All thermal imaging articles
How to create intuitive thermal inspection reports
Thermal imaging sets the stage for an effective preventative maintenance (PM) program, as an infrared camera can be used to view thermally a whole electro-magnetic system.
Case study: Why the right tools matter for maintaining a U.S. oil refinery
Why the right tools matter for maintaining a U.S. oil refinery
What is Thermal Imaging? How a Thermal Image is Captured
Learn how infrared cameras measure heat signatures and use color palettes, spatial resolution, and proper focus to create a thermal image.
Case study: How a free dental clinic used thermal imaging to open on time
Benco Dental is the largest independent, family owned dental distributor in the United States, with more than 1,200 associates serving over 30,000 customers with locations across the U.S.
Filling the Gap Between an Infrared Thermometer and a Thermal Imager
Today, test tools using Herschel's infrared discovery enable technicians in many fields—electricians; plant technicians; heating, ventilation and plumbing contractors; and automotive technicians—to detect and fix problems otherwise invisible.
10 things you need to know about thermal imagers
Whether you choose a simple point-and-shoot model or a high-end thermal imager with all the bells and whistles, here are some key features and specs you should consider:
Why thermal imaging is essential for detecting moisture damage
With the growing concern about mold damage and associated health problems, inspectors are becoming increasingly vigilant in checking for areas of moisture within the confines of the building envelope. Weather related damage and flooding, and subsequent mold growth, have also escalated the need for tools that can facilitate fast and accurate moisture investigations.
Case study: Circuit board hot spots
Ensuring that a soon-to-be-launched prototype printer works without any hiccups when it reaches consumer hands is an already daunting task. But when you're doing this for the world's largest printer manufacturer, the task takes on an entirely different magnitude.
Case study: Career options for experienced thermographers
Opportunities for qualified, certified thermographers are increasing every day. Some of this is growing out of the demand for preventive maintenance programs in all kinds of industries
Case study: How scientists use thermal imaging to forecast changes in volcanic activity
Scientists collect a variety of critical information and data to better understand erupting volcanoes, including temperature measurements from handheld thermal imagers
Case study: Fluke thermal imager provides temperature data for Yellowstone TV event
National Geographic details geysers, other hydrothermal features in production
Using thermal imaging to troubleshoot motors and drives
Using infrared cameras to troubleshoot motor problems as well as monitoring motor conditions for preventative maintenance in power generation, manufacturing and commercial plants.
Industrial Thermography in Preventive Maintenance Programs
Guide to integrating thermal imaging into your preventive maintenance program. Get ROI on using thermal cameras for inspections.
Using infrared cameras for preventive maintenance
Information on the role of thermal imagers in preventive maintenance programs, including cost savings, return on investment (ROI), and the inspection process. Included are common examples of infrared camera applications.
How thermographers get trained for certification
The basic functions of a thermal camera are not difficult to master. With some basic training and practice, you can learn what the buttons are for, how to navigate the menus, how to focus, and how to capture images.
Hot spot detection—what to look for
How to find hot spots in electrical systems using a thermal camera. Learn what to look for and understand what causes emissivity anomalies during inspections.
Tank level measurement and inspections using thermal imaging
Discover how to use a thermal camera for tank level measurement and inspection. See practical tips for getting the best thermal readings.
A closer look at germanium lenses for thermal cameras
Learn how to choose the right IR lens for your thermal camera and why germanium is used in thermal camera lenses.
Four reasons a compact thermal camera is your secret weapon
Watch an overview of Fluke’s PTi120 handheld compact thermal camera key features and ideal use
How software tools can improve thermal inspection reports
The return on investment (ROI) you can expect from adding an infrared camera (also known as a thermal imager) to your inspection tool bag depends on many variables. First and foremost it depends on whether you are an industrial plant manager or a contract
Tips for organizing thermal images
Once you’ve collected thermal images of all your equipment with your infrared camera, the challenge is how to stay on top of them.
What kind of thermal imager focus system do you need?
