New to IR? ITC Webinars Can Help!

It’s likely that a number of you who frequent this blog are either new to the world of infrared or possibly just purchased your first thermal imager. Regardless, there is a lot of information that new thermographers need to digest, so where does one proceed? Well, we’ve got some good news for you!

The Infrared Training Center now offers a number of live, regularly scheduled, educational webinars that are designed to introduce participants to the technology and variety of IR applications available. By attending these free, interactive, online sessions you will learn not only the basics of infrared thermography, but also where thermal imaging can reduce costs, save energy and increase safety for professionals in a variety of industries.

If you’re in the electrical, maintenance, or home inspection business, infrared thermography can help you spot a number of issues that your eyes simply can’t see. Join us for as many of these upcoming webinars as you like and learn more about how using infrared can benefit both you and your company.

Sign up today at www.infraredtraining.com/webinars . Registration is free and now available for the following topics:

New Online Course: FLIR K Series Basics

A tutorial on the basic operation of FLIR K Series Infrared Cameras for Fire Fighters in English, French, and German. This course is offered at no charge.
Course Homepage

Emissivity Explained; In Plain English

This short video explains thermal emissivity in a simple to understand format using thermal imaging or thermography to illustrate the concepts.

MSX Explained - in Plain English

Have you ever wished you could have a high fidelity thermal image, but also be able to read labels and see discrete details not shown in the thermal image?

Well now you can, with a new technology called MSX.

MSX stands for Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging, an exclusive image enhancement technology now available on several infrared cameras. This new technology is based on a unique onboard processor that provides extraordinary thermal image details in real time. MSX incorporates real-time thermal video augmented with visible spectrum definition. It produces exceptional thermal clarity to highlight exactly where the problem is. MSX ensures easier target identification without compromising radiometric data. The quality of the thermal images is excellent. There is almost no need any more for a separate digital image; MSX embosses digital camera detail onto thermal video and stills.

How does it work?

An onboard processor continually processes the visual channel and extracts only the visual detail from the visible channel. That visual detail is then added to the thermal image information. Unlike many thermal fusion technologies, the thermal information is not diluted at all, it is just augmented with visual detail not apparent in the thermal image. The result is an incredibly robust and fully radiometric thermal image displaying details and making it easy to know what is being viewed and where problems lie. See this video.

MSX Explained

Online Introduction to Outdoor Electrical Surveys using IR Thermography Course Updated

This introductory course is designed to give you a straight forward explanation of how Infrared technology fits in the outdoor electrical inspection industry.

Objectives

• An overview of a outdoor electrical survey goal and process
• An outline of industry guidelines and standards
• A demonstration of images and analysis
• A summary of reporting capabilities
• A briefing on additional accessory tools

Course Home Page

Optical Gas Imaging Re-Certification Exam Now Available

The Optical Gas Imaging Recertification Examination is designed for the Optical Gas Imaging thermographer who needs to recertify an ITC Optical Gas Imaging certification. The prime candidate is a thermographer who has been unable to accumulate 32 certification renewal credits (by attending IR conferences, other IR courses, and/or writing/presenting articles and papers) during the 5 years of his certification validity. Payment is by credit card.

Click here to go to the Exam Home page

Using a Wide Angle Lens as a Macro or Close Up Lens

Some thermographers are surprised to learn that many wide angle lenses can be used for high magnification work. After all, the wide angle lenses have a larger IFOV and IFOV footprint, so how can they be used for small targets effectively?

Here is a typical example for a FLIR E60 camera (320 x 240 resolution):

Lens FOV	IFOV (mrad)	IFOV footprint at 19.7” Working Distance
25° x 19°	1.36	0.03”
45° × 33.8°	2.59	0.05”

The specs above don’t indicate that a wide angle lens is any better, in fact it has a larger footprint. So what gives?

