UV LED curing firm Phoseon Technology of Hillsboro, OR, USA says that lifetime testing of its UV LED lamps has now surpassed 50,000 hours of operational on-time, with lamp irradiance being greater than 80% of its original output when the test first began more than five years ago. For perspective, based on a single-shift workweek of 2000 hours per year, 50,000 hours equates to 25 years of UV LED operating on-time.
Phoseon maintains over 50 UV LED curing lamps in various stages of lifetime testing at any given time. These light sources are stressed with decreased air flow, high temperatures and other parameters that mimic the harsh working conditions of industrial UV LED curing equipment.
"Claims of UV LED longevity have been more than validated with these results," says VP of engineering Scott Igl. "This 50,000 hour air-cooled lamp showcases Phoseon's commitment to supplying high-performance, highly reliable light sources. The technology embedded in today's UV LED lamps is built on this foundation so customers can be assured of many years of high-quality UV LED curing," he adds.
In addition to lifetime testing, Phoseon's reliability program consists of Highly Accelerated Lifetime Testing (HALT), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and a manufacturing burn-in process where each product is built, calibrated, burned-in and recalibrated before customer delivery. The reliability and development programs are supported by over 200 worldwide patents exclusively devoted to UV LEDs.
