uv exposure unit

UV Exposure Unit

Construction Plans

A home-made UV Exposure unit for exposing sandcarving photo-resist film.

UV Exposure UnitParts Identification

Bill Of MaterialsUV Exposure Unit

Cutting Diagram - Sheets

48" x 48", ½" Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) 8.0 bd.ft. (40.54%)

C) Bottom

D) Lid

A) Side

A) Side

B) End

B) End

E) Bulkhead

F) Ballast Cover

Description Quantity Length Width Thickness Material

A) Side 2 25" 5" 1/2" MDF

B) End 2 11" 5" 1/2" MDF

C) Bottom 1 25" 12" 1/2" MDF

D) Lid 1 18" 12" 1/2" MDF

E) Bulkhead 1 11" 5" 1/2" MDF

F) Ballast Cover 1 12" 7" 1/2" MDF

G) Glass 1 17 7/8" 11 3/8" 1/4" Glass

3-Wire Power Cord 1

Aluminum Foil As Reqd.

Bi-pin Lamp Socket 8

Electronic Timer 1

F15T8/BL T8 UV Fluorescent Bulb 4

Finish Nails As Reqd.

Foam Rubber, Closed Cell 1 17 1/2" 11 1/2" 1/8"

Hook-Up Wire 18 Guage

RL2SP20TP Ballasts 2

Sash Chain 1 12"

Assembly InstructionsUV Exposure Unit

1. From a ½ sheet of ½” thick Medium Density Fiberboard cut the parts following the CutList Diagram.

2. Cut a 3/16” x ¼” rabbit joint on the top edge of one End (B), the middle Bulkhead (E), and both Sides (A). Drill the 2” diameter wiring access hole in the Bulkhead (E). Assemble the Bottom (C) piece with the two Sides (A) and two Ends (B) to form the basic box. The rabbits on the sides and the one end should face up and in. The other end piece should be the one without the rabbit. Place the middle Bulkhead (E) as a divider in the box 18” from the end with the rabbit facing the large cavity of the box. Glue and nail all joints with finish nails.

3. Line the large cavity of the box with Heavy Duty aluminum foil. I glued the foil in place with spray adhesive.

4. Mount the fluorescent tube holders to the base in the large cavity. Space them 2 ¾” apart.

5. The ballasts are mounted to the base in the small cavity. Make sure you run a ground wire from the reflector (aluminum foil) to each ballast case and then to the ground wire on the power cord.

6. Mount a 15 minute timer in the Ballast Cover (F).

7. Cut a piece of double strength (1/4” thick) glass to fit the rabbits on the light cavity of the exposure unit.

8. Glue a piece of 1/8” thick closed cell foam rubber to the inside of the Lid (D). Mount the lid with hinges and put two case latches on the front side. Mount these so that you have some compression of the foam against the glass when the lid is latched shut.

9. I put a small chain on the lid to keep it from opening all the way back

Sources: UV Fluorescent Bulbs – topbulb.com Ballasts – Bulbs.com Bulb Sockets – Any local hardware store HookupWire - Radio Shack Mechanical Timer – Any local hardware store

UV Exposure UnitIndividual Part Details

A) Detail

B) Detail

C) Detail

D) Detail

UV Exposure UnitIndividual Part Details (Cont.)

E) Detail

F) Detail


G) Detail

H) Detail


uv exposure unit

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