Take a look at the thermograms below:

	Here is a thermogram of a ruler taken with the standard 25° lens at its closest focus distance of 9.2”. Note how the scribed lines on the 100ths scale are fuzzy and merge together. The horizontal FOV is about 3”. This indicates that items this small cannot be resolved using this lens.
	I have enlarged the 25° image to illustrate the blurred lines on the scale.
	Here is the same ruler taken with a 45° lens. The scribed lines can clearly be seen and differentiated. The horizontal FOV is about 1.5”. What’s the secret? The 45° lens can be focused much closer to the target (1.2”). Hence it effectively can resolve smaller targets.

Does a wide angle lens work as well as a dedicated close up lens? No, of course not. You might notice that the sharpest areas are in the middle of the image. A dedicated optic for close up work would be designed to reduce this effect while achieving higher magnification.

But as a dual purpose optic, when you need to do some close up work, a wide angle lens is pretty handy.

Here are some images from a FLIR P640 for comparison.

New Course–Thermography Fundamentals

Thermography Fundamentals is a two day introductory class focusing on the fundamentals of condition monitoring/predictive maintenance for the new thermographer. Attendees completing all training course requirements will receive a certificate of completion and are credited with 16 class hours towards their Level I certification. (Certification requires 32 hours of class time).

Infrared Course Benefits

• Introduction to thermal imaging and measurement systems for predictive maintenance applications. No experience in thermography is necessary!
• Collect quality data, accurate temperature readings, and account for measurement effects such as distance and emissivity using infrared cameras.

Tuition
A registration fee of $925 USD includes course instruction, course materials, and lunch each day. Please note that prices may vary for courses conducted outside the continental U.S.; please confirm your price with your local ITC course agent.

Click here for the course home page and schedule.

FLIR Educational Discount Program

Put the Power of Thermal Imaging in Your Students’ Hands!

A FLIR i7 thermal imager is one of the most powerful and flexible diagnostics tools a tradesman can carry today. And there’s a high demand from students eager to learn about this vital technology. That’s why FLIR is offering educators a 60% discount, making it incredibly affordable to add one to your program.

With an i7, you’ll be providing students an opportunity to discover the amazing ways thermal imaging finds problems that are normally invisible so they can readily see where to make repairs to save the day. This is cutting-edge technology that will go a long way to enhance their skills and help them gain a distinct advantage in today’s workplace.

Numerous Applications – Find hidden air leaks, missing insulation, moisture intrusion, electrical overloading, mechanical wear, and other thermal anomalies to help reduce energy waste, downtime, and safety hazards.

Beats IR Thermometers Hands Down – Get thousands of temperature measurements in every thermal image to show you the whole scene instead of working blind with only one spot reading at a time.

Exceeds RESNET Requirements – FLIR i7’s 140 × 140 detector delivers 19,600 pixels of IR resolution to capture the temperature measurements necessary to complete the thermal picture.

Compact Point-and-Shoot Simplicity – Light at 13 ounces (365g) for easy, one-handed operation yet tough enough to take a 2 meter drop and stow with other tools. Plus a focus-free lens and bright LCD to help you see the whole thermal scene clearly and cover more ground efficiently.

Camera & Training Support – Along with the i7, we’ll provide a DVD with downloadable guidebooks and videos plus plenty of help from FLIR and the Infrared Training Center to get you up and running. ITC also offers continuing education opportunities for your students as through online and classroom camera and thermography training courses.

For more information and to register for the program, use the link below: http://www.flir.com/thermography/americas/us/view/?id=57407

* Available to certified educators for classroom teaching at vocational and technical schools only, subject to approval by FLIR.

New Online Course Released - Introduction to Thermography for Home Inspectors

Are you a home inspector interested in adding infrared thermography to your list of services? Do you already own an infrared camera and want to learn where and how it can be used for home inspections? Then this course is for you!
We start out with just enough "science" to get you into the groove, then its on to applications: why they work, how to do it, and case history examples. The course is divided into the following sections:

• Thermography Basics
• Moisture Investigations
• HVAC Investigations
• Insulation Investigations
• Air Leakage Investigations
• Electrical Investigations
• Structural Investigations
• Miscellaneous Investigations

Use this link to go to the course home page for more information.