Temperature measurement in processes where lasers are used presents major challenges for infrared measurement technology. For example, the camera needs to be insensitive to the laser’s scattered light.
The Optris PI 08M IR camera is suitable for use in high-temperature, fast, laser machining processes.
Instrotech, local representative for Optris, which is a leading manufacturer of non-contact temperature measurement devices, has launched the Optris PI 08M compact infrared camera, which is ideally suited to these kinds of applications. It has a very narrow-band spectral sensitivity of 800 nm. Most industrial machining lasers, such as NIR (near infrared) or CO2 lasers, work outside this range, so that the detector is protected against scattered laser light without additional filters.
Precise temperature measurement
With the wavelength range of 800 nm, the PI 08M has an additional advantage as the measurement error is minimal with unknown or changing emissivity. At high temperatures it is only 1.5% of the measuring value; below 1 500°C it is just 1%. It has a measuring range from 575°C to 1 900°C. The interior of the IR camera holds a dynamic CMOS detector with an optical resolution of up to 764 x 480 pixels, which can be operated with a maximum frame rate of 1 kHz, making it especially suitable for fast processes. A real-time analogue output provides an output signal of 0 to 10 V. Here, the temperature is averaged over an area of 8 x 8 pixels – the position of the area can be selected freely.
Integration into the application
The new PI 08M can be integrated easily into a range of applications, such as laser welding, laser soldering or laser hardening processes, where temperature plays a key role. The PI 08M is supplied with a Software Development Kit.
For more information visit: www.instrotech.co.za
