September 3, 2024
If you are working with ultraviolet light adhesives, you may be using light guides for precise applications. In order to keep this equipment working effectively, you need to make sure you are cleaning and maintaining it properly. Contaminated and dirty equipment can be costly in both wasted time and money.
What Are Liquid Light Guides?
Liquid light guides, sometimes also called UV light guides, are flexible tubes used to transmit small beams of high intensity UV light. They are so named because of their sealed liquid core and can start the curing process for adhesives or coatings that are activated by UV light. Because of their small diameter, they are typically used in precise applications such as with medical devices, scientific instruments, or small electronic components.
When to Clean Liquid Light Guides
While this equipment offers a precise and effective way to cure adhesives, liquid light guides can accumulate dust and other contaminants over time. Dirty liquid light guides can degrade the equipment’s performance in different ways.
Contaminants and dirt may decrease the intensity of UV light being transmitted and lead to diminished effectiveness. Buildup of contaminants may also degrade the light guide itself and lead to permanent damage over time. To avoid these issues, liquid light guides should be cleaned periodically to ensure they are working at their optimum level. Especially since these problems are often not visible to the naked eye, following the manufacturer’s recommendations on the liquid light guide’s cleaning frequency is critical.
Outside of the manufacturer’s recommendations, a good way to determine if it is time to clean a UV liquid light guide is to use UV readings. You can compare the UV reading from the end of the liquid light guide to those of a light guide simulator. If the UV readings from the light guide are noticeably lower than the light guide simulator, it probably needs to be cleaned.
How to Clean Liquid Light Guides
Cleaning UV light guides is a relatively easy process. To begin, make sure the equipment is off. Use compressed air to gently remove loose contaminants first.
Next, you need a solvent and a tissue. Isopropyl alcohol is the recommended cleaning agent as chlorine-based solutions can actually damage the equipment. If the contaminant cannot be removed with the solvent, a razor blade can be used to gently clean the surface. Just be careful not to damage the equipment with the blade's edge.
Once the cleaning is complete, check the results with another UV reading. If the numbers are sufficiently improved, the cleaning was successful. More cleaning may be necessary if the results are not yet where they should be.
Maintaining Liquid Light Guides
Along with properly cleaning liquid light guides when necessary, you should also pay attention to maintenance procedures to keep your light guides working effectively and improve their longevity. Every product is different so always check the manufacturer’s instructions regarding maintenance and follow their recommendations. Regularly check the equipment for signs of wear and tear. To reduce cleaning frequency, also keep them in a clean environment.
When it comes to your adhesive dispensing equipment, you want to know you are using the best tools for the specific job and that they are working at their optimum level. If you have questions or are in search of new equipment, we may be able to help. Contact a dispensing expert today.
