RESOLVING EQUIPMENT FAILURE
The emergency services use infrared technology to keep citizens safe , but it can also be applied in industrial settings to safeguard equipment . Industrial equipment must carry out intensive processes , such as cutting and lifting , for a long period of time ― particularly with the increased adoption of continuous automation .
Uninterrupted production can cause unwelcomed machine faults to arise and industrial equipment to overheat . Overheating can lead to electrical faults or even fire , risking the safety of both the production line and nearby workers . To ensure overheating equipment remains intact , it must be shutdown and the problem rectified . This can involve painstakingly taking apart the machine and conducting several tests until the problem is located .
Instead , an infrared camera can identify the component that ’ s causing the machine to overheat , which can then be fixed or replaced quickly . This ensures the production line is back up and running as quickly as possible to minimise lost time and maximise productivity .
GETTING THE RIGHT GEAR
Cameras viewing objects at varying distances need precision zoom and focus
functions that are controlled by lenses , which can be precisely adjusted by motors . Motors also control the camera aperture , which is an opening in the lens that controls how much light passes through and falls on the image sensor .
Infrared cameras also require motors for calibration in non-uniformity correction . This is a process where a black shutter is moved across the lens and the camera takes an image . From this image the camera can measure the heat it is producing itself , and so process its own thermal signature out of future photos , as to not interfere with the thermal image of the subject .
TICKING THE BOXES
Motors used in infrared cameras must meet certain performance requirements . In applications where the camera is handheld , the motor must be lightweight so that the device can be easily carried by the user .
In critical applications , such as search and rescue , it is vital that the motors used are reliable and repeatable , as a breakdown could have fatal consequences . Similarly , the motor must be efficient with a low power consumption , to ensure the camera can be used for a long period of time without running out of power .
EMS is the sole UK supplier of FAULHABER
The emergency services use infrared technology to keep citizens safe , but it can also be applied in industrial settings to safeguard equipment .
motors , which are renowned for a superior power density and high performance . FAULHABER motors are made in a high precision manufacturing process , with accuracy that makes them highly reliable and repeatable . In particular , FAULHABER ’ s flat 1512 DC gearmotor series delivers continuous torque up to 30 millinewton meters ( mNm ) while having a diameter of just 15 millimetres ( mm ).
Temperature guns have become a common safety procedure to prevent the spread of Covid-19 , but there are many other applications where infrared technology is important . From finding the lost to identifying equipment faults , infrared cameras bring us valuable information that goes beyond the human eye .
For further information , please visit https :// www . ems-limited . co . uk /
Issue 48 PECM 59