Seeing thermal red in HD

SuperResolution mode on the TiX1000 cameras increase image resolution, when viewed in SmartView software.
Photo: Fluke

Fluke Corp., a manufacturer of industrial testing equipment including electronic test equipment based in Everett, Wash., says its TiX Expert cameras provide its best images yet.

The TiX1000 (1024 x 768 resolution), TiX660, and TiX640 (both 640 x 480) have up to 10 times the on-camera pixels of standard 320 x 240 cameras and a large 5.6-inch articulating display that identifies issues quickly.

The highly detailed image quality comes with advanced focusing options to capture accurate measurements from targets that are challenging, dangerous, or moving too fast.

SuperResolution mode on the TiX1000 and TiX660 cameras increase image resolution, when viewed in SmartView software, four times more than that of the camera.

For example, SuperResolution reveals HD quality in the TiX1000 images with 3.1 million pixels. TiX660 SuperResolution images have 1.2 million pixels. This higher resolution helps better identify potential issues that might be missed using other infrared cameras.

TiX can also be sub-windowed to 240 Hz frame rate to capture and analyze sudden temperature changes that occur within a second for advanced research and development applications.

There are eight lens options (two telephoto, two wide angle, three macro, and one standard), to capture images from very close up to long range.

The combination of high resolution and telephoto lenses captures detailed thermal images from a safe distance for oil and gas, utilities, and preventive/predictive maintenance applications. The super telephoto lens captures areas that technicians couldn’t get close to before.

For industrial predictive maintenance, a wide-angle lens can scan a room of motors looking for temperature uniformity and high-definition delivers accurate measurements across the entire image.

The heat emitted by refractory structures keeps inspectors at a distance, but they still need to be able to see small changes to predict when repairs are needed. The cameras let technicians see minute changes over time to avoid a much bigger problem.

Because these structures tend to be very tall, the TiX 32x optical zoom and scanning distance of more than 100 (30.48 meters) captures clear crisp images of the entire structure — including the very top — then zoom to identify an anomaly.

At the other end of the spectrum, using a macro lens, deliver extreme close-up views for inspection and analysis.

Advanced focus options provide consistently in-focus images. The EverSharp multifocal recording mode uses the focus motor to capture multiple images from varying focal distances with the push of a button. Fluke SmartView combines the images taken from multiple focal distances and creates an image that sharpens the detail of not just the initial focal point, but the elements around the focal point, providing an in-focus image for objects at different distances. This along with LaserSharp Auto Focus, auto focus, and manual focus provides a variety of methods to capture consistently in-focus images.

TiX cameras are part of the Fluke Connect system — a portfolio of connected tools — which allows technicians to wirelessly transmit measurement data from their test tools to their smart phones and tablets for secure storage on the cloud and universal team access from the field. Teams easily access past infrared inspections on the go and look at trends over time.

The app is downloadable from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.