How can I turn my ETS320 into a real microscope?

[michaelw115]

Hello I'm a newbie to thermal imaging and have a few questions:

I recently just bought a new ETS320 and am planning on using it to look at tiny PCB boards. However upon receiving the product, I realized it's focus is set to a certain distance and does not give me the magnification that I need. I would need a 2-4x magnification from the current value to be able to make out the right areas.

Any easy ways to change the focus or apply magnification to the resulting image?  Any help will be appreciated
If i wanted to purchase an auxiliary lens to do this, would any non-thermal imaging lens work or would it have to be an IR lens or something?

[Fraser]

Hi and welcome.

I also own an ETS320. Mine is currently dismantled while I do some modification work on it.

I wrote up a teardown of the unit on this forum. I will link to that later.

Ok here are my comments on improving the ETS320.

1. The fixed focus distance is a disaster and makes no sense at all. The ETS320 uses an Ex series camera chassis in a different case. The lens IS focussable using a simple tool that may be 3D printed. No disassembly is normally needed but there may be a rubber seal around the lens mount. This should not cause an issue though. The tool engages with little indents in the lens holder, just as on the E4 etc. There are two thin 'O' rings on the lens thread to set the close focus distance at the factory and secure the lens firmly in place. The lens may still be unscrewed further to provide closer focus. This gives the best performance. The focus may be returned to normal by just screwing the lens in until it presses gently against the O rings again. To focus the ETs320 for distance working, you need to completely unscrew the lens and remove the two O rings before refitting the lens.

2. The stand supplied is not great. I am attaching mu ETS320 head to a proper microscope stand with boom arm for larger PCB work and other tasks needing a longer reach boom.

3. A ZnSe Plano Convex or Meniscus lens may be used to provide close focus without adjusting the units lens but you are then limited to the FL of the chosen lens. cCommon FL's for laser engraver ZnSe lenses are 25mm, 50mm, 63mm and 100mm. There will be some distortion caused by the lens at it's periphery as Laser engraver lenses are cheap and cheerful affairs. A better quality ZnSe or Germanium lens will be very expensive and still limit you to one FL per lens. It is just like adding close up reading glasses to the ETS320

4. You cannot use ordinary glass lenses with Long Wave thermal cameras. You need to use Germanium, Special Chalcogenide IR glass or materials line ZnSe, ZnS or GaAs.

Regards

Fraser

[Fraser]

This thread and associated video may be of interest....

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-989-flir-ets320-thermal-camera-teardown/msg1195706/#msg1195706

Fraser

[Fraser]

My thread on the ETS320 and the improvements needed......

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-ets320-design-comment-and-improvements-by-fraser/msg1348459/#msg1348459

Fraser

[Fraser]

ETS320 review by Dave L Jones......

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-988-flir-ets320-benchtop-thermal-camera-review/msg1194401/#msg1194401

Fraser

[Fraser]

A weird problem I had with mine until I updated its firmware....

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-ex-chassis-ets320-interesting-_fault_-may-apply-to-e4-e5-e6-e8/msg1370970/#msg1370970

Fraser

[Fraser]

If intending to regularly adjust the focus point of the ETS320, be aware that the plastic lens holder will possibly wear as it runs inside an metal alloy thread. It may also be a good idea to place a suitable diameter weak spring around the lens holder threads to push against the metal chassis. This is done on M12 CCTV board cameras as it pre-tensions the lens holder threads to prevent easy lens movement in the relatively loose thread engagement.

Note that not much lens movement is needed for a large change in focus distance. Try 1/4 turn CCW at a time to see the effect. Fine focus is still achieved using the stands height adjustment rack.

Fraser

[Fraser]

The auxiliary lens block idea I floated in my previous thread on the unit produces real microscope performance as the minimum resovable target size becomes the size of the ETS320 microbolometer pixels. IIRC, that is 25um ! The second, reversed, lens block must match that fitted to the ETS320 in terms of diameter and FOV though.

Fraser

[michaelw115]

Wow, thanks so much Fraser for all the work you've done on this!
I'm still going through all of the info you've given me.
If you don't mind I just have a few questions:
I'm gonna try to print the lens adjustment tool first. What degree of magnification do you think can be attained with just this method?
I noticed in your modification thread that you were able to livestream the video output from the camera using FLIR tools, is that possible with the ETS320, or am I just blind in finding the right settings?
Thanks again!

[Fraser]

Hi,

Sorry not sure what the effe rice maximum magnification will be at the closest possible focus point. It will be a case of testing to see if it meets your needs.

A live video stream should be available from your camera. It is just an E8 in disguise. See this demo....

http://youtu.be/WTNcJeGMhs0

Fraser