Micro-Epsilon has launched a new compact, robust (IP67) short wavelength infrared thermal imaging camera, which is specifically designed to measure the surface temperature of hot metals, as well as ceramics and graphite.
Due to its short-wave spectral range of 1µm, the new thermoIMAGER TIM M1 is suitable for temperature measurement applications in metal processing, including the temperature monitoring of metal hardening and forming processes. In the range 0.92µm to 1.1µm, metals are subject to a significantly higher emissivity than in other wavelength ranges.
The thermoIMAGER TIM M1 has a high resolution CMOS detector with 764 x 480 pixels, a temperature measuring range of 450°C to 1800°C, and like all Micro-Epsilon thermal imagers, the TIM M1 comes with full license-free software for fast set up and easy configuration. It is very compact at just 46 x 56 x 90mm, yet for harsh environments, can be supplied with a large stainless steel air or water-cooled housing that can operate in 315°C ambient temperatures.
The M1 is supplied with the licence-free TIMConnect operating and analysis software as standard, which includes a variety of process control features, including an ‘image merging’ function. This smart feature allows the user to view on a single screen up to four M1 camera images and process these as ‘one image’. This is a very useful tool when users need to monitor a large target or area, for example, when searching for hotspots in a long production line. The M1 can be set up to provide detailed analysis of high speed, thermodynamic processes and is able to output analogue temperature or alert values via the process interface (PIF).
Powered and operated via a USB 2.0 interface, the M1 provides temperature images and profiles of a target area. This plug-and-play unit enables the real time capture and storage of images or video of an event for slow motion play back or snapshots at a later date – a key feature in many quality, R&D and inspection work. The TIM M1 offers frame rates up to 1kHz, which means that users can monitor the temperature of fast moving metal objects or processes.
The M1 is lightweight (320g including lens) and compact (46 x 56 x 90mm) and operates in ambient temperatures of 0°C to +50°C (+315°C with an integrated cooling jacket). The standard 5m or 10m USB cables are also available in high temperature (HT) versions for use with cooling jackets. The TIM USB Gigabit Server enables extended cable lengths of up to 100m via Ethernet.
