ITC InfraMation - = April 2003

If you can't see the graphic version = of this=20 message please update your profile to receive text messages at =
To view=20 this message on the web go to http://www.itcnewsletter.com/2003/2003-03.htm<= /TD>

April=20 2003

Volume 4, Issue=20 4

In This=20 Issue:=20 (Use=20 these links for Fast Navigation)

Welcome from the Editor
Walking on Hot Snow, A Great = Experience
New Product for Thermographers with Pressing=20 Needs
Last Month's = Brainteaser

Brainteaser of the Month
Past Issues
Upcoming Classes
About the ITC
InfraMation=20 Conference

Welcome [top]

Hi=20 {{user("firstname")}},

April seems to=20 be the month when most infrared systems are introduced, usually at = the=20 SPIE Thermosense conference in Orlando (this year is the 25th = anniversary=20 of Thermosense).

We at the=20 InfraMation newsletter always want our readers to have the latest=20 information about new IR cameras and this April is no exception. = Check out=20 the new products section in this issue.

We are also=20 changing our file format for those of you who like to download the = newsletter.

The new format=20 is called .mht and it looks and works better in your browser than = the pdf=20 we used to use. With the .mht format, you can view all of the Web = page=20 offline. Let us know how you like it.

Click here to download an .mht version of this=20 newsletter.

Is this still=20 your favorite email account? Click to change it here.

Until next month,

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and Publisher

Walking on Hot=20 Snow, A Great Experience [top]

By Roberto = Rinaldi=20

ITC Italy=20 Technical Training and Support - ITC Level III

Since I have been = working for=20 FLIR Systems since 1987, I have used infrared thermography for = many=20 different applications, including Condition monitoring, Military, = Medical,=20 NDT, R&D, etc. But the opportunity I had in climbing the Etna = volcano=20 was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.

It = was a fresh=20 clear morning in October 2000 when Dr. Sonia Calvari, myself, and = our=20 guide Alfio began to climb the volcano from the East side. A wind = was=20 blowing so, it was important not to be leeward because the = sulphuric smoke=20 is extremely dangerous to breathe. (Please click the image = thumbnails to=20 see a high resolution version).

After a quick=20 breakfast in the bar in front of the church, we started our drive = to the=20 top through villages, forest, and over black rocks that looked = like a=20 moonscape. I realized that it wasn=92t a good idea to have the = breakfast=20 before the drive, it was a rough ride in the jeep and we stopped = because=20 my stomach didn=92t want to go to the top all at once!

The air=20 temperature at the beginning of the morning was rather cold, = around + 2=B0C.=20 When we arrived at the top shelter (around 3000 meters), we found = snow=20 waiting for us, the ground was black and white.

The final=20 segment was a long walk, a bit more than a kilometer, toward the = crater=20 with all the equipment, stepping through rocks and thin volcanic=20 ash.

From time to=20 time I was grabbing the IR Camera to collect images and I = realized,=20 viewing the top of the cone at 2 km distance, the importance of = using the=20 right lens to make measurements. Here are three thermograms taken = with the=20 24=B0 lens, the 12=B0, and the 7=B0 respectively. The maximum = temperatures=20 ranged from 99 to 174 C depending on the lens used.

When we=20 arrived at the crater rim we saw smoke and nothing else. We then = used the=20 IR camera to see through the smoke with excellent results, Sonia = couldn=92t=20 believe her eyes at how clear the images were.

Jumping from=20 image to image, we stored about 100 images and, by mistake, the = camera=20 pointed down were I was walking with my boots. The ground was = turning=20 green around the fumaroles and in those areas the camera = temperature=20 readout was rather high, close to the melting point of my rubber=20 shoes!

All of a=20 sudden the volcano started to rumble, and a quick look with the IR = camera=20 at the crater showed us some lapilli (small stony or glassy = fragments of=20 lava ejected in a volcanic eruption) thrown into the sky through = the=20 smoke. Sonia said: =93it=92s time to go, it could be dangerous to = stay here=20 longer=94.

I = want to=20 thank Sonia for the opportunity she gave me. She is now using her=20 ThermaCAM 695 with great success. For those of you who want to = learn more=20 about volcanology, please check this link on the Web: http://www.ct.ingv.it/.

