Midwave infrared device promises unmatched combination of factory optimised and field-customisable features including variable integration time and data processing software
Although Flir Systems's infrared experience spans a range of wavelengths the company has, in recent years, focused its attention on perfecting long-wave infrared thermal imaging cameras with predictive maintenance the prime market.
However, despite being a good universal medium, long wave operation clearly doesn't meet every need and Flir has become particularly sensitive to calls from the R and D community for a high performing mid-wave infrared camera.
The introduction of the new Thermacam Merlin is the result, an infrared camera that not only responds to this specific demand but also - according to Flir - sets a new standard in flexibility and performance.
Put simply, Thermacam Merlin is more flexible than any other commercial, high-end infrared camera.
An impressive range of interchangeable infrared lenses is also available including microscope and telescope optics.
This means that Thermacam Merlin can be adapted to suit the most demanding R and D applications. Featuring a Stirling cooled InSb detector, Thermacam Merlin provides 320x256 high resolution images with uniformity from 0C up to +2000C and can detect temperature differences as small as 0.018C.
Merlin operates in the 3-5um waveband, 1.5-5um optional, with variable integration time to eliminate image saturation problems.
The camera also benefits from low-noise electronics for high-sensitivity applications.
Thermacam Merlin is designed to feed real-time data at a 50Hz frame rate directly to a notebook or desktop PC for recording and analysis.
The camera's high performance is complemented by Thermacam Researcher, the dedicated software package that has been introduced to provide research and development professionals with high-speed data acquisition and in-depth static and real-time analysis of thermal processes.
This software's powerful built-in measurement and analysis functions include isotherms and spot measurement, line profiles, area histograms, image subtraction capability.
The superb accuracy and reliability of this camera makes it suitable for a wide variety of R and D, scientific and non-destructive testing applications and particularly for looking at plastics, glass and other high temperature targets.
It also has the ability to image through smoke and is immune to solar reflections. Thermacam Merlin is available as either a radiometric or imaging-only model.
