# Raspberry Pi Thermal Camera ## Overview https://youtu.be/rG0JHzKA_fA ![Raspberry Pi Thermal Imaging Camera](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/221/medium800/raspberry_pi_hero-coffee-B.jpg?1751989556 ) Build a thermal imaging camera using a Raspberry Pi, MLX90640 IR camera breakout, and the Raspberry Pi camera module. This project fuses the Raspberry Pi's camera feed with a thermal graphic overlay. A Python script features a graphical interface that allows you to control the overlay's opacity and temperature range, and even take screenshots. ![Raspberry Pi Thermal Imaging Camera](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/222/medium640/raspberry_pi_hero-coffe-C.jpg?1751990141) The electronics are housed in a custom designed 3D printed snap fit enclosure. A 1/4-20" mount lets you secure it to just about any tripod compatible mounting system. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/241/medium640/temperature___humidity_hero-case.jpg?1751997203) This project was inspired by  the [PitFusion thermal imager](https://github.com/ivmech/pitfusion) for the Raspberry Pi. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/240/medium640/temperature___humidity_pitfusion-image.jpg?1751997137) ## Parts ### Adafruit MLX90640 24x32 IR Thermal Camera Breakout [Adafruit MLX90640 24x32 IR Thermal Camera Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4469) You can now add affordable heat-vision to your project and with an Adafruit MLX90640 Thermal Camera Breakout. This sensor contains a 24x32 array of IR thermal sensors. When connected to your microcontroller (or Raspberry Pi) it will return an array of 768 individual infrared temperature... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4469) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4469/guides) ![White hand holding and moving around a MLX90640 24x32 IR Thermal Camera Breakout over a Raspberry Pi. The pybadge showing a checker board image of what the camera is seeing. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-videos/640x480/4469-05.jpg) ### Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Standard [Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Standard](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5657) Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 is a compact camera from Raspberry Pi. Featuring autofocus and a 12-megapixel sensor, and supported by Raspberry Pi's Picamera2 Python library, Camera Module 3 gives you excellent image quality with precise control. **Camera Module 3 Standard...** In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5657) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5657/guides) ![Angled shot of camera module assembled onto a Raspberry Pi 4 computer.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5657-04.jpg) ### Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - 4 GB RAM [Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - 4 GB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4296) The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the newest Raspberry Pi computer made, and the Pi Foundation knows you can always make a good thing _better_! And what could make the Pi 4 better than the 3? How about a _faster_ processor, USB 3.0 ports, and updated Gigabit Ethernet chip with... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4296) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4296/guides) ![Angled shot of Raspberry Pi 4](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4296-11.jpg) ### Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret - Buttons, EYESPI and STEMMA QT [Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret - Buttons, EYESPI and STEMMA QT](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5783) Raspberry Pi's make for handy lil computers, but they're really wonderful when you can connect all sorts of nifty hardware to them: color TFT or E-Ink displays, and sensors are our go-to favorites. Even better is when we make it fast and effortless to wire these up. With this new... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5783) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5783/guides) ![Overhead shot of long, black, slim add-on board installed on a Raspberry Pi computer and cabled to a sensor board and an electronic ink display.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5783-04.jpg) ### STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable - 100mm Long [STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable - 100mm Long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4210) This 4-wire cable is a little over 100mm / 4" long and fitted with JST-SH female 4-pin connectors on both ends. Compared with the chunkier JST-PH these are 1mm pitch instead of 2mm, but still have a nice latching feel, while being easy to insert and remove. Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4210) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4210/guides) ![Angled shot of STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4210-00.jpg) ### Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable [Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4302) We're now stocking a very fancy Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI cable with overmolding and Pi logo! It has nice molded grips for easy installation, and is 1 meter long. [Perfect for use with your new Raspberry Pi 4...](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4297) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4302) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4302/guides) ![Angled shot of a Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable - 1 meter long.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4302-02.jpg) ### Part: Official Raspberry Pi Power Supply quantity: 1 .1V 3A with USB C - 1.5 meter long [Official Raspberry Pi Power Supply](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4298) ### Part: Camera and Tripod 3/8" to 1/4" Adapter Screw quantity: 1 Tripod Screw Insert [Camera and Tripod 3/8" to 1/4" Adapter Screw](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2392) ### Part: Tripod Screw D-Ring quantity: 1 Pack of 5 - Stainless Steel D Shaft D-Ring 1/4" Tripod Screw [Tripod Screw D-Ring](https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-QRS-Release-Premier-Cleaning/dp/B00KI3J7G2/) ### Part: Mini Ball Head quantity: 1 Tripod Low Profile Ballhead [Mini Ball Head](https://www.amazon.com/Head-INNOREL-C19-Head-CNC-Ballhead-Ballheads/dp/B0CHB63882/) ## Hardware - 3x M3 x 4mm long machine screws - 4x M2.5 x 6mm long machine screws - 2x M2 x 6mm long machine screws - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-thermal-camera/circuit-diagram.md) ## Featured Products ### Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - 4 GB RAM [Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - 4 GB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4296) The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the newest Raspberry Pi computer made, and the Pi Foundation knows you can always make a good thing _better_! And what could make the Pi 4 better than the 3? How about a _faster_ processor, USB 3.0 ports, and updated Gigabit Ethernet chip with... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4296) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4296/guides) ### Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Standard [Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 Standard](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5657) Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 is a compact camera from Raspberry Pi. Featuring autofocus and a 12-megapixel sensor, and supported by Raspberry Pi's Picamera2 Python library, Camera Module 3 gives you excellent image quality with precise control. **Camera Module 3 Standard...** In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5657) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5657/guides) ### Adafruit MLX90640 24x32 IR Thermal Camera Breakout [Adafruit MLX90640 24x32 IR Thermal Camera Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4469) You can now add affordable heat-vision to your project and with an Adafruit MLX90640 Thermal Camera Breakout. This sensor contains a 24x32 array of IR thermal sensors. When connected to your microcontroller (or Raspberry Pi) it will return an array of 768 individual infrared temperature... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4469) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4469/guides) ### Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret - Buttons, EYESPI and STEMMA QT [Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret - Buttons, EYESPI and STEMMA QT](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5783) Raspberry Pi's make for handy lil computers, but they're really wonderful when you can connect all sorts of nifty hardware to them: color TFT or E-Ink displays, and sensors are our go-to favorites. Even better is when we make it fast and effortless to wire these up. With this new... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5783) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5783/guides) ### STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable - 100mm Long [STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable - 100mm Long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4210) This 4-wire cable is a little over 100mm / 4" long and fitted with JST-SH female 4-pin connectors on both ends. Compared with the chunkier JST-PH these are 1mm pitch instead of 2mm, but still have a nice latching feel, while being easy to insert and remove. Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4210) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4210/guides) ### Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable [Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4302) We're now stocking a very fancy Official Raspberry Pi Micro HDMI to HDMI cable with overmolding and Pi logo! It has nice molded grips for easy installation, and is 1 meter long. [Perfect for use with your new Raspberry Pi 4...](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4297) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4302) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4302/guides) ### Camera and Tripod 3/8" to 1/4" Adapter Screw [Camera and Tripod 3/8" to 1/4" Adapter Screw](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2392) _Whaddya got a screw loose or something?_ This **3/8" to 1/4"** **Adapter Screw** is super handy if you're building projects that connect to a tripod or a camera. It's a simple fix for getting a tripod with a 1/4" machine screw... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2392) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2392/guides) ### Official Raspberry Pi Power Supply 5.1V 3A with USB C [Official Raspberry Pi Power Supply 5.1V 3A with USB C](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4298) The official Raspberry Pi USB-C power supply is here! And of course, we have 'em in classic Adafruit black! Superfast with just the right amount of cable length to get your Pi 4 projects up and running! Best for use with Pi 4 series, [Pi...](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5814) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4298) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4298/guides) ## Related Guides - [Raspberry Pi Care and Troubleshooting](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-care-and-troubleshooting.md) - [Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret](https://learn.adafruit.com/eyespi-pi-beret.md) - [MLX90640 Thermal Camera with Image Recording](https://learn.adafruit.com/mlx90640-thermal-image-recording.md) - [Adafruit 2.13" 250x122 Quad-Color eInk](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-2-13-250x122-quad-color-eink.md) - [Adafruit MLX90640 IR Thermal Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-mlx90640-ir-thermal-camera.md) - [RPi Stock Alert Alarm](https://learn.adafruit.com/rpi-stock-alert-alarm.md) - [DIY Robotic Sky Tracking Astrophotography Mount with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-robotic-sky-tracking-astrophotography-mount.md) - [BioShock little sister syringe](https://learn.adafruit.com/bioshock-little-sister-syringe.md) - [Discord and Slack Connected Smart Plant with Adafruit IO Actions](https://learn.adafruit.com/discord-and-slack-connected-smart-plant-with-adafruit-io-triggers.md) - [Adafruit Monochrome 1.12" 128x128 OLED Graphic Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-monochrome-1-12-in-128x128-oled.md) - [Snap Fit Mount for Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/snap-fit-mount-for-circuit-playground-express.md) - [Adafruit I2C QT Rotary Encoder](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-i2c-qt-rotary-encoder.md) - [Adafruit AS7341 10-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-as7341-10-channel-light-color-sensor-breakout.md) - [LED Gummy Candies](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-gummy-candies.md) - [AS5600 Super Smooth Rotary Encoder](https://learn.adafruit.com/as5600-smooth-rotary-encoder.md) - [Ikea Vindriktning Hack with QT Py ESP32-S3 and Adafruit IO](https://learn.adafruit.com/ikea-vindriktning-hack-with-qt-py-esp32-s3-and-adafruit-io.md)