SunSpot 2: Using the system, every question, answered
33 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 SunSpot 2 or request a quote.
How do I start up the SunSpot 2?
Connect the foot pedal to the rear DSUB connector, plug the AC cord into the rear power receptacle and a suitable outlet, and insert the light guide until the receptacle's locking spring clicks. Then turn on the rear Input Power Switch, the Lamp On indicator lights within a few seconds.
Allow a 1 to 2 minute warm-up; when the front panel Ready LED lights, the lamp is at stable intensity and you can begin curing.
How long does the lamp take to warm up?
About 1 to 2 minutes from power-on. The Lamp On indicator brightens during ramp-up, and the Ready LED lights once the lamp reaches full, stable intensity.
Never interrupt the lamp during warm-up, shutting it off while ramping shortens lamp life and can make it hard or impossible to restart.
What does the Timer control set?
The exposure duration, from 0 to 99 seconds, used when the mode switch is set to Timed. Press the foot pedal once and the shutter opens for exactly that long.
What is the Timed vs Manual mode switch?
In Timed mode the shutter opens for the preset 0-99 second exposure when you tap the pedal. In Manual mode the shutter stays open only while the pedal is held down, or while an external switch remains closed.
How does the foot pedal work?
It triggers the shutter through the rear 9-pin DSUB connector. In Timed mode one press starts the preset exposure; in Manual mode the shutter stays open as long as you hold the pedal.
A second press in Timed mode stops an exposure early. The included pedal is Uvitron P/N UV1860, with a six-foot cable.
Can I stop a timed exposure early?
Yes, press the foot pedal a second time during the exposure and the shutter closes immediately.
How do I adjust the UV intensity?
Three ways: the lockable front panel intensity knob (60 to 100% lamp power), the light guide's insertion depth in the receptacle (thumbscrew lockable), and the distance from the guide tip to the part.
Combined, these give a 25 to 100% output range. A radiometer such as the UV0567 helps you dial in exact levels for your adhesive.
What range does the intensity knob cover?
The front panel control adjusts lamp output power from 60 to 100%, and its dial locks so a set process can't drift. Pairing it with light guide insertion depth extends the total output range to 25-100%.
How do I shut down the SunSpot 2?
Simply turn off the Input Power Switch at the rear of the unit, no special sequence is needed.
Once powered off, a hot lamp needs 2 to 5 minutes of cooling before it can be restarted.
Should I turn the unit off between jobs?
No, the SunSpot 2 is designed for continuous operation, and frequent stopping and starting reduces lamp life. For breaks under about thirty minutes, leave it on with the shutter closed.
The system cuts lamp power while the shutter is closed, which saves energy and extends lamp life, and the lamp stays hot so full output returns without a re-warming period.
Why won't the lamp restart right after shutdown?
Hot-strike protection prevents a hot arc lamp from re-igniting. After input power is switched off, allow 2 to 5 minutes of cooling before restarting.
Is it OK to power off during lamp warm-up?
No. The lamp is thermally ramping for the first 1 to 2 minutes, and shutting it off mid-warm-up shortens lamp life, can make the lamp hard or impossible to start, and can even cause non-passive failure.
Only shut down after the lamp has reached full thermal stability and the Ready indicator is lit.
How do I balance a multi-pole light guide?
With the unit running at your working intensity, open the shutter and measure each leg with a radiometer (UV0567 or equivalent). Rotate the guide handle in the front receptacle in 30-degree increments and re-measure until the legs match to within about 10%, then lock the position with the handle locking thumbscrew.
How do I pick the right cure time?
Start with your adhesive manufacturer's data sheet; approximate cure time equals the required energy (J/cm²) divided by the delivered intensity (W/cm²). Reactivity varies between products, so optimum settings may need to be confirmed experimentally.
How does tip distance affect the cure?
Shorter distance means higher intensity and a smaller spot; longer distance spreads the light over a wider, less intense area. Adjust within roughly 1/2 to 3 inches for optimal results.
What signals are on the rear connector?
