UV Curing calculator

UV Radiometer Reading Adjustment Calculator

UV radiometers drift between calibrations and shop-floor units rarely match the lab reference exactly. The fix is a simple correction factor (lab reading ÷ shop-floor reading at the same position) applied to every raw reading until the next cal cycle. This calculator does that math and shows the gap between the corrected reading and your target dose so the operator never compares uncorrected numbers to a corrected spec.

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.
  • Returns a corrected dose from a shop-floor radiometer reading and the headroom over your chemistry's target dose.

Formula used

  • Corrected dose = raw reading × calibration correction factor
  • Gap to target = corrected dose − target dose

Inputs explained

  • Raw radiometer reading: What the shop-floor radiometer just displayed at the part position.
  • Calibration correction factor: Lab-reference reading ÷ this radiometer's reading at the same position; documented per device.
  • Target dose: Required dose from the chemistry data sheet at the matching UV band.

How to use the result

  • Use it any time a non-reference radiometer is in use, after repair / drop events, and right after a calibration cycle to confirm the new factor is in service.
  • A single correction factor only handles linear offset between two devices. If two radiometers disagree by more than ±15% or the offset varies with intensity level, send the shop-floor unit out for calibration — the correction factor model has broken down.

Common questions

  • How do I establish the correction factor? Place both the lab reference and the shop-floor radiometer at the same position under the same lamp at production setpoint. Take three readings on each and average. Correction factor = average lab reading ÷ average shop-floor reading. Document the factor on the radiometer's case and in the cal record.
  • How often should the correction factor be refreshed? At every formal radiometer calibration (typically annual or per supplier interval), after any drop / impact, after a sensor cleaning that removes deposits, and any time the factor is suspected of drifting (e.g. dose verdict disagrees with witness samples).
  • My factor is 1.4 — is that OK? It's flagging a problem. Factors past ~1.15 mean the shop-floor unit's sensor is meaningfully degraded or the spectral response no longer matches the lamp output. Fix or replace the radiometer rather than relying on a large correction; the math hides errors that vary with intensity.
  • Does this apply to dose or just irradiance? Either — the correction factor works the same on raw mJ/cm² (dose) or mW/cm² (irradiance) as long as you applied the factor consistently and on the same UV band. Use this calc for dose; for an irradiance correction, use the same correction factor in the UV Irradiance calculator.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.