Four Infrared Cameras Introduced for the Research Community

FLIR Systems has introduced four high-performance infrared cameras for science and research applications at the Photonics West convention in San Francisco (USA). These new full-featured products – the FLIR X6800sc, FLIR A8200sc, and FLIR X8500sc midwave infrared (MWIR) cameras and the FLIR A6260sc shortwave infrared camera (SWIR) – provide the flexibility, fast frame rates, and high sensitivity required for the most demanding scientific research applications.

Each of the four FLIR platforms blends the most desirable features of high-speed visible cameras, such as remote triggering and precise synchronisation, with the most advanced thermal technology from FLIR, allowing researchers to generate accurate temperature readings. From capturing fast-moving objects for aerospace or ballistics testing, to characterising rapid thermal transients in circuit boards or composite material testing, the new cameras deliver the thermal resolution, speed, and features researchers need to collect meaningful data.

The high-speed FLIR X6800sc MWIR camera captures high-resolution, full-frame 640x512 thermal images at 502 frames per second and saves nearly a minute of data to the on-camera RAM without dropping frames. With advanced triggering options and on-camera RAM/SSD recording, this camera offers the functionality to stop motion on high-speed events both in the lab and at the test range.

The FLIR A8200sc produces crisp MWIR thermal images at 1024x1024 pixels, for more than one million points of measurement. The camera offers high sensitivity (typically <20 mK) for low noise imaging, and can easily measure small targets down to 3.5 µm. The camera’s image output can be windowed to increase frame rates and accurately characterise high-speed thermal events, so critical data isn’t missed during testing.

The FLIR X8500sc is the highest speed 1280x1024 MWIR camera from FLIR, with a full frame speed of 180 fps. The on-camera RAM allows users to record 36 seconds of full-resolution, full frame data with zero dropped frames, then save it the removable FLIR DVIR drive and be ready to begin a new recording within 90 seconds. The X8500sc also streams high speed 14-bit data simultaneously over Gigabit Ethernet, Camera Link, and CoaXpress for live viewing, analysis, or recording.

The FLIR A6260sc is a full-featured SWIR camera that makes no compromises. The user can fully configure camera settings such as frame rate, integration time, and window size, allowing for maximum versatility. The A6260sc is optimized for the SWIR wavebands, making it ideal for applications such as measuring temperature through glass, laser beam profiling, and silicon wafer inspection applications.

“Each of these new FLIR cameras for science and research represent a leap in technology for the research community,” said Rickard Lindvall, Vice President and General Manager of FLIR’s Instruments segment. “Whether it’s faster frame rates at full resolution, improved data collection and transfer, or a new level of user customisation, these new cameras provide greater capabilities for the people pursuing scientific breakthroughs.”