By Ron Lucier
ITC Course Moderator
ASNT NDT Level III TIR

While traveling the world for FLIR I spend over 150 nights each year in hotels. That’s a lot of time and I have picked up the nasty habit of spending it mostly watching television. Several months ago I was intrigued by a cordless soldering tool with the very neat name of “Cold Heat” ( http://www.coldheat.com ). The company claims, and demonstrates, that the soldering tip heats up very rapidly, does it’s soldering job, then cools so rapidly that you can touch the tip nearly immediately. Given that many infomercials make somewhat dubious claims, I invested $30 and bought one. Yes, dear reader, here is Ron’s first product review!

 
Coldheat soldering tool

Click here to read the entire article

Straight from the World Wide Web, here is what's going on in the world of infrared thermography.

• New and Improved Software Webpage Debuts
  FLIR Systems has improved their software support webpage. QuickView is now on the main software page, making it much easier to find. There is a FAQ page containing answers to common questions, manuals, tutorials, sample templates, computer requirements, etc.

• USDA Researchers Investigate Infrared Cameras To Detect Wildlife ...
  CattleNetwork.com, KS - Oct 1, 2005
  ... To use infrared thermography, one simply needs an infrared camera and its associated computer software; thus, the technique has the potential to be easily ...

• Engineers Planning Ahead to Prevent Downtime
  Navy Compass, CA - Sep 30, 2005
  ... engineer with a trained eye, Frank Snook - coupled with an infrared camera - averted a ... Had it not been replaced, the circuit breaker could have started a fire. ...

• HK's latest omnimax show to reveal marvels of life
  People's Daily Online, China - Sep 30, 2005
  Through sophisticated thermal imaging, X-ray and computer graphics technology, the omnimax show "The Human Body" makes the functions inside our bodies visible ...

• Huge galaxy spotted in early universe
  Aljazeera.net, Qatar - Sep 27, 2005
  ... Even Hubble's keen cameras could not see this galaxy in visible light; it was only detected in infrared images made by Hubble and an infrared camera at the ...

• Thermography: Hot Images and a Hot Topic
  TheHorse.com, KY - Sep 20, 2005
  ... For horses, techniques include ultrasound (sonography), radiography, and thermography. ... Thermography can help identify the source of pain. ...

• Thermography and its role in motor-condition monitoring
  Plant Services, IL - Sep 13, 2005
  ... We purchased an affordable thermal imager when the technology became economical. ... courses showed us the finer points of applying thermography to mechanical and ...

• Good news from Europe on breast cancer treatments
  Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA - Sep 12, 2005
  ... Meanwhile, back in Europe, thermography — a form of infra red technology developed by the military — is being used for screening of breast health. ...

Here is a selection of recent new threads by IR Community members. Feel free to click the links, see how people have responded, and post your own response if you like.

• High Temp & Low Pressure (Vacuum)
  Looking for a type of material that will allow a P65 to look at a silicon device (e.g.: wafer, etc) and measure temperatures -like a view port or window. Conditions will include 10 Torr pressures & 500C temperatures. Any recommendations? Thanks!!!

• Transformer heated screws
  During an inspection at a large transformer I found these heated screws.
  What do you advise me:

• Wireless Transmission on FLIR Imagery
  Looking for the best way to transmit FLIR Imagery wirelessly from an aircraft.

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• Painting analysis
  I live in Miami Florida. I need to find someone to assist me in infrared technology for paintings. I have several oil paintings that I need help with. I hit dead ends every where I go. Can anyone assist me?

• Underground Steam Line Leak Location
  What is the best strategy for locating leaks from underground steam piping? The pipe run is several hundred feet in length and its location is known. The pipe run is through soil and crossing asphalt roadways. A “Cherry-picker” is available for use. The job is in the mid-Atlantic region and needs to be performed in late September. Pipe size: 3” – 5” ; Material: Fiberglass and unknown ; Cover: 5’ ; Rather than digging up the entire pipe the contractor can perform point repairs.

And of course if YOU have a question or want to start a discussion on a topic, we would love to hear from you. Just post a new thread on a message board.

Brainteaser of the Month 

Here is this month's brainteaser. Readers who email us the correct identification and explanation of the thermal pattern in the thermogram are entered into a drawing to win a prize from ITC.

Please put "Brainteaser" as the subject of the message.

Click here to email your guess

Do you have an interesting image that you think would challenge other thermographers? If so please email me your image (preferably in native .img, .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or .tmw format) with an accompanying visible photo and explanation. If your image is used, you receive a gift as well.

Last Month's Brainteaser

Last month's thermogram shows the infrared signature of a forest fire (fiyah in Massachusetts speak). About 60% of the guesses were correct on this one.

Congratulations to our first winner from Romania, Dan Ispas and to our thermogram contributor Chuck Elliott from Southern California Edison. Dan and Chuck both receive low emissivity traveling coffee mugs.

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