New Product for = Thermographers=20 with Pressing Needs=20 [top]

Looks are important = to a=20 thermographer, wearing a rumpled suit or dress just doesn't cut it = - and=20 living out of a suitcase is no excuse. The lightweight, = go-anywhere FLIR=20 ThermIRon can be used flat or upright to erase wrinkles = from=20 clothing - and it won't burn, shine, scorch or melt fabrics. So = easy,=20 you'll use it at home, too.

Available for=20 the first time to thermographers, an ingeniously developed = combination=20 thermal camera with a built-in steam iron! World class technology = at a=20 fraction of the cost of buying a separate infrared camera and = steam=20 iron.

Steam is=20 produced in a fully automatic miniature electric steam generator. = A thumb=20 operated micro switch fitted to the handle activates the solenoid = valve=20 which regulates the flow of steam through the iron.

The stainless=20 steel steam generator is equipped with an accurate pressure switch = and=20 four separate safety devices to avoid accidents and protect the = system.=20

The infrared=20 performance and features are similar to the FLIR P60 infrared = camera. The=20 great thing about this system is that the IR camera quickly = pinpoints=20 areas of the garment you missed while ironing!

Ironing and=20 thermography needs are changing rapidly in today's day and age. = The=20 ThermIRon is designed to meet the demands of today's = professional=20 thermographer, in terms of time saved, vastly improved quality of = the=20 finished garments, and better infrared surveys.

It's the=20 perfect gift for thermographers who simply hate to iron. Buy now, = and get=20 these exciting bonus items absolutely free:
- A 100% cotton = denim long=20 sleeve shirt that needs lots of
ironing, = autographed by=20 the ITC instructor who wore it ...
great to use as = a=20 practice garment
- A mini lint magnet
- Two clutter-free=20 hangers
- A lens cleaning cloth

To = order=20 yours, call us at 1-800-GO-IRON; operators are standing by to take = your=20 call.

Last = Month=92s=20 Brainteaser [top]

Last months Brainteaser looks like = an ice cube=20 melting in a cup of water, which is exactly what it is. Thanks to = Jack=20 Kleinfeld of Kleinfeld Technical Services, Inc. for sending us = this image.=20

Congratulations to Steve Mongeau of = Nuclear=20 Management Company in Michigan for his correct conjecture on this = one.=20 Steve wins $20 InfraBucks in ITC accessories for his=20 answer.

Brainteaser of the=20 Month =20 [top]

Here is this=20 month's brainteaser. First reader to email me with the correct = explanation=20 wins $20 in Infrabucks. Please put "Brainteaser" as the = subject of=20 the message.

Click=20 here to email your=20 guess

Past Issues =20 [top]

Click the links = below to view=20 past issues of this newsletter:

All past issues from February 2000 through = December=20 2002

March 2003

February 2003

January=20 2003

December 2002

November=20 2002

Upcoming=20 Classes =20 [top]

Click the links = below to see our=20 latest course calendars.

Americas - All courses

Americas - Level I

Americas - Level II

Americas - Application

Eurasia

Germany

France

About the = Infrared=20 Training Center =20 [top]

The Infrared Training Center offers training and = certification in=20 all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training = facilities are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and = Stockholm,=20 Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories = for=20 infrared applications. Please join us in exploring the fascinating = world=20 of the infrared!

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are = welcomed=20 and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case = study to=20 share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published = articles earn credit towards = recertification.

Please e-mail Gary = Orlove or=20 send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, BOSTON

16 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, = USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free:=20 = +1-866-TRAINIR
&= nbsp; =20 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978.901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com

ITC International, SWEDEN

Rinkebyv=E4gen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, = Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 = 01
E-mail:=20 mailto:itc@flir.se

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL = PURPOSES ONLY.=20 INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT = WARRANTY=20 OF ANY KIND. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy = and the=20 use of this document. The Infrared Training Center newsletter may = be=20 copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All = text=20 and images must be copied without modification and all pages must = be=20 included; 2. All copies must contain the Infrared Training Center=20 copyright notice and any other notices provided therein;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

=A92003 Infrared Training Center - All rights=20 reserved

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