SunSpot 2: About & highlights, every question, answered
36 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.
What is the SunSpot 2?
The SunSpot 2 is an ultra-compact UV/visible light curing system made by Uvitron International. It is a benchtop or machine-mounted spot light source designed for rapid curing of photo-initiated adhesives, resins, coatings, inks and paints.
It delivers over 18,000 mW/cm² of UVA through a flexible light guide and suits everything from lab benches to volume production.
Who makes the SunSpot 2?
Uvitron International, Inc. of West Springfield, Massachusetts manufactures the SunSpot 2. UV Spot Shop is a US-based supplier, we stock the system and ship it from the US.
What applications is it designed for?
Rapid spot curing of photo-initiated adhesives, resins, coatings, inks and paints. Typical uses include PCB and component tacking, adhesive bonding and potting, and medical and optical assembly.
It is suitable for laboratory use and for volume production applications.
How does UV light curing work?
Photoinitiators in the resin react to specific wavelengths of light, causing the liquid to polymerize into a solid on demand. Unlike two-part epoxies, light-curing resins are single-component and need no measuring or mixing.
Approximate cure time in seconds equals the required light energy (J/cm²) divided by the delivered intensity (W/cm²).
How fast will it cure my adhesive?
At more than 18,000 mW/cm² UVA, most photo-initiated chemistries cure in seconds. Exact time depends on your material: cure time (s) = required energy (J/cm²) divided by delivered intensity (W/cm²).
Reactivity varies by manufacturer, so check the adhesive datasheet and fine-tune time and intensity experimentally.
How is it different from an LED system?
Its mercury short-arc lamp emits a broad 275–650 nm spectrum, so it cures chemistries that need UVB, UVC or visible content, not just narrow-band UVA. It is the right choice when your adhesive datasheet calls for broadband output.
What lamp does the SunSpot 2 use?
A 200-watt UVA-enhanced mercury short-arc lamp/reflector module, Uvitron part UV1866, in a quick-change cartridge design.
UVB-enhanced (UV2170) and visible-enhanced (UV4792) 200 W modules are also available to match your chemistry.
How does the light reach the part?
A dichroic-coated elliptical reflector focuses the arc into a cone while filtering out unwanted infrared for cooler output. The beam passes through an in-line heat filter into a liquid-filled light guide that delivers it to the cure site.
Does it have a built-in timer and shutter?
Yes. An integral electronic timer (settable 0–99 seconds) drives a shutter that precisely controls exposure duration, triggered by the included foot pedal or an external signal.
Can it cure several points at once?
Yes, optional multi-pole light guides split the output into 2, 3 or 4 legs from a single lamp, curing multiple zones simultaneously without adding lamp systems.
The manual includes a simple balancing procedure to even out the legs to within roughly 10%.
What comes in the box?
The SunSpot 2 unit with integral timer and shutter, a UV1866 200 W UVA lamp module (installed), a UV2554 heat filter assembly (installed), a UV1860 foot pedal with 6 ft cable, a UV0570 1 m × 5 mm liquid light guide, UV0496 shade-5.0 safety glasses, a UV0341 US power cord and a printed instruction manual.
Which lamp module is included?
The UV1866, a 200-watt UVA-enhanced short-arc lamp/reflector module, comes factory installed.
Is a heat filter included?
Yes, the UV2554 heat filter assembly (300–450 nm transmission) comes installed. It strips heat-producing energy while only slightly reducing UVA, protecting heat-sensitive parts and extending light guide life.
Does it come with a foot pedal?
Yes, the UV1860 shutter control foot pedal with a six-foot cable is included. It plugs into the 9-pin DSUB connector on the rear panel.
What light guide is included?
A UV0570 liquid-filled light guide, 1 m long with a 5 mm diameter. Other lengths, diameters, fiber types and multi-pole versions are optional.
Are safety glasses included?
Yes, UV0496 UV/IR safety glasses, 5.0 shade, in an OTG style that fits over prescription eyewear.
