FLIR Configuration GUI - Hidden Manufacturing mode  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2020, 09:30:43 pm
content: For those readers who own FLIR cameras or cores that use a GUI utility running on a PC, you may be interested to hear that the GUI can have hidden additional capabilities. There is a “Manufacturing” mode that is not normally documented by FLIR as it provides access to settings that can impair camera operation if changed without thought.I thought I would document this here in case it is of interest. I have the required password for two GUI’s but sadly not the one for the TAU thermal core GUI. That ‘TAU’ GUI also supports other FLIR cores such as the Muron, Quark etc.To access the manufacturing mode, the GUI is started and the user presses“Ctrl-Shift-M”A password challenge appears.The passwords I know are as follows:FLIR SC6000 & SC4000 BIG GUI = indigoFLIR TAU CNV GUI =www.flir.comFLIR TAU GUI =www.flir.comOnce the manufacturing mode is activated, additional menu’s, sub menu’s or tools appear. Do not expect to find an explanation of the additional functionality from FLIR but some Googling usually explains most settings.If anyone discovers additional Manufacturing mode passwords, please share them here.FraserNote: The TAU CNV is a low light camera and not thermal. It is not the same GUI as that used by the TAU thermal cores.Update:The TAU GUI contains the Manufacturing mode but I am advised that the actual menus have been removedOlder versions of the GUI may still contain the menus so it would be worth checking.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 05:13:06 am
content: This could end up being a very helpful tidbit for me - I've recently got a Flir Phoenix which after jamming some jumpers into the connector (a proper connector is on its way) I've powered up and verified a serial communications link with a terminal program, but am having trouble finding appropriate control software.I have version 2.0 of the controller GUI for use with a Tau2 core, but while the Ctrl-Shift-M password menu appears, neither mentioned password actually acknowledges anything or appears to unlock any extra features. Does anyone have a copy of an older version I could try? Otherwise the documentation for the Phoenix relies on Rtools, which is probably hard to come by and required a dongle for normal use, but I've asked FLIR support whether Flir Tools+ (perhaps only on XP) would support it.If not one of these GUIs, is there some documentation on the serial commands these cameras that's available to manually send some commands? I'm not yet reading video, but from the connector pinout description and some compatible hardware listed in manuals, it's probably straight cameralink output, control is RS-422, and the power supply is basically just a 24V supply needing 3A or so. The fans spin, the stirling cooler whirs, and I can see the boot up, cooling, and maintenance phases working properly just monitoring the current draw.

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 06:10:07 am
content: the FFC options! awesome thx!so maybe I can reduce the duration of those @$%$ freezes on the Ex? (in the other topic everyone appear to agree 1.5s is way too long for a calibration event)like cut them down 5x less (some cams have much faster FFC so no reason why the Ex shouldn't do likewise right?)

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 10:26:51 am
content: Dajmasta,You may wish to read my post on the FLIR SC4000 that I ownhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/high-speed-thermal-imaging-cameras-when-60fps-is-just-not-enough-!/I contacted FLIR and managed to obtain the GUI from their French support office. Cooled camera queries are now handled in France.Your Phoenix is the direct ancestor of my SC4000 camera and I suspect much of the command set will be the same. The problem you face is that the documentation for the Indigo Phoenix was only available upon application to Indigo and is not, as far as I know, available on the Internet.The SC4000 relies upon the GUI program for its configuration via the USB port or via the integrated mini GUI that is built into FLIR Researcher 2.8 etc. As you say, RTOOLS was the software originally used with the Pheonix. Sadly I cannot help with RTOOLS and FLIR could not help me with it when asked. If you try FLIR Researcher with the Pheonix, it may well contain the required control GUI. You need early versions of Researcher and not ResearchIR.Researcher 2.10 is available on the FLIR support site for a 30 day evaluation period. I have Researcher 2.8 but cannot send it to you at the moment.PM me your email And I can send you the full SC4000 GUI as I think it also supports other cooled cameras.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 10:37:37 am
content: Dajmasta,This thread may also be of interest as the Amber Radiance 1 is the direct ancestor of your Pheonixhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/the-story-of-a-radiance-1-camera-and-frasers-quest-to-find-information-on-it/Fraser