In infrared imaging, precise focus means a lot more than just getting a clear image. It can mean the difference between catching or overlooking a problem.
Get a handle on thermal imaging basics
Thermal imaging, at its most basic, gives you the ability to spot problems early from a safe distance, simply by scanning the area with an infrared camera (also called a thermal imager).
Building Applications
Diagnose and solve building problems such as heat preservation, humidity/moisture invasion, roof moisture damage, poor air conditioning system performance, structural damage and mold detection.
Thermal imaging training enables more accurate analysis
This comprehensive article gives information on the amount of training a thermographer should have in different industries, and what the better educational courses cover.
How to best present thermal inspection results
Thermal imaging inspection reports communicate findings and produce action, such as a repair order or further monitoring of equipment. This article includes information on what to include in a report—a summary, thermal and digital (visible light) images,
How infrared cameras help you stay safe on the job
If you troubleshoot or maintain equipment in an industrial setting, staying safe depends partly on the environment and partly on you.
Five tips for taking quality thermal images
The quality of a thermal image is much more than just aesthetics. It is critical to pinpointing specific areas of concern. A simple way to look at it is: IMAGE QUALITY = focus + optics + spatial resolution (pixels + field of view)
How to add notes to infrared images during thermal inspections
Add notes to images during your thermal inspections #video
What causes a transformer to overheat?
Transformer infrared inspections can show you abnormal thermal overload patterns in cooling tubes which can be escalated for troubleshooting.
How to improve thermal camera accuracy with a few focus tips
Learn why improper focus can misreport temperature by 20 degrees or more and how to improve your thermal camera accuracy by following a few tips.
How to inspect a motor with a thermal imager
Seeing a motor’s heat signature under normal operating conditions—with at least 40 % of design load—can tell you a lot about its condition.
Have you ever wondered about the efficiency of your fireplace?
Beyond the basics: Have you ever wondered about the efficiency of your fireplace?
Troubleshooting with a multimeter thermal camera
The latest technology available combines a digital multimeter with a thermal imager and adds wireless capabilities so measurements can be taken from a safe distance, saved and even stored in secure data centers for later analysis.
How Fluke thermal imaging helps dry ice plant maintain uptime
How Continental Carbonics Products used a Fluke thermal camera and thermal multimeter to implement a reliability program at their dry ice plants.
Understanding and fixing infrared thermography issues on reflective surfaces
Learn why reflective surfaces create infrared thermography emissivity & reflectivity issues & a simple way to increase accuracy with your thermal camera.
Helpful tips for inspecting electrical substations
Inspecting electrical utility substations and lines with thermal imaging. What to expect and what you might find.
How Patent-Pending Technology Blends Thermal and Visible Light
Learn how IR-Fusion™ works, how blending is accomplished and how this new technology can greatly improve the detail to infrared images to help you identify the exact locations of infrared points-of-interest.
The role of thermal imagers in testing a centrifugal chiller
Use a thermal imager to detect problems at many of the test points in a chiller: Control Panel, Compressor, Motor, Bearing and Chilled Water Supply.
Adventurer uses thermal imager to measure lava temperatures inside the caldera
Adventurer Nik Halik used Fluke Ti450 and TiX560 Infrared Cameras to measure temperatures of the Marum Volcano's roiling lava - from inside the caldera.
Arc flash protection with thermal imaging
Understand what the NFPA 70E standards for arc flash PPE assessment means for thermographers using thermal imaging camera.
The difference between telephoto, macro and wide angle IR lenses
Learn how for some use cases, a telephoto, macro or wide angle lens can prove invaluable. Plus, find out why ‘smart lenses' are better than the alternative.
Regular infrared inspections can help keep systems running safely, efficiently
Infrared cameras are ideal for finding apparent temperature differences between components or materials that can point to a potential problem.
Wind Effects on Thermal IR Images
Understand the effects of wind on thermography. Forced convection can come in the form of wind, a fan or even a pump, and the result of this forced convection will affect the target temperature.