SkyBeam: Compare & choose, every question, answered
60 answers below, written from the manufacturer's manuals and our own bench experience. Prefer to tap through them? The same answers power the live chat in the corner. Ready to buy? See the SkyBeam or request a quote.
SkyBeam vs SunSpot 2 - which one?
Pick the SkyBeam when your adhesive cures at 365-405 nm and you want four independent channels plus PLC and RS-232 control for a production line. Pick the SunSpot 2 when the chemistry needs broad-spectrum output - its 200 W arc spans 275-650 nm including UVB/UVC and visible content.
SkyBeam vs SkyWand - what differs?
The SkyBeam is a benchtop/machine-mount controller with four channels, 0-999.9 s timers, PLC I/O and RS-232 - built for fixtured, repeatable production. The SkyWand is a cordless handheld single-trigger lamp for taking the cure to the part.
When should I pick the SkyWand instead?
When the part cannot come to the bench - rework, field service, and large or awkward assemblies. It cures at 365 or 405 nm with constant output that will not fade on a low battery, and two swappable Li-ion packs run all day.
When is an LED system the wrong choice?
When the adhesive datasheet requires UVB/UVC or broad visible content, or for surface-inhibited and dual-cure chemistries that narrowband LEDs leave tacky. Those jobs belong on the broad-spectrum SunSpot 2 arc.
How does LED life compare to arc lamps?
SkyBeam LEDs run 20,000 hours typical versus more than 2,000 hours for the SunSpot 2 lamp - roughly ten times longer, with no lamp cartridges to stock or swap.
LED life is affected by the number of on/off cycles, intensity and temperature, so cool fixturing extends it further.
How do warm-up times compare?
The SkyBeam needs none - LEDs deliver full irradiance the instant a channel triggers. The SunSpot 2 arc takes 1-2 minutes to warm up and, once hot, needs 2-5 minutes of cool-down before it will re-strike.
Which system has the highest intensity?
The SunSpot 2 arc leads on raw output at more than 18,000 mW/cm2 UVA (320-390 nm). The SkyBeam peaks at 11,000 mW/cm2 with the 3 mm lens at 365 nm - still enough for one-to-few-second cures on most spot work.
Which is best for an automated line?
The SkyBeam - it is the only one of the three with PLC signal ports, a safety interlock, RS-232 remote control and per-channel BUSY/READY/ERROR feedback, so it drops into a line without redesign.
Which is best for rework and field work?
The SkyWand - cordless, handheld, single-trigger, with two swappable 3.7 V 3000 mAh Li-ion packs and a carry case, so full-intensity curing goes wherever the repair is.
Which costs less to run day to day?
The running-cost facts favor the SkyBeam: 20,000-hour LEDs mean no replacement lamps to buy, and it draws a maximum of 1.0 A at 120 V versus 4.7 A for the SunSpot 2.
How do channel counts compare?
SkyBeam: four fully independent channels, each with its own timer, power and life log. SunSpot 2: one lamp that can split across up to four light-guide poles sharing a single shutter and timer. SkyWand: one integral LED head.
4 splitter poles vs 4 LED channels?
Splitter poles on the SunSpot 2 divide one lamp's output, so all legs expose together on the same timer. SkyBeam channels are independent - different power, mode, exposure time, and even wavelength per channel, each triggered and tracked on its own.
How do the output spectra differ?
The SkyBeam emits narrowband peaks at 365, 385, 395 or 405 nm depending on the guide. The SunSpot 2 emits a continuous 275-650 nm broad spectrum, and the SkyWand emits 365 or 405 nm, specified at order.
Which draws less power?
The SkyBeam - 1.0 A maximum at 120 V (0.5 A at 240 V) versus the SunSpot 2 at 4.7 A / 2.5 A. The SkyWand is battery powered and draws nothing from the bench.
Which takes less bench space?
The SkyBeam controller is 6.63 x 3.62 x 5.91 inches and 3.25 lb, versus the SunSpot 2 at 10.51 x 8.64 x 4.05 inches and 5.92 lb. The SkyWand is handheld and lives in its carry case.
SkyBeam vs a UV flood system?
A flood bathes the whole part - useful for large areas, but it heats everything, wastes energy, and demands more shielding. The SkyBeam concentrates output into 3-15 mm spots at up to 11 W/cm2, curing just the joint while the rest of the part stays ambient.
Spot UV vs a thermal cure oven?
Ovens cure in tens of minutes and thermal-cycle every joint on the assembly; a UV spot cures the adhesive in seconds with the board never seeing bulk heat. You also free the rack space and fixtures an oven ties up as work-in-progress.
UV adhesive vs heat-cure epoxy process?
Heat-cure epoxy means clamps, ovens, hours of fixtured work-in-progress, and stress in dissimilar-material joints as they cool. UV spot curing fixtures the part for seconds, cures on demand, and caps throughput with cycle time instead of rack space.
