How can you use thermal imaging to detect equipment anomalies in manufacturing operations?

1 What is thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging is a technique that uses infrared cameras to capture the heat patterns of objects and surfaces. Unlike visible light cameras, thermal cameras can see through smoke, dust, fog, and darkness. They can also measure the temperature of different areas and display them as colors on a thermal image. The colors range from blue (cold) to red (hot), depending on the intensity of the heat.

3 What are the benefits of thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging can help you detect equipment anomalies in manufacturing operations by revealing the heat patterns of your machines and components. By comparing the thermal images with the normal conditions, you can identify any deviations, such as hot spots or cold spots, uneven distribution, or irregular shapes. These deviations can indicate a variety of issues, such as overheating or underheating of motors, excessive friction or wear of moving parts, misalignment or imbalance of shafts, leakage or blockage of fluids, and poor insulation or sealing. Detecting these issues early can prevent equipment failures, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and save costs.

4 How to use thermal imaging?

Using thermal imaging effectively requires following some basic steps. First, choose the right thermal camera for your application, taking into account its resolution, accuracy, sensitivity, field of view, and features. You may also need accessories such as lenses, filters, or software. Second, prepare the equipment and environment for thermal imaging by ensuring the equipment is operating under normal or representative conditions and removing any obstacles that may interfere with the thermal image. Additionally, adjust the emissivity settings of the camera according to the material of the object or surface. Third, capture and analyze the thermal images by using a consistent method and angle to capture them and comparing them with baseline or reference images. Look for any anomalies or deviations in the heat patterns and use software tools to measure, annotate, and document the thermal images. Finally, take action based on the findings. Depending on their severity and urgency, you may need to repair, replace, adjust, or monitor the equipment or report, share, or archive the thermal images for future reference.

6 Here’s what else to consider

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