Thursday, November 8, 2012

Make An Ir Thermal Viewer

Astronomers sometimes use infrared technology in their observations.


Infrared viewing devices display images of objects using an extended light wavelength. The images can be displayed in black and white or in rainbow colors that show display different temperature readings. A digital camera or video camera can be altered with a few supplies in order to take images or view items in infrared.


Instructions


1. Turn the digital camera on and place the view finder up to your eye. Remove the lens cover.


2. Hold an operable remote control in front of the lens. Look through the view finder as you push and hold a button on the remote. Confirm that you can see a flashing light inside the sensor of the remote. If you do not see a flashing light, check to see if the remote is operational. Replace the batteries as needed and repeat the test. If you still do not see a light, switch to a different digital camera until you can see one.


3. Turn off the camera and place it in front of you.


4. Measure the diameter of your lens. Measure, mark and cut a piece of cardboard that is 1/2 inch longer than the diameter of your lens and 2 inches wide.


5. Wrap the piece of cardboard around your lens making sure that it is snug against the exterior. Use a piece of tape to close the ends of the circle in the proper position. Cover the cardboard completely with black tape.


6. Measure, mark and cut a second piece of cardboard that is 1/4 inch longer than the diameter of your lens and 1 3/4 inch wide. Coil this piece and slide it inside the circle constructed in Step 4.


7. Pinch the ends in position, remove the cardboard from the circle and tape the ends in position. Cover the cardboard completely with black tape.


8. Slide the smaller circle back into the larger circle. Add layers of tape on the outside of the small circle until it is snug inside the larger circle.


9. Place the nestled circles on top of a piece of plastic. Trace the exterior of the large circle and the interior of the small circle. Move the circles aside and cut out the shape. It should be a ring without a middle.


10. Locate the black portion on a strip of photo negatives. Center the large circle in the black portion. Trace the interior of the circle and cut out the shape. Repeat this process to make an additional circle.


11. Color both circles and the plastic ring with a black permanent marker until the color is uniform.


12. Separate the two circles. Run a bead of strong adhesive around the top of the large circle. Center the plastic ring over the glue and allow the adhesive to dry.


13. Slide the black photo negative circles inside the large circle so it is resting on the lip of the plastic ring. Slide the small circle behind the negative circle to hold it in place.


14. Slide the infrared viewing lens on your camera's lens.


15. Turn the camera on. Consult the instruction manual for your camera and manually set the white balance on your camera. Lower the ISO on your camera to the lowest setting.


16. Take a video or pictures of the desired object. Review the video or images to see the infrared results.

Tags: large circle, your camera, your lens, diameter your, diameter your lens