Introducing New Q-SUN Xe-3 “X” Models E(X)panded Performance & Excellent Uniformity

When it comes to weathering and lightfastness testing, our team is continuously engineering solutions to help our customers achieve reliable results from their testing program. Building upon our Q-SUN xenon arc tester “E” series, which introduced dual touchscreen displays and enhanced irradiance systems, the new “X” models set a new standard for chamber environmental control.

What Makes the Q-SUN Xe-3 "X" Models Different?

The "X" stands for eXpanded performance. While maintaining the long lamp life, high irradiance, and simple, user-friendly operation that customers expect from Q-SUN xenon arc test chambers, this new model features a completely-redesigned system for managing the test specimen environment, including chamber air temperature (CAT), Black Panel (BP/IBP) temperature, and relative humidity (RH).

Click on the blue icons to learn more about the key features of the Q-SUN Xe-3 X model

 

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This major engineering features two major improvements to the already-versatile and capable Q-SUN Xe-3 product line. 

Expanded Range of Achievable Test Conditions

Popular international weathering standards, such as ISO 4892-2, require a large temperature differential between the black panel temperature (63 °C BP or 65 °C IBP) and the chamber air temperature (38 °C). Q-SUN Xe-3 “X” models are able to maintain these environmental conditions and other low-temperature setpoints with an advanced air atomizing nozzle humidification system. This system adds moisture into the chamber without adding heat, allowing the Q-SUN Xe-3 tester to meet lower-dew point test requirements in most laboratories, without requiring an external chiller unit.

Major Improvement in Temperature Uniformity

Variability of test conditions within a chamber can affect consistency of results from specimens at different locations. Although good laboratory practices like proper calibration and regular specimen repositioning can drastically improve test consistency, uniform conditions throughout the tester are important as well. Many modern testing labs are increasingly interested in verifying the spatial uniformity of sunlight, heat, ans water delivered to test specimens.

To address this, the new Q-SUN Xe-3 "X" models feature significantly improved air handling and environmental control. The result? The new X-models deliver excellent temperature and relative humidity uniformity, ensuring that your specimens receive identical, repeatable exposure across the entire flat-array tray.

Seamless Integration

Innovation shouldn’t require you to re-learn how to run your testing program. The Q-SUN Xe-3 “X” models retain the same operation, calibration, and maintenance as previous Xe-3 models:

• Trusted Calibration: Continues to utilize ISO-17025-certified UC20 and UC202 smart sensors for quick, accurate calibration or irradiance and temperature.
• Shared Consumables: Fully compatible with existing Xe-3 xenon arc lamps, optical filters, specimen holders, and water and air filters.
• Simple operation and maintenance: Q-Lab's philosophy is to Make Testing Simple, and the Xe-3 is no exception. All operation, calibration, and maintenance can be performed by users from the front, using simple or no tools, in a matter of minutes
• Consistent facilities requirements: Standard electrical power and purified water connections remain identical; in addition, the X-models require a standard source of compressed air to operate. 

Like all Q-SUN xenon arc testers, the new Xe-3 “X” models accurately reproduce full-spectrum sunlight and are suitable for testing a wide range of materials, including plastics, coatings, textiles, and automotive components. They also allow for testing of 2- and 3-dimensional specimens, making them an ideal solution for R&D, product development, and quality control laboratories.

Interested in learning more? Contact our team of experts today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the Q-SUN Xe-3 “X” models?

A: The “X” models are the direct successors to the previous “E” configurations of the Q-SUN Xe-3 xenon arc testers. They maintain the advanced features introduced in 2020—including Gen 4 main controllers with dual touchscreen displays and Enhanced irradiance systems—but deliver eXpanded performance capabilities. This is achieved through a completely-redesigned system for chamber air temperature (CAT), Black Panel (BP/IBP) temperature, and relative humidity (RH) control.

Q: What are the primary benefits of upgrading to an X-model?

A: The new architecture addresses two major challenges in environmental weathering:

• Expanded Test Condition Range: The new system allows laboratories to easily meet test cycles that require a wide difference between black panel temperature and chamber air temperature.  
• Superior Temperature Uniformity: The internal airflow redesign yields a significant improvement in temperature uniformity across the exposure tray compared to previous production models, ensuring highly repeatable data.  

Q: How do the X-models achieve this temperature control without a chiller?

A: The Q-SUN Xe-3 X-models utilize a highly-efficient air atomizing nozzle humidification system. Because this system introduces moisture without injecting heat, it allows the tester to reliably maintain low-temperature and low-humidity testing parameters without needing an external chiller.