BAD AND GOOD.

this board is excellent for testing the sensor, and verifying it works ok, and allows rom dumps, and videos of sensor reads on a computer. however it has its own processor, and a usb chip that has some sort of data bus to translate the i2c data from chip to data to be processed, and then to be sent thru to usb of host. the issue is the processor operates as master, and it is difficult to disable it. (This may be over simplified, but the basics of the operation and issues are stated)

there are other possible issues as well. the chips on the board might have low voltage tolerances, even on pins hooked up to i2c. i2c spec voltage is 1.2v to 5.5v. the mlx90640 sensor stated in the manual that it can handle 5v i2c logic only on these pins. but this board is more than just the mlx chip.

This board is also about 500$, and like i said good as long as it is only for testing features, verifying rom and basic testing of melexis devices. the issue is it has a master i2c configuration and will not tolerate any other master device on the i2c bus.  there are ways to bypass the host processor that handles the i2c, but at 500$ i think it is better used for its purpose to check and verify parts or show capability of devices. 

REASONS TO USE SPARKFUN OR A BOARD THAT CONTAINS MLX90640 sensor is the built in resistors, the reliable operation at speeds within the spec of device, and working with 3.3v and 5v logic i2c. the mlx device needs to receive  3.3v +/-0.3v max.

If you have any work you are doing that requires a controller, and custom software you will want to have your own master device for i2c. sparkfun examples, and the code generated here assumes it is the master. also using sparkfun board, or your own wiring allows freedom of a voltage range up to 5v to i2c pins. the logic to these pins should mainly be an input of some high resistance and a pull down transistor.