Is a power cord included?
Yes, a UV0341 AC power cord, 7 ft 6 in, US style. Other cord types are available for international outlets.
Is a printed manual included?
Yes, a printed SunSpot 2 instruction manual ships in the box, and the full 31-page PDF is free to download.
What is lamp auto-dimming?
The SunSpot 2 reduces lamp power whenever the shutter is closed. That cuts power consumption and heating and extends lamp life, while the lamp stays hot enough to return to full output instantly when the shutter reopens.
How repeatable is the light output?
A tightly regulated switch-mode power supply holds lamp power to ±1.0%, giving very consistent output and repeatable cure times part after part.
Who typically buys the SunSpot 2?
Labs and manufacturers doing electronics, medical and optical assembly, anywhere a fast, localized, high-intensity cure beats an oven or flood system. It works for laboratory use and volume production alike.
Is it suited to production lines?
Yes. It is designed for continuous operation, integrates with PLCs through the rear-panel interface, and its high power density supports fast cycle times.
Multiple safety interlocks and the quick-change lamp cartridge help keep uptime high.
What exactly is a light guide?
A flexible cable, liquid-filled or fused fiber, that carries the lamp's focused light from the front-panel receptacle to a small, precise spot on your part.
Liquid or fiber light guide, which one?
The standard liquid guide (UV0570) offers excellent transmission and value; liquid guides typically last one to two years. Fiber guides are long-life and UVB-compatible, and they hold up better for long exposures without the heat filter.
What spot size does it produce?
Roughly a 1.5 in spot at 1.5 in distance and a 3.0 in spot at 3.0 in distance. Moving the tip closer shrinks the spot and raises intensity.
How big and heavy is the unit?
The chassis measures 10.51 × 8.64 × 4.05 inches and weighs 5.92 pounds (without light guide and pedal), small enough for any bench or fixture.
Can I adjust the curing intensity?
Yes, three ways: the lockable front-panel knob (60–100% lamp power), the light guide insertion depth in the receptacle, and the tip-to-part distance. Combined adjustment spans 25–100% of output.
What does the Lamp Hours meter show?
It tracks the accumulated age of the arc lamp so you know when replacement is due. Record the reading when you change lamps; it can be reset to zero through the rear DSUB connector.
Can it remove surface tack on coatings?
Yes, thin-layer coatings and inks often need UVB (280–315 nm) to reduce surface tack. The heat filter can be removed to pass shorter wavelengths, or you can fit the UVB-enhanced UV2170 lamp.
Can it cure through thick or tinted layers?
Deep cures rely on longer UVA and visible wavelengths, which penetrate thick, colored or optically dense layers best. The standard UVA-enhanced lamp covers this, and a visible-enhanced module (UV4792) is available for heavily filtered substrates.
What controls are on the front panel?
Exposure time thumbwheels (0–99 s), a Timed/Manual mode switch, a locking intensity dial, Ready and Lamp On indicators, the lamp hour meter, and the light guide receptacle with its handle-locking thumbscrew.
What does the Ready light mean?
It lights when the power-on warm-up cycle is complete and the lamp has reached stable output intensity. The shutter will not open until the lamp is ready, typically 1 to 2 minutes after switch-on.
How is the SunSpot 2 cooled?
Dual filtered DC fans at the rear cool the optics and electronics. Fan operation is regulated from a lamp infrared temperature sensor, keeping the system reliable while minimizing noise.
How long does the lamp last?
Typically more than 2,000 hours before output falls to 50% of its initial intensity. Actual life depends on the number of on/off cycles, continuous running with the shutter closed is gentler than frequent restarts.
Where can I get the manual and brochure?
Right here, the 31-page instruction manual and the 2-page brochure are free PDF downloads, and printed copies of the manual ship with every system.
What versions of the SunSpot 2 exist?
Two: UV1853, factory-built for 100–120 VAC, and UV2132 for 200–240 VAC. They are otherwise identical, so simply order the one matching your mains supply.