Three control inputs, Lamp ON/OFF (low = off), Exposure Shutter Open/Close (low = open), and Lamp Hour Meter Reset (high = reset), and two 24 VDC monitoring outputs: Lamp Ignited (high = ignited) and Lamp Ready (low = ready).
What does the Lamp Hours meter track?
It totals the arc lamp's operating age so you can plan replacement, the lamp typically exceeds 2,000 hours before output drops to 50% of new. Record the reading whenever you change the lamp.
Can the lamp hour meter be reset?
Yes, a reset input on the rear DSUB connector zeroes the meter (drive the Hour Meter Reset signal high). Resetting after each lamp change keeps the meter showing the current lamp's age.
How do I know the lamp is ignited?
The front panel Lamp On indicator is a light pipe that passes actual bluish light from the arc lamp, so when it glows the lamp is lit. It brightens as the lamp ramps up to full intensity.
Can I set output below the knob's minimum?
Yes, with the knob at minimum, gradually pull the light guide out of the receptacle until you reach the level you want (stopping before the handle hits the interlock limit), then lock the position with the handle locking thumbscrew.
Do I need gloves when operating it?
Yes, protective clothing and cotton gloves are required to protect exposed skin while working around the system. A few seconds of direct UV exposure can burn skin like a full day in the sun.
What surface should I cure parts on?
Always cure on a metallic or non-flammable surface, and never place the guide tip on or near anything flammable or heat-sensitive while the shutter is open or the tip is still hot.
The high output power can deliver significant heat to whatever the tip is aimed at, resting it on a flammable surface could result in fire.
What input power does it need?
The UV1853 model runs on 120 VAC and the UV2132 on 240 VAC, 47-63 Hz single phase; maximum draw is 4.7 A at 120 V or 2.5 A at 240 V.
Each unit is factory configured for one voltage, connecting the wrong input can cause malfunction and possibly permanent damage.
Does the shutter save lamp life when closed?
Yes. The SunSpot 2 reduces lamp power whenever the shutter closes, cutting power consumption and extending lamp life while keeping the lamp hot enough to return to full output the moment you cure again.
How fast does it cure adhesives?
Most photo-initiated adhesives, resins, coatings, and inks cure in about 1 to 10 seconds thanks to the more than 18 W/cm² of UVA delivered at the guide tip. Actual time depends on your chemistry, check the adhesive data sheet.
What UV shielding does my work area need?
All installations should shield radiated UV so operators and anyone passing through can't get eye or skin burns. Sheet metal, UV-blocking acrylic, polycarbonate, or welding curtains all work, and since spot curing puts light on a small area, scatter is minimal and shielding is usually simple to construct.
What spectral range does it output?
275 to 650 nm, a broad arc spectrum spanning UVB/UVC, UVA, and visible light, which suits adhesives that narrow-band LED sources can't fully cure.
How intense is the output?
More than 18,000 mW/cm² of UVA (320-390 nm) measured at the end of the light guide with a new lamp, enough to cure most photo-initiated chemistries in seconds.
Can an external switch trigger exposures?
Yes, in Manual mode the shutter stays open as long as an external switch (or the pedal) remains closed. The shutter input accepts an external switch, a PLC open-collector isolated output, or a TTL-compatible signal (high 2.0 V or more, low 0.8 V or less, 5.0 V max).
What happens with no light guide installed?
The light guide safety interlock keeps the shutter closed, so no UV can radiate into the work area even if the unit is switched on or left unattended.
What room conditions can it operate in?
+10 to +40 °C (+50 to +104 °F) ambient with 30 to 75% relative humidity, non-condensing. Internal over-temperature protection shuts the system down at 65 °C.
Should I log lamp intensity readings?
Yes, if you have a radiometer, record initial lamp intensity and lamp hours in a maintenance log when the system is new and after any maintenance. Those baselines make it easy to spot lamp or optics degradation later.
Can the guide tip touch the adhesive?
Avoid it. Uncured adhesive that contacts the tip will cure onto the guide's quartz window and reduce light output until it's cleaned off.