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 10:56:29 am
content: Quote from: calel on October 24, 2020, 06:10:07 amNo. These options set how often an FFC happens, or what conditions force one, not how long a FFC takes.Bill

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 11:29:41 am
content: Dajmasta,My little brain cells have been grinding away and I can advise that the SC4000 uses Cameralink as its main I/O but it is converted to Ethernet using a Pleora Module within the camera. The external Cameralink connector is no longer used for camera control. I feel sure I saw the Phoenix and Merlin cameras shown as selectable options in Researcher 2.8 or the GUI that FLIR sent to me. The Cameralink connectivity fir my SC4000 was greyed out but that may be only because of the Pleora 1000T Ethernet connectivity that is used in my camera.I feel confident that I can supply something that will talk to your cameraFraser

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 03:35:52 pm
content: That's definitely the impression I got, I had the seen the Radiance thread and I think the SC4000 shows up in some of the same documentation I have on the Phoenix (FLIR was able to give me a manual for the older DAS system from Indigo, the DTS system of their own that uses the Thermacam Rtools and a Phoenix DTS specific settings, and a user manual for the Phoenix GUI from Indigo). The User manual for the DTS includes the camera head connector on the DTS, which is a horizontal mirror of the pinout on the back of the camera head, and the only connections are 24V, and then basically a subset of cameralink pins - RS-422 pairs for communications, a couple of image data pairs, a clock pair, and a sync input pair (marked input on the DTS pinout, so presumably sync out from the camera). The DAS manual talks about connecting the head through a much simpler device than the DTS, which gives you basically the same outputs as a more modern SC series camera, and in the software setup for the DAS it lets you pick your cameralink acquisition card, only requiring an external power supply and connector adapter.In any case, it seems like the Pleora is just a cameralink to ethernet adapter as well, so all things point towards the output being a normal cameralink with just two output data channels - and if I can get the telemetry and commands, it's probably not hard to find a program that can show the image. I'll drop you a line!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 04:52:08 pm
content: Indeed, the SC4000/6000 use a standard Pleora Cameralink to 1000BaseT Ethernet converter. I forget the exact model number but it is one of Pleora integrated models for use inside equipment. Camera configuration is done via USB and normal basic control and image extraction takes place via the Pleora Ethernet port. From memory the SC4000/6000 can also be configured via RS232. The SC series provide a composite video output which is handy.I have not used the camera link port but did look for suitable frame grabber cards to play with...... they were quite expensive though and the Pleora Ethernet converter is the primary I/O so I did not pursue that option.You could source a Pleora Cameralink-Ethernet unit maybe ? That would provide the data link for video and the RS232 for control of the camera.Fraser

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 05:08:47 pm
content: Quote from: Bill W on October 24, 2020, 10:56:29 ambummer...why not duration?also why should an FFC event last longer in one cam than in another if both use same principle? (same type of calibration)

author: bap2703
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 06:04:09 pm
content: Quote from: calel on October 24, 2020, 05:08:47 pmThe time when the flag is in front of the sensor is less relevant than the time it is away.Time with flag in front of sensor translates to the averaging of the drifting noise.Think like this: your NUC would be more accurate by increasing it.But you don't really need that because your sensor immediately drifts away from that very accurate NUC.So what you want is to do the NUC more often.The time with the flag in front of the sensor is related to :- how long it takes to move the flag in front of it- then you have to be sure it's really in front and take the frames only after that: it could be triggered by hardware or with a dumb timeout- you might want to average more or less during the calibration- then the processing itself probably need more time than the actual frames time.- you might want to make it longer just to sell a more expensive one that is less sub-optimalThat's just what comes to my mind, so there are a lot of variables to play with.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 06:16:20 pm
content: DajMasta,I just checked the installed SC4000/6000 GUI and the camera options in FLIR Researcher 2.08SR3I am pleased to advise that both contain signs of support for the PhoenixPictures attachedFraser

