EIT Compact Sensors

  • Post last modified:June 22, 2025

For manufacturers and industry professionals, maintaining peak performance in UV curing applications is paramount. While handheld radiometers are essential tools for spot checks, many production environments demand continuous, real-time UV intensity feedback. This is precisely where EIT’s On-Line Monitoring Systems excel, offering a sophisticated and robust solution for consistent quality, optimized processes, and enhanced profitability. 

Beyond Handheld: Why Continuous Monitoring Matters

EIT’s On-Line Systems provide continuous, real-time feedback on UV intensity, a crucial advantage in situations where traditional handheld radiometers fall short:

  • Confined Spaces: When space is limited, or arms, rollers, and blades are present, preventing easy access for a handheld device. 
  • Enclosed Sources: For UV sources that are enclosed, not easily accessed, or positioned high off the ground. 
  • Wide Production Lines: When multiple UV sources are used across a wide production line. 
  • High Production Speeds: In fast-paced environments where using a handheld radiometer is impractical. 
  • Rapid UV Changes: When UV conditions fluctuate quickly due to off-gassing or contamination. 
  • High-Value Products: For manufacturing high-value products where undetected changes in UV can lead to significant scrap levels. 
  • Tight Process Windows: When continuous validation of UV conditions is required due to a narrow process window. 

These systems are electro-optic based and can monitor UV from both LED and broadband (mercury) sources. Applications span across diverse industries, including web presses, fiber optic draw towers, hard drive manufacturing, print, and medical applications. 

The Core Components: Compact Sensor and DIN Rail Signal-Conditioning Unit

EIT’s On-Line System consists of two primary components designed for durability and real-time data delivery:

  • EIT Compact Sensor: This is an exceptionally durable sensor featuring sealed optics, built to withstand harsh UV environments. Compact Sensors are available for both LED and broadband sources and can be customized in terms of optic response, housing shape, aperture size, and mounting location to suit specific UV source types and applications. An innovative optics design increases durability and reduces solarization, demonstrating very minimal degradation even after over 6,700 hours in intense high-power microwave UV systems. They are designed to remain clean and cool, with suggested installation locations including behind the reflector, below the system, or using a quartz rod for challenging areas. 
  • EIT DIN Rail Signal-Conditioning Unit: The Compact Sensor works in conjunction with the EIT DIN Rail to provide a signal (0-10 volt or 4-20 milliAmp) that is proportional to the real-time UV intensity. This signal can be tracked on a PLC or display, allowing users to monitor gradual changes like source aging or sudden equipment malfunctions, enabling proactive intervention before product quality or profitability is impacted. The DIN Rail also offers the crucial ability to set low limit alarms and/or trigger a relay closure if pre-programmed limits are exceeded, providing immediate alerts for critical deviations. 

For environments prone to electromagnetic interference (EMI) from equipment like high-frequency power supplies or microwave sources, EIT also offers “hardened” EMI Compact Sensors and EMI DIN Rails with additional circuitry for increased resistance to electrical noise. 

Practical Insights and Actionable Advice

  • Proactive Quality Control: By continuously monitoring UV intensity, manufacturers can detect deviations and take action before they impact product quality, significantly reducing scrap levels and improving efficiency. 
  • Optimized Maintenance: Continuous feedback on lamp conditions, even from sensors mounted behind reflectors, allows for predictive maintenance, preventing unexpected downtime. 
  • Enhanced Process Stability: The ability to track real-time relative intensity enables users to maintain tighter process windows and ensure consistent UV conditions, crucial for high-value products. 
  • Flexible Deployment: The system can be used as the sole means of UV process control or integrated with an EIT NIST-traceable UV radiometer for comprehensive oversight. 

Blaze: Your Partner in Continuous UV Process Optimization

Integrating advanced on-line UV monitoring systems like those from EIT can transform your manufacturing operations. Blaze is committed to helping individuals and professionals seamlessly implement and leverage this technology to achieve their project goals. Blaze can assist you by:

  • Expert System Configuration: Providing guidance on selecting the optimal Compact Sensor response, housing, aperture, and mounting location for your specific UV source type and application. 
  • Integration Support: Facilitating the seamless integration of EIT On-Line Systems into your existing control systems (e.g., PLCs) and production lines.
  • Data Utilization Strategies: Helping you interpret the continuous real-time intensity data to fine-tune your UV curing parameters, troubleshoot issues efficiently, and implement proactive maintenance schedules.
  • Customized Solutions: Working with you to develop tailored monitoring strategies that address your unique operational challenges and quality requirements.

By partnering with Blaze, you can unlock the full potential of EIT’s On-Line Monitoring Systems, ensuring consistent UV performance, minimizing risks, and driving profitability in your UV curing processes.

Last updated on June 22nd, 2025 at 12:04 pm