Types of Light Guides
Both liquid light and fiber light guides exhibit their own unique attributes for the relevant curing applications.
- Liquid
- Fiber
- Moderate cost
- High transmission capability
- 3, 5, and 8mm tip diameters from most manufacturers
- Can be coupled to custom optics
- Degrade over time
- 2,000 - 4,000 hour life
- Have a "shelf life"
- Extended range version required for transmission below 300nm
- Multi-legged versions require daily balancing
- Economical choice for light delivery
- More challenging to customize
Quartz Type / High Power Type
- Up to 50% more output than standard fiber guides
- 30% more output than bifurcated liquid guides
- +/-5% balanced output in multi-legged light guide
- Higher packing fraction
- Very long life
- Greater flexibility in curing process
- High power transmission
- Provides 25%- 50% more throughput allowing more energy from lamp
- Moderate cost
- No balancing required
- High numerical aperture fiber that can gather 42 degrees of light as compared to 25 for a standard fiber guide
- Do not degrade over time
- Very durable and does not degrade over extended UV light transmission
- Unlimited shelf life
- Available in 1, 2, 3, and 4 legs
- Transmits wavelength from 160-1200nm eliminating the need for extended range light guides
- Can be coupled to custom optics
- Easier to customize