painting or resin application. The surface must be appropriate and suitable for adhesion. The suitability of the surface will determine the process you use.
The viscosity of the resin is also going to be another important consideration. Viscosity determines the flow of material after dispensing. More viscous materials help to ensure that the flow is negligible for applications where that is desirable. There is a range of viscosity that may not be suitable for your range of product or application. The color and clarity are other considerations that you should consult your engineer to find out if the substrate is suitable.
There are many factors to consider when picking curing ovens and equipment. They range from the depth, area and size of the working area. Higher intensity Light Cure System are desirable in many cases as they reduce the time taken to cure.
