How to Choose the Right Infrared Heating Lamp for Your Machine

Introduction

Choosing the correct infrared heating lamp for industrial machinery is essential to ensure efficient heating, energy savings, and long-lasting performance.
With multiple options available — Medium Wave (MW), Fast Medium Wave (FRMW), Carbon IR, Halogen IR — selecting the right lamp can be challenging.

This guide walks you through the key specifications, technical considerations, and application factors to help you make the best choice for your equipment.

1. Understand Your Heating Application

Before selecting a lamp, define:

• Material type: plastic, metal, coating, paper, or film

• Surface sensitivity: some materials overheat easily

• Heating process: continuous, short-cycle, or intermittent

• Machine type: conveyor, oven, printing press, thermoforming

• Heating area: small spot or large surface

Different infrared lamps suit different applications. For example:

• FRMW: fast-cycle, short-term heating

• MW: steady, continuous heating

• Carbon IR: large surface, uniform heating

• Halogen IR: small, focused, rapid heating

2. Determine Required Wavelength

Infrared lamps are designed to emit at specific wavelengths:

Choosing the correct wavelength ensures maximum energy absorption and minimal overheating.

3. Check Lamp Dimensions

Critical dimensions include:

• Total length: full length including ceramic caps

• Heating length: active filament area

• Tube diameter: typically 10–18 mm depending on power

• Shape: straight, U-shaped, double-tube, spiral

Accurate sizing ensures the lamp fits your machine and provides uniform heat.

4. Confirm Power & Voltage Requirements

• Power (W): ranges from 200W to 6000W

• Voltage (V): 110V / 220V / 230V / 380V

• High power = faster heating and larger heating area

Ensure your machine’s power supply and controller match the lamp specifications.

5. Decide on Reflector Coating

Reflector coatings improve efficiency by directing IR energy:

• Gold coating: +25–30% efficiency

• White ceramic coating: uniform reflection

• No coating: direct IR, less expensive

Choose based on application speed, area size, and budget.

6. Connection & Mounting Type

Consider how the lamp will integrate with your machine:

• Wires or leads

• Faston connectors

• Ceramic cap terminals

• Mounting clips or brackets

Correct connections ensure stable electrical performance and safety.

7. Consider Lamp Lifespan & Maintenance

• Standard MW: 5000–8000 hours

• FRMW: 3000–5000 hours

• Carbon IR: 3000–6000 hours

• Halogen IR: 2000–4000 hours

Factors affecting lifespan:

• Overheating

• Voltage fluctuations

• Incorrect mounting

• Dirt or contamination on tube surface

8. Evaluate Your Machine’s Process Speed

• Short-cycle automated processes → FRMW or halogen

• Continuous heating → MW or carbon IR

• Large-area heating → carbon IR

• Spot heating → halogen IR

Selecting the right lamp ensures energy efficiency and uniform results.

9. How to Send Your Requirements for Quotation

Provide these details for accurate recommendations:

For IR lamps:

• Total length & heating length

• Tube diameter

• Power & voltage

• Coating type (gold / white / ceramic)

• Quantity

• Desired wavelength or application

For Quartz components:

• Dimensions & wall thickness

• Drawings or samples if available

• Tolerance requirements

10. Conclusion

Choosing the right infrared heating lamp is about matching your machine, material, and process speed with the lamp type, wavelength, size, and power.
Correct selection ensures:

• Faster production

• Energy savings

• Longer lamp lifespan

• Uniform and precise heating

  
  

Need help selecting the ideal IR lamp for your equipment?
Send your technical drawings, machine type, and process details to our engineers — we respond within 12 hours.

Email: sales@huidrey.com

WhatsApp: +86 182 1749 9523