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 07:54:22 pm
content: Quote from: bap2703 on October 24, 2020, 06:04:09 pmDo not forget that FLIR use an operating system in their cameras so may struggle to be as real-time as the likes of ISG or Argus cameras with FPGA/Micro/RTDSP in them. That will add some delays.There may well be 'other stuff' going on than just a simple frame grab and some maths to do an image FFC.Data may need to be read back before the FFC can be processed - like sensor temperaturesIf the camera needs to change gain mode. that may change voltages that have to settle fully before you can start the FFC.(Going a bit far off topic !)Bill

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2020, 12:20:29 am
content: Great that the camera's been sighted, but the only version of Researcher FLIR has in their repository is 2.10, which both doesn't include the mention (though it does include the SC4000/6000 cameras), and doesn't offer any direct RS232 or other serial connections for control, just IP and Firewire. They have patches available for 2001 and 2.8, but no software package.I will continue to poke around a bit, but hopefully FLIR can point to a download or to software that actually has a means to purchase that still supports it.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2020, 10:51:51 am
content: DajMasta,I will sort you out with the GUI today. I hope FLIR can help you with software to use with the Phoenix. Sadly FLIR Researcher was never an inexpensive option. It cost the original purchaser of my SC4000 $7KI have had a look in my software archives and I own the following Researcher software:Researcher 2001 inc LicenceResearcher 2.8 inc LicenceResearcher 2.9 inc LicenceResearcher 2.9 30 day trialResearcher 2.10 30 day trialI also have IRWin 2.01 which I suspect supports the Phoenix camera.If FLIR cannot help you with software I will see if I can. Sadly I do not have any duplicate licences amongst my software collection. If 2.9 supports your camera you can, at least, have a copy of my 30 Day trial disk. It could well be that my version 2.8 operates in 30 day trial mode if a licence is not entered. I would have to check.You will likely need a Windows XP platform to run Researcher.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2020, 04:37:01 pm
content: I can confirm that Researcher 2.9 PRO supports the Indigo Phoenix camera.Fraser

author: hap2001
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2024, 03:49:14 pm
content: I have a very annoying problem...I have used the "Manufacturing mode" for years, but after I reinstall my virtual machine OS, it suddenly do not work. See picture attached. After enter the password, it shows "Manufacturing mode" enabled, but no additional menu available.I tried enable it both before and after connect TAU, different guest OS (windows 7, 10, xp, embedded, server...), nothing works.The worst part is I really don't know what caused the problem, it seems suddenly doesn't work under the same setup. I was always use Debian host with Virtualbox and Windows guest OS.Does anyone have the same problem?

author: hap2001
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2025, 11:23:17 am
content: Quote from: hap2001 on December 25, 2024, 03:49:14 pmThis shit is getting personal.I just dig out another PC and installed official Windows 7 on bare metal. And it shows the exact same bug.I don't understand why, it's like some demon prevent me from enjoy my TAUs.

author: manic515
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 11:14:44 am
content: Don't know if this would matter, but have you tried installing an older version of the GUI software? I got a burned GUI software CD with my surplus Tau 2 core that I ended up using because I think Fraser mentioned somewhere that older versions had more options. Aside from that, maybe install the GUI with no web connectivity on the outlandish possibility that FLIR decided to disable manufacturing mode remotely?That's a really strange error

author: CRC
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 11:57:11 pm
content: That's odd. Mine works fine on Win11Pro. It seems to persist across reboots too.

author: tske
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2025, 01:34:33 pm
content: Shouldn't it be "Ctrl+Shift+A"? It's called "advanced" mode and have everything you want.Never heard the "Ctrl+Shift+M" or "Manufacturing mode".