When UV Needs TLC
July 1998
|
It's quick and simple to maintain UV equipment, and the effort may make system problems easier to pinpoint.
By Susan Friedman
"It's the inks."
"No, it's the equipment."
"No, it's the inks."
"No, it's the equipment."
Diagnosing a UV curing problem can create a heated volley of probable causes.
According to Jim Flynn, product manager, UV curing, Hanovia, initial detection of the problem is the easy part. "The usual sign that there is trouble brewing is when the UV system stops curing or you have to slow down to get a proper cure," he states.
Then the going can get dicey, even with the help of radiometers, power pack current meters, and other indicators. "Distinguishing definitively between a lamp and ink problem is difficult. Both can give you the same symptoms," states Pete Kershner, new business development manager, EYE Ultraviolet.
Flynn adds that the root of the malfunction can be clouded by unaccounted-for factors such as heavier coatings, or production errors such as increasing press speeds without boosting lamp power.
Clean Comments
Fortunately, a little foresight, elbow grease and preventive know-how can stop many UV curing equipment problems before they start, or at least rule out a few possible causes. More comprehensive, PLC-controlled service reminders can make maintenance even more of a no-brainer.
"Converters want the car that will go 100,000 miles without an oil change," says Doug Colton, U.S. operations manager, Nordson Spectral Technology Group. "We have to build UV packages with good diagnostics and minimize the maintenance required."
Indeed, the list of UV components requiring periodic attention is short. According to Tom Heffernan, director of marketing, UV Process Supply, the UV lamp and irradiator (lamp housing reflector), are the two most critical elements of the system, requiring regular service and cleaning.
Different types of UV lamps will affect the frequency of cleanings, advises Colton. "Air-cooled, shuttered lamps act like big vacuum cleaners as air is pulled across them, attracting ink fly, dust and contaminants to the reflector and bulb," he says. A thorough cleaning with isopropyl alcohol should be done weekly, or ink will bake on and cannot be removed without scratching the reflector, he cautions. Filtered lamps, which are cooled with water tubes instead of air, can run clean for up to a year, he notes. The ion levels in the water are monitored by a microprocessor.
By Susan Friedman
"It's the inks."
"No, it's the equipment."
"No, it's the inks."
"No, it's the equipment."
Diagnosing a UV curing problem can create a heated volley of probable causes.
According to Jim Flynn, product manager, UV curing, Hanovia, initial detection of the problem is the easy part. "The usual sign that there is trouble brewing is when the UV system stops curing or you have to slow down to get a proper cure," he states.
Then the going can get dicey, even with the help of radiometers, power pack current meters, and other indicators. "Distinguishing definitively between a lamp and ink problem is difficult. Both can give you the same symptoms," states Pete Kershner, new business development manager, EYE Ultraviolet.
Flynn adds that the root of the malfunction can be clouded by unaccounted-for factors such as heavier coatings, or production errors such as increasing press speeds without boosting lamp power.
Clean Comments
Fortunately, a little foresight, elbow grease and preventive know-how can stop many UV curing equipment problems before they start, or at least rule out a few possible causes. More comprehensive, PLC-controlled service reminders can make maintenance even more of a no-brainer.
"Converters want the car that will go 100,000 miles without an oil change," says Doug Colton, U.S. operations manager, Nordson Spectral Technology Group. "We have to build UV packages with good diagnostics and minimize the maintenance required."
Indeed, the list of UV components requiring periodic attention is short. According to Tom Heffernan, director of marketing, UV Process Supply, the UV lamp and irradiator (lamp housing reflector), are the two most critical elements of the system, requiring regular service and cleaning.
Different types of UV lamps will affect the frequency of cleanings, advises Colton. "Air-cooled, shuttered lamps act like big vacuum cleaners as air is pulled across them, attracting ink fly, dust and contaminants to the reflector and bulb," he says. A thorough cleaning with isopropyl alcohol should be done weekly, or ink will bake on and cannot be removed without scratching the reflector, he cautions. Filtered lamps, which are cooled with water tubes instead of air, can run clean for up to a year, he notes. The ion levels in the water are monitored by a microprocessor.
Companies Mentioned:
 |
|
|
Diversifying with Packaging Services: Unlocking Hidden Profit Potential
Common-Sense Flexography