Well I collected the FLIR SC4000 today
The camera is even better than I had hoped. It is a true scientific thermal camera with masses of functionality that is not normally found in generic thermal imaging equipment.
I was surprised when I found that FLIR could not provide the cameras user manual on the public servers due to ITAR regulations
Now that I have the two user manuals in front of me, I understand. As this is a scientific instrument, it’s user manual contains an awful lot of design detail that is not normally public information. This is the first thermal camera user manual I have seen that contains multiple block diagrams and technical desciptions. You may wonder why such technical detail is needed, well this camera offers a lot of configuration options and the user needs to understand how the camera is designed in order to change key settings in its configuration. You can even change the voltages applied to the sensor array ! Thermal cameras do not normally offer such deep access to the system to the user.
The camera cooler is also better than expected. The SC4000 contains a linear Stirling Cooler that contains an oscillating linear stroke piston. The linear piston compressor design has a longer operational life than the conventional rotary crank, connecting rod and piston type.
The camera came with all its originally supplied accessories plus a specialist high temperature glass filter. The supplied lens is a Janos 25mm (21 degree HFOV) wideband unit of excellent quality. The supplied software includes FLIR Researcher 2.8, FLIR Quickreport and the SC4000 GUI for specialist configuration.
This is likely the highest performing thermal camera in my collection
I am a very happy chap tonight.
Sadly the story behind this camera appears quite sad. It belonged to a company that appears to have gone out of business due to family issues and has languished in a corner of a workshop for two years. The owner wanted it to go to a good home where it would be appreciated. Well it has certainly found that home with me
More about the camera soon. Maybe in a fresh thread ?
Fraser