Micro-Epsilon at MAINTEC 2010

Visitors to this year’s MAINTEC 2010 exhibition (2-4 March 2009), will have the opportunity to look at a new range of temperature sensing products from Micro-Epsilon (UK) Ltd (stand C3). These products include a new range of low cost handheld thermal imaging cameras, as well as a new range of non-contact, inline process temperature sensors.

After recently setting up a partnership agreement with Flir Systems UK, a leading supplier of infrared thermography systems, Micro-Epsilon is now able to offer its customers the thermoIMAGER i series of handheld thermal imaging cameras. The range comprises four models: the i5, i40, i50 and i60.

Starting from £1,995, the thermoIMAGER i5 is a compact, lightweight, multi-purpose infrared camera that requires little training and provides engineers with a low cost ‘point-shoot-detect’ camera. However, even at such a competitive price, the i5 is still accurate enough to measure temperatures up to 250 deg C, whilst being able to detect temperature differences as small as 0.10 deg C.

In terms of its weight, size, price and performance, the thermoIMAGER i5 is unbeatable. Weighing just 340g and with a length of 22cm, it is the lightest and most compact camera currently available on the market. The i5 produces instant, point-and-shoot JPEG infrared images that carry all required temperature data and that can be stored internally or externally, sent and analysed. The camera detects temperature differences across complete surfaces or components in electrical, mechanical and building/office applications, helping to detect potential overheating problems, avoiding costly failures, damage to equipment and energy losses. The camera has a bright, 2.8-inch LCD display and a long life battery for five hours of continuous operation.

For those engineers that require a higher resolution camera, additional functionality and who need to document their findings, Micro-Epsilon’s thermoIMAGER i40 and i50 handheld infrared cameras are ideal.

In addition to thermal imaging cameras, Micro-Epsilon will also be showcasing its new thermoMETER CT laser infrared non-contact temperature sensors at MAINTEC 2010. This range of inline (fixed) sensors operate with an specific wavelengths and are ideal for measuring the temperature of all virtually all materials including metals, glass, ceramics, composites and secondary metal processing applications, from -40°C up to 1,800°C, using laser sighting to easily locate the target to be measured and also define measurement spot size

The Micro-Epsilon thermoMETER CT laser M3 is an infrared temperature sensor that measures at a short wavelength of 2.3µm for all temperature measurements between 50°C and 600°C. This sensor has the lowest unit price of any 2-3μm-wavelength sensor currently in the marketplace – typically 60% of the cost of currently available sensors.

With a start temperature of 50°C, the thermoMETER CT laser M3 fulfills the demands of end users who need to measure the temperature of metals, ceramics and composites, while processing at room temperature. The short wavelength also enables measurements to be taken through glass or transparent plastic windows, a common task in the latest laser welding or lighting systems.

The sensor’s precision double laser sighting, in combination with excellent optical resolution (100:1), minimum spot size (0.7mm), and favourable price/performance ratio, results in a sensor that is ideal for measuring in the metal processing and metal components industry at temperatures up to 600°C.

The double laser sighting system has two laser beams, which precisely follow the infrared optical path, marking at any distance the real spot size. Most common pyrometers use a central laser beam, through-lens sighting system or video sighting, which simply mark the centre and estimate the spot size. Fast signal processing and quantum detector enable fast response times of just 1ms.

For higher process temperatures from 250°C up to 1,800°C, Micro-Epsilon’s new thermoMETER CT laser M1/M2 temperature sensors are ideal and can be used to measure the temperature of metals, ceramics and composites. Like the M3, the M1/M2 sensors have double precision laser sighting, but benefit from a 300:1 optical resolution and a minimum spot size of 0.45mm. Sensor response times are from 1ms.