Why does instant on/off matter?
No warm-up, no shutter, no idle lamp burning hours between parts - the dose starts and stops exactly with the 0.1-second-resolution timer. That is what makes per-index triggering on a fast line practical.
Which regulates its output best?
SkyBeam and SunSpot 2 are matched on paper: LED current regulated to plus/minus 1% versus lamp power at plus/minus 1.0%. The SkyWand uses constant-output battery control so intensity does not fade as the pack drains.
Which system cures fastest?
It depends on the adhesive's spectral match more than raw numbers. The arc has the highest UVA intensity (over 18 W/cm2), but a SkyBeam small spot at 11 W/cm2 cures well-matched chemistry in seconds - and high peak intensity for a short time can outperform a larger dose spread out over time.
Do LED sources fade over time?
Slowly - the manual's typical-life chart shows only a gradual decline in relative output across the 20,000-hour rating. Periodic radiometer checks plus the per-channel life logs tell you well in advance when a guide needs service.
How painful are arc lamp changes?
The SunSpot 2 uses a quick-change UV1866 cartridge, so a swap is fast - but it is still a consumable at over 2,000 hours that must be stocked. SkyBeam LEDs are rated 20,000 hours with nothing to replace on a schedule.
Which suits validated medical assembly?
The SkyBeam - stored per-channel recipes, a security key that locks parameters, per-channel LED life logs, and RS-232/PLC I/O that ties the cure step into your line controller's records. Dose becomes a programmed parameter, not an operator skill.
Which for thick potting or dam-and-fill?
The SunSpot 2 - its broad 275-650 nm spectrum penetrates thick encapsulant sections and fully cures surface-inhibited and dual-cure chemistries that single-wavelength LEDs leave tacky. Keep the SkyBeam for dots, beads and shallow fills.
Which for a PCB assembly cell?
The SkyBeam - four channels stake four joints per index, PLC handshaking and the interlock wire straight into the cell, and instant on/off keeps pace with the conveyor.
Is the SkyBeam portable?
It is compact - 3.25 lb and about 6.6 x 3.6 x 5.9 inches - but it is a mains-powered bench/machine unit. For truly portable, cord-free curing, the SkyWand is the purpose-built option.
Does the SkyWand have exposure timers?
No - it is a single-trigger on/off lamp with no timer or external I/O. If the dose must be timed and logged, use the SkyBeam with its 0-999.9 s per-channel timers.
What wavelengths does each offer?
SkyBeam: 365, 385, 395 or 405 nm per light guide, mixable across its four channels. SkyWand: 365 or 405 nm, specified at order. SunSpot 2: the full 275-650 nm spectrum at once.
Do they handle different mains voltages?
The SkyBeam has a wide-range 90-264 VAC power-factor-corrected supply, so one unit runs anywhere. The SunSpot 2 is factory-configured for one input - UV1853 for 100-120 VAC or UV2132 for 200-240 VAC - and must match your supply.
Is the warranty the same on all three?
Yes - Uvitron International backs each system with a 2-year manufacturer warranty, and we offer 30-day returns on unused equipment.
Which system is cheapest?
The SkyWand is the most affordable at $790, the SkyBeam is $2,900, and the SunSpot 2 is $4,220. Cheapest isn’t always right, though, match the source and spectrum to your adhesive first, and volume tiers can shift the math on multi-unit orders.
Which ships soonest?
All three are in stock and ship in 24-48 hours from West Springfield, MA.
What sets SkyBeam apart from generic LEDs?
Documented, spec-sheet accountability: plus/minus 1% current regulation, published irradiance-versus-distance tables per lens, per-channel life logs, a documented RS-232 protocol, a safety interlock, guides rated past 10 million bend cycles, and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
Why not just use a UV flashlight?
Production curing needs a controlled, repeatable dose. A flashlight has no timer, no regulated intensity and no way to verify or lock the exposure - the SkyBeam gives you 0.1 s timers, plus/minus 1% regulation, a key-locked recipe and radiometer-verifiable output.
Does the SkyBeam avoid mercury lamps?
Yes - it is entirely solid-state LED, so there is no mercury arc lamp to handle, stock or dispose of. The SunSpot 2, by contrast, runs a 200 W mercury short-arc cartridge.
Which puts less heat into the part?
The SkyBeam - narrowband LEDs add virtually no infrared, which is why alignment-critical optical joints prefer them. Hot filament and arc sources add IR that can shift optical alignment as the joint warms; the SunSpot 2 ships with a heat filter installed to manage it.
How does cooling differ between systems?
The SkyBeam controller is convection cooled with fan- or convection-cooled guides at the point of cure; the SunSpot 2 uses dual filtered DC fans. Fewer fans and filters generally means quieter operation and less airflow maintenance.
Can one purchase serve four operators?
Yes - a single SkyBeam runs four independent stations, each with its own guide, trigger input, timer and life log. That is one controller purchase instead of four single-channel units.
