FEATURE THERMAL IMAGING


CAMERA INTEGRATES with plant and control systems


continues. “The delegate/event paradigm is fully implemented by the Dynamic-link Library provided and it is extensively documented by Micro-Epsilon, allowing me to write event-driven programs.”


CONTROL SYSTEM INTEGRATION In addition to enabling easy integration with R&D and test lab software the thermoIMAGER TIM 400 can integrate with existing plant automation and control systems. The fully featured software TIMConnect provides quick and easy set up together with a range of software tools and a developer kit. The TIM400 is supplied with an integral process interface for input and output of analogue and digital signals (alarms, temperature values, etc). Open connectivity drivers are provided for software integration via Dynamic-link Library (DLL), ComPort and LabVIEW. The thermoIMAGER TIM 400 is able to


Data logging for R&D and testing was proving very challenging and time consuming for a manufacturer of fibre lasers before installing a thermal imaging camera supplied byMicro-Epsilon


A


leading manufacturer of fibre lasers is using a thermal imaging camera from


Micro-Epsilon in its quality control system on a variety of existing and new fibre laser products including welding, cutting, marking, engraving and micro- machining. SPI Lasers’ head office and manufacturing facility in Southampton has been using the thermoIMAGER TIM400 camera on a routine basis in both product development and manufacturing – and is extremely pleased with the results. “Our previous thermal imaging cameras


were difficult to interface with our code,” explains senior R&D engineer Vincenzo Scarnera. “Data logging for R&D purposes and test programmes was proving very challenging and time consuming so we decided to look for an alternative solution. In addition to being a very affordable, compact thermal imaging camera with high resolution we selected the thermoIMAGER TIM400 because we were particularly impressed with its software integration capabilities. I can write my C#.Net code in an easier way and integrate the TIM400 camera with my new and old setups. The camera is so


22 APRIL 2014 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT


versatile that I can interface it to almost any R&D or NPI application where I need to log the temperature profiles of diverse laser components. I have been impressed with the camera’s reliability and we now view it as an invaluable NPI tool.”


SUPPORTS SOFTWARE PROGRAMS Scarnera says that the TIM400 is able to log the temperature profile of laser components and output this data to other software programs. “The camera fully supports the


Microsoft.Net Framework for programming, including VB.net, C++.net and C#.net which we often use here,” he


capture and store thermal video and images with extremely high optical resolution (382 x 288 pixels) at a full frame rate of 80Hz (80 images per second). Equipped with a detector that provides excellent thermal sensitivity of 80mK, this enables the camera to detect even smaller changes in temperature. One of the smallest USB cameras in its


class, the TIM 400 weighs just 320g (including lens) with dimensions of 46mm x 56mm x 88mm. Pre-calibrated with temperature ranges from -20°C to +900°C with an option to extend this to +1,500°C, the camera is currently provided with 30-degree or 13-degree angle of view (aperture) lenses. “The TIM400 camera is very versatile


and opens up a multitude of possibilities for thermal analysis and hotspot detection of components in R&D and test lab environments,” explains David Jones, sales engineer at Micro-Epsilon UK. “Compared to conventional infrared


The TIM400 is able to log the temperature profile of laser


components and output this data to other software programs


cameras the TIM 400 offers more than four times the number of pixels which means infrared images are significantly clearer and sharper. In addition, very small objects with surface areas down to just 0.8 square millimetres can be detected reliably. A frame rate of 80Hz also allows infrared images to be captured in real time.”


Micro-Epsilon UK T: 0151 355 6070 www.micro-epsilon.com


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