1. Thermal Imaging
  2. Applications
  3. Thermography in Mechanics

Thermography in Mechanics

Precise Inspection of Mechanical Components with Infrared Cameras

  • Visualize mechanical stress: Thermography detects friction, tension, and compression through temperature changes

  • Early fault detection: High-resolution thermal imaging reveals issues before visible damage occurs

  • Analyze fast-moving processes: High frame rates capture dynamic motion in real time

  • Engineered for tough environments: IP67-rated cameras with optional protection for extreme conditions

Asset inspections of an air compressor
Asset inspections of a feed pump
thermal imaging mechanical assembly bearing
Thermographic image of a drilling operation
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Thermal imaging of a mount
Thermal imaging of a mount

Acquis­i­tion of Temper­ature Changes Caused by Draft, Pres­sure or Fric­tion During Oper­a­tion

Mechanical components get loaded by pressure, draft or friction during operations. Those load types will all result in an increased temperature. Like this the running of a spindle will result in friction even though being well lubricated. If the spindle is not well positioned the friction will even increase. Infrared camera systems provide a fast overview of the status of the operation long before indications can be seen without such a device.

Ther­mo­graphy Allows Inspec­tions from a Safe Distance

The non-contacting nature of the thermographic measurements is a big advantage. Maintenance personnel can inspect rotating or other fast moving machine parts from outside a dangerous zone. Inspections are additionally eased up as a visualisation of the inspected area is provided.

Thereby, in case of emergency, first actions can be taken even before any profound analysis of the data has been carried out. Preset temperature thresholds for alarming and other personalized settings also help to get maintenance teams productive in very short time.

Thermal imaging of a diesel engine
Thermal imaging of a diesel engine
Thermographic control of an engine
Thermographic control of an engine

Fast Move­ments Can Be Resolved by Infrared Camera Systems with High Frame Rates

Many mechanical movements run at high speeds. Infrared camera systems should be able to resolve such movements to selectively detect faults. Frame rates of up to 240 Hz in full frame mode of the inspection cameras out of the VarioCAM® High Definition series series or up to 105,000 Hz with the ImageIR® camera series provide with exactly this advantage. Combined with sequence analysis tools of the thermographic software IRBIS® 3 smallest faults can be found right in the moment of emergence and subsequently those faults can be eliminated.

Advant­ages of this Ther­mo­graphy Solu­tions in this Applic­a­tion

MicroScan feature ImageIR

Micro­Scan Function

Quadruple Geometrical Resolution

By using a fast-rotating MicroScan wheel, the number of pixels used can be quadrupled compared to the native pixel count of the FPA detector, significantly improving image quality.

InfraTec glossary about motor focus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® lenses

Remote-Controlled Focussing of the Thermal Image

Interchangeable standard lenses in the ImageIR® series can be equipped with a motor focus unit. This enables precise, remote-controlled and fast focussing via the operating software.

InfraTec thermography - Geometrical Resolution

Geomet­rical Resol­u­tion – Effi­cient Analysis of Complex Assem­blies

InfraTec's infrared cameras with cooled and uncooled detectors have native resolutions up to (2,560 × 2,048) IR pixels. Spatially high-resolution thermograms ensure that components and assemblies are imaged down to the smallest detail and thus defects can be reliably detected and precisely localised.

infrared camera VarioCAM HD head of InfraTec

High-quality Light Metal Housing

The very robust light metal housing is available with the protection degree IP67 and protects the camera against mechanical and thermal stress. In conjunction with protection degree preserving LEMO® connectors, it is excellently suited for use in harsh industrial environments. For applications under extreme environmental conditions, suitable protective housings are also available, e.g. made from stainless steel, which can optionally be equipped with a cooling and heating system.

Thermal image during ignition of an airbag  Image Small

Window Mode (Subwin­dowing)

Fast Measurements in Defined Subsections

Capture very fast temperature and motion sequences in full, half, quarter and sub modes, as well as in sub image formats defined by click-and-drag, using high frame rates.

MicroScan feature ImageIR

Micro­Scan Function

Quadruple Geometrical Resolution

By using a fast-rotating MicroScan wheel, the number of pixels used can be quadrupled compared to the native pixel count of the FPA detector, significantly improving image quality.

InfraTec glossary about motor focus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® lenses

Remote-Controlled Focussing of the Thermal Image

Interchangeable standard lenses in the ImageIR® series can be equipped with a motor focus unit. This enables precise, remote-controlled and fast focussing via the operating software.