Can I start small and grow later?
Yes - order the SkyBeam with one light guide now and add guides up to four as the line grows. Guides are ordered by wavelength and cooling type and plug into any open channel.
Should a lab own arc and LED units?
Many labs do - an arc system alongside the LED line covers adhesives that need UVB/UVC or visible content, while the LED handles the everyday UVA work with no warm-up or lamp consumables. Chemistry coverage is the deciding factor.
Which handles dual-cure chemistries best?
The SunSpot 2 - its broad spectrum fully cures dual-cure and surface-inhibited formulations that single-wavelength LEDs can leave tacky. If you are committed to LED, discuss the specific chemistry with your adhesive maker first.
Which restarts faster mid-shift?
The SkyBeam - power interruptions cost nothing because LEDs restart instantly. A hot arc lamp needs 2-5 minutes of cool-down before it will re-strike, which stalls a line after any stoppage.
Handheld vs fixtured for production?
Operator-held lamps introduce dose variability - distance and dwell change part to part - which no quality system can paper over. Fixtured SkyBeam channels with timed exposures deliver identical energy every cycle; keep handhelds for rework and field repair.
Which needs the least maintenance?
The SkyBeam - routine care is periodic lens cleaning and radiometer checks. There are no lamps to replace on schedule, no shutter mechanism, and the controller itself is convection cooled with no filters to service.
Does the SkyBeam need a shutter?
No - the LEDs themselves switch on and off instantly, so exposure control is purely electronic. The SunSpot 2 needs its mechanical shutter because the arc lamp must stay lit between cures.
Do all three include a foot pedal?
The SkyBeam includes the UV4045 exposure foot switch (2 m cable) and the SunSpot 2 includes the UV1860 shutter foot pedal (6 ft). The SkyWand has a built-in trigger switch instead.
How does light delivery differ?
The SkyBeam puts the LED right at the guide tip and runs a flexible electrical cable back to the controller - no optical losses down a fiber. The SunSpot 2 pipes arc light through liquid-filled optical guides from a central lamp.
How do spot sizes compare?
SkyBeam spots are set by screw-on lenses from 3 to 15 mm, with irradiance published per lens and distance. The SunSpot 2 delivers through a 5 mm liquid-filled guide with intensity set by guide depth and the output knob, and the SkyWand exposes directly through a replaceable lens.
Which fits clean, quiet workspaces?
The SkyBeam - the controller is encapsulated in a contamination-resistant sealed aluminum body and cools by convection, with no chassis fans pulling room air through filters.
Which cures the most points at once?
Either four-output approach works: the SkyBeam fires up to four independent spots (same time or staggered, different settings each), while the SunSpot 2 splits one lamp across up to four poles that expose together. Independent control is the SkyBeam's edge.
What are the SkyWand battery trade-offs?
Two 3.7 V 3000 mAh Li-ion packs, about 4 hours to a full charge, and 300-500 charge cycles of pack life - run one while the other charges. Output stays constant with no fade as the battery drains.
Which system logs source hours?
Only the SkyBeam - it keeps a separate life record for each of the four channels, viewable on the front panel and readable over RS-232, so you can schedule guide replacement from data instead of guesswork.
Which offers operator lockout?
The SkyBeam - its security key switch prevents anyone from changing approved running parameters without the key. Two keys are included; remove one after setup and store the spare.
Still not sure which system fits?
Send a quote request with your adhesive, substrate and cycle time - our US-based team will point you to the right system, light guide and exposure settings before you spend a dollar.
Which minimizes consumables?
The SkyBeam - there is nothing on a replacement schedule beyond keeping lenses clean. The SunSpot 2 consumes UV1866 lamp cartridges, and the SkyWand's Li-ion packs are good for 300-500 charge cycles.
Can a SkyBeam replace my arc system?
Often, yes - if your adhesive cures in the 365-405 nm UVA band, you gain instant on/off, 20,000-hour sources, four channels and line integration. Check the datasheet first: chemistries needing UVB/UVC or broad visible content should stay on the arc.
Which is easier to defend in an audit?
The SkyBeam - the recipe is stored per channel and key-locked, output is regulated to plus/minus 1%, life logs and radiometer checks document source health, and RS-232 lets the line controller record every cure. The arc regulates equally well but has no data interface.
What does automation-ready mean here?
The SkyBeam ships with everything a line integration needs: per-channel PLC trigger inputs and BUSY/READY/ERROR feedback, an emergency safety interlock, a documented RS-232 command set, chassis mounting points, and a wide-range 90-264 VAC supply.
Which system for benchtop lab work?
Either bench unit works: the SkyBeam suits lab use as well as production and covers 365-405 nm chemistries with precise timers, while the SunSpot 2 covers the widest range of chemistries thanks to its 275-650 nm spectrum. Choose by what your adhesives need.
