UV Curing calculator
UV Batch Cure Capacity Calculator
Not every UV cure cell is a moving belt — assembly cells, spot-cure pens, and small-parts carousels all run as batches. Capacity in those cells is parts per fixture × cycles per hour, derated for uptime and yield. This calculator does that math directly so you can size a batch cell honestly instead of misapplying conveyor throughput formulas that don't fit.
What this calculator does
- Project parts per hour from a batch UV cure fixture (jig + lamp + cycle) given parts per fixture, cycles per hour, uptime, and yield.
- Use it when sizing a new UV batch fixture (lab bench cure, spot-cure carousel, manual fixture) instead of a continuous belt — the math is different.
- Returns realistic good-parts-per-hour from a UV batch cure cell, accounting for fixture loading, cycle time, uptime, and yield.
Formula used
- Gross capacity = parts per fixture × cycles per hour
- Net good parts / hr = gross × uptime × cure yield
Inputs explained
- Parts per fixture / load: How many parts are cured in one fixture loading; carousels often 4–24, single-station spot cure = 1.
- Cure cycles per hour: 60 ÷ (load + cure + unload time in min). Realistic — include inspection time.
- Cell uptime: Production hours ÷ scheduled hours; manual cells often 70–85%.
- Cure-related yield: % passing downstream inspection for cure issues; 95–99% on stable batch UV.
How to use the result
- Use it when sizing a batch UV cell, comparing batch vs continuous cure for a new product, or auditing why a manual cure cell isn't hitting its takt.
- Single-cell math. Doesn't model operator availability — a one-operator cell with two fixtures running in parallel needs operator-availability analysis on top. Also assumes all parts in a fixture cure to the same dose; if fixture geometry creates dose variation across positions, run UV Dose Mapping per position.
Common questions
- How do I figure cycles per hour honestly? Time the full cycle on a sample run: load time + cure time + unload + inspection between cycles. Then 60 ÷ (cycle min) = cycles/hr. The most common error is using just cure time — handling often equals or exceeds cure time on small batch cells.
- Carousel vs single-fixture — which gives more throughput? Carousels almost always win for parts under ~30 sec cure time, because operator load/unload happens in parallel with cure. Single-fixture only catches up when cure time is long enough that handling overhead is small (>2 min cure). Run both options through this calc with realistic cycle times to compare.
- Why does fixture uptime run so low on manual cells? Operator breaks, line waits for material, fixture changeovers between SKUs, and unscheduled downtime add up. 70–85% is normal for manual cells; >90% means either heavy automation or the uptime number is being counted optimistically.
- How does this differ from UV System Throughput? UV System Throughput models continuous belt feed (parts on belt × belt speed). This calculator models discrete cycles (parts per cycle × cycles per hour). They aren't interchangeable — pick the one that matches the cell type.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.