InfraTec thermography - Geometrical Resolution

Geomet­rical Resol­u­tion – Effi­cient Analysis of Complex Assem­blies

InfraTec's infrared cameras with cooled and uncooled detectors have native resolutions up to (2,560 × 2,048) IR pixels. Spatially high-resolution thermograms ensure that components and assemblies are imaged down to the smallest detail and thus defects can be reliably detected and precisely localised.

infrared camera VarioCAM HD head of InfraTec

High-quality Light Metal Housing

The very robust light metal housing is available with the protection degree IP67 and protects the camera against mechanical and thermal stress. In conjunction with protection degree preserving LEMO® connectors, it is excellently suited for use in harsh industrial environments. For applications under extreme environmental conditions, suitable protective housings are also available, e.g. made from stainless steel, which can optionally be equipped with a cooling and heating system.

Thermal image during ignition of an airbag  Image Small

Window Mode (Subwin­dowing)

Fast Measurements in Defined Subsections

Capture very fast temperature and motion sequences in full, half, quarter and sub modes, as well as in sub image formats defined by click-and-drag, using high frame rates.

Online Events On Demand: Thermography in Mechanics

Event On Demand

Effi­cient Material Testing – Non-destructive and Contact­less

  • Theoretical background – mechanical force, stress and temperature Methods for analysis

  • Examples from practice with application samples – elastic periodical load test and fatigue test

  • Short overview about InfraTec products

  • Complementary technical lecture 

    "Contribution of Thermoelastic Stress Analysis in mechanics of materials and structures: some illustrations" from Prof. Vincent Le Saux, École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées Bretagne

Request Recording

Material testing, stress test with thermal cameras from InfraTec - Picture credits: © iStock / kimtaro
Event On Demand

Flow Analysis Using Thermal Imaging

  • General information about infrared thermography and presentation of different infrared camera techniques

  • Presentation of different flow types and how to measure them with thermography

  • Demonstration of different application possibilities, e.g.: aerodynamic optimisation, heat management industry, environmental research, geological research

  • Technical lecture “A Non-Intrusive Particle Temperature Extraction Methodology Using Infrared and Visible-Image Sequences for High-Temperature Particle Plumes”, Jesus D. Ortega, PhD, MSME, MBA / Anderson School of Business and School of Engineering, The University of New Mexico, USA

Request Recording

InfraTec press release online event flow analysis
Contact to thermography division of InfraTec

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our specialists, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

Europe & Rest of World
InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und MesstechnikGostritzer Straße 61 - 6301217 DresdenGERMANY

Insights from Thermography in the Field of Mechanics

High‐end thermographic camera ImageIR® from InfraTec

InfraTec Participates in the EU's SPIRIT Project

Together with seven European partners from science and industry, InfraTec is working on next-generation inspection-robot technology as part of the EU research project SPIRIT. 

Thermal Stress Analysis of Metals, picture credit: © iStock.com / kimtaro

Thermal Stress Analysis of Metals

Stress changes during tensile testing provide information about material properties of metals such as tensile strength. With the help of thermographic cameras metallic solid bodies can be tested for such stress changes.

infratec-thermography-imageir

High-end Camera Series ImageIR®

High-End Cameras with Cooled Photon Detectors

Excellent thermal resolution, high-quality lenses, high measurement speed: InfraTec's ImageIR® series of infrared cameras meet the highest standards in industryy, research and science.

High‐end thermographic camera ImageIR® from InfraTec

InfraTec Participates in the EU's SPIRIT Project

Together with seven European partners from science and industry, InfraTec is working on next-generation inspection-robot technology as part of the EU research project SPIRIT. 

Thermal Stress Analysis of Metals, picture credit: © iStock.com / kimtaro

Thermal Stress Analysis of Metals

Stress changes during tensile testing provide information about material properties of metals such as tensile strength. With the help of thermographic cameras metallic solid bodies can be tested for such stress changes.

infratec-thermography-imageir

High-end Camera Series ImageIR®

High-End Cameras with Cooled Photon Detectors

Excellent thermal resolution, high-quality lenses, high measurement speed: InfraTec's ImageIR® series of infrared cameras meet the highest standards in industryy, research and science.

Asso­ci­ated Indus­tries & Applic­a­tions

Thermography application flow analysis

Flow Analysis

Thermal imaging is one method of observing and analysing flows. This method visualises characteristic thermal signatures which are caused by different heat transfer coefficients.

Active Thermography - Picture Credits: © Rainer / Fotolia.com

Active Ther­mo­graphy

Make use of active thermography for non-destructive and contact-free material testing, for both automated inline and offline solutions.

All branches and application areas