Why my Scout III 320 comes with a consumer level TAU core? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 02:51:08 pm
content: I just took out the TAU core from a second-hand Scout 3 320 (431-0009-31-00), marks on core says "48336019H-FCCBX,91714". Was it being replaced by someone, or all Scout 3 320 just fitted with a consumer level TAU core?

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 03:24:41 pm
content: at least its the fast variantwhy should it be industrial grade, radiometric or professional?flir scout are hunting monoculars... made for consumers.but for that price i expected at least a boson core not such ancient and self-destructing tau cores. they must have millions of them in stock still.i have several tau2 cores where the shutter gear is broken or the metal reference plate has cracked and fallen aparttheir shutter mechanism is horrible and tears itself down over enough cycles.and they use a brushed motor with a bevel gear instead of a simple and unbreakable solenoidthis one is one the better looking ones i have/had.

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 02:22:10 am
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on August 28, 2025, 03:24:41 pmI searched the forum and found Fraser's teardown of PS MS HS etc, they have perfessional grade cores.

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 02:30:32 am
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on August 28, 2025, 03:24:41 pmI've played with several TAU cores and never seen a shutter in such bad shape, yours maybe abused before?BTW I did have unrelated weird experience with TAU336:It was in a Flir FC-O, which should be 35mk according to official specs, but in reality it performs like a consumer grade one, the sensitivity is much worse than even professional grade, and have a lot more factory bad pixels.I doubt if Flir cannot make a good sensor with 17um node...

author: isuzulake
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 07:47:37 am
content: you are right!48640,cube core,iris cutter,costumer and low gain.

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 11:38:40 am
content: mine were from surveilance cameras which sit outside, in sun and shade and probably click several hundred times per day (every 800 seconds thats 108 times and after every 0.5°C difference) for yearscant seem to find a serial number to date chart/converter to see how old they arethey use whatever they get their hands on it seemsare they even still in production?

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 01:31:10 pm
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on August 28, 2025, 03:24:41 pmA geared setup is quieter - if a lot slower- than a solenoid. For potentially covert use that may sway the decision as a camera that goes 'CLANK-CLANK' every minute is not a good idea.I suspect a solenoid would probably destory those shutters a lot faster too. Do they not have any end stop sensing ?Bill

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 02:49:26 pm
content: Quote from: isuzulake on August 29, 2025, 07:47:37 amThank you for confirming this, it's a shame FLIR use worse cores in their newer monoculars.

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 02:52:59 pm
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on August 28, 2025, 03:24:41 pmThe damage look nothing like normal wearing, especially that semicircle.

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2025, 04:23:38 pm
content: Quote from: 5au12 on August 31, 2025, 02:52:59 pmit fits perfectly that nib in the lens casingflir boson have solenoid shutters and dali cores have rotary solenoid (like a galvanometer but latching)

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 02:51:33 pm
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on August 31, 2025, 04:23:38 pmThe iris shuttered TAU as Scout using is similar to Boson's design, and I agree it's much better than the suspended arm design.The most common failure come from the gear box, they usually stiffen up and the spring is not strong enough to keep it open. I've also seen one Indigo Omega with the same design, that had the gears wear out, the motor keep spinning while shutter closed, and make terrible noise.

author: 5au12
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 02:54:50 pm
content: Quote from: Bill W on August 31, 2025, 01:31:10 pmThey use spring to keep the shutter open, so the motor must be active during the whole FFC event.