UV Curing calculator
UV Radiometer Reading Adjustment Calculator
Radiometers drift, and each calibration cycle issues a correction factor to convert raw readings into true dose. This calculator applies that factor to a raw mJ/cm2 reading and compares the corrected dose to your process target, so you know whether the part is actually receiving enough energy. Quality engineers and calibration technicians use it to avoid the trap of accepting a lamp that reads high only because the meter under-reads. It closes the gap between what the meter shows and what the part really sees.
What this calculator does
- Apply a calibration correction factor to a raw radiometer reading and compare the corrected number to a target dose.
- Use it any time the radiometer in use isn't the lab-calibrated reference - a shop-floor unit being compared to a NIST-traceable lab pass, for example.
- It multiplies a raw radiometer reading by the calibration correction factor to give corrected dose at the part, then reports the gap to your target dose.
Formula used
- Corrected dose = raw reading × calibration correction factor
- Gap to target = corrected dose − target dose
Inputs explained
- Raw radiometer reading:
- Radiometer calibration correction factor:
- Target cure dose:
How to use the result
- Use it whenever you record a dose reading with a meter that has a certificate-issued correction factor, especially right after a calibration return.
- The correction factor only compensates for the meter's own error; it cannot account for the meter being a different band, geometry, or optical window than the reference standard.
Common questions
- How do you apply a radiometer calibration correction factor? Multiply the raw reading by the factor. In the example a raw 1100 mJ/cm2 times a 1.08 factor gives a corrected dose of 1188 mJ/cm2 at the part.
- Why is my corrected dose lower than target even though the raw reading looked fine? Because the factor can push a marginal reading either way. Here 1188 corrected sits 12 mJ/cm2 below a 1200 target, so the tool reports negative headroom of minus 12, meaning you are just short of target.
- What is a calibration correction factor? It is the multiplier on a radiometer's calibration certificate that reconciles the meter's response to the reference standard. A factor of 1.08 means the meter reads about 8 percent low, so true dose is higher than displayed.
- How often should a UV radiometer be recalibrated? Most manufacturers recommend annual recalibration, or sooner with heavy use or after a drop. Each return typically issues a fresh correction factor, which is why you should always use the current certificate value.
- Corrected dose vs raw reading, which do I record for the batch? Record the corrected dose as the acceptance value, and keep the raw reading and factor for traceability. Auditors want to see that you applied the certificate factor rather than trusting the display.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.