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robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2552

Posted: 03:35pm 21 Jan 2019

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while looking on ebay for a replacement infrared thermometer (just gave my previous one away), i ended up looking at a rather cheap ($160) thermal camera. this led me to look up the likely sensors used:

https://nz.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Melexis/MLX90640ESF-BAB-000-SP?qs=sGAEpiMZZMve4%2fbfQkoj%252bBEQajCG1tyAPZ8GYbuW0qk% 3d

https://www.melexis.com/en/product/MLX90640/Far-Infrared-Thermal-Sensor-Array

the narrow field (55 degree) device is the MLX90640ESF-BAB-000-SP, having 32x24 pixels and a sensing temperature range of -40 to 300 degrees C, quite useful for most hobby applications. communications is via I2C.

now i've used a thermal camera for electronics work before, they are incredibly useful devices - you don't realise how useful until you have easy access to one! way back when, the one i was using had a few more pixels (128x128 i think) and a much fancier lens, but also a $50k price tag. needless to say, it was owned by the company i worked for.

it strikes me this would be a great micromite magazine article... the the MLX90640 either paired up with one of the MM2 backpack boards and some easily modified software, or with an E-28 and a suitable PC application.

cheers,
rob :-)

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 10043

Posted: 08:55pm 21 Jan 2019

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At $74 each, I doubt many people would be willing to part with that much cash for a magazine project unless they REALLY needed that specific device for something very special.

Not raining on your parade - interesting looking device, but expensive. I don't think magazines would be interested due simply to it being too costly to base an article around. They would say that no-one would build it cos of the cost of the sensor.

I would be delighted to be proved wrong, but magazine articles about projects have to be very cheap and affordable to encourage the reader to spend the money to do them.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

twofingers

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Joined: 02/06/2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 1772

Posted: 09:20pm 21 Jan 2019

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In Germany we have an article in the MAKE (3-2017) with the MLX90621 (16 x 4 pixels) and Arduino. I think it's an interesting project. Thanks for finding!
Regards
Michael

‚My name is Ozymandias, king of kings
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!‘
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
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TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6606

Posted: 10:37pm 21 Jan 2019

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Price is a bit high but compared to the camera I used 25 years ago...
I would be tempted although the eBay offerings for complete units are just as tempting. There is one with SDcard storage for $200.

I will probably stick to my simple IR thermometer.

Jim

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