When professionals need to inspect hard-to-reach spaces, they turn to borescopes to get the job done. These optical tools allow users to see inside areas that would otherwise be impossible to view with the naked eye. Borescopes consist of a lens attached to the tip of an insertion probe. The live feed of what the lens is capturing is transmitted to a screen or monitor for viewing. As you might imagine, there are as many borescope uses as there are varieties of borescopes themselves!
What are Common Borescope Uses?
To understand what a borescope is used for, it helps to look at an example. Aerospace technicians often use borescopes to conduct inspections of gas turbines. Such procedures can be very dangerous, as gas turbines operate at extremely high temperatures. Borescopes allow technicians to safely inspect gas turbines and identify potential problems, which can help prevent accidents from occurring.
Curious about how to use a borescope? In the case of a gas turbine, a technician might slowly insert the probe into the gas turbine, taking care to inspect every inch along the way. The imagery captured by the probe is sent back to a monitor, where the technician can view the condition of each nook and cranny inside the turbine. Depending on the model used, the head of the borescope can be directed up, down, to the left, or to the right. Locator transmission options allow the operator to trace the path of the borescope once it’s inside the turbine and out of view. Footage captured can then be uploaded to the cloud, so long as the model has Wi-Fi capabilities (and many do!).
What are Typical Fiberscope Uses?
If you need a particularly flexible borescope, you’ll want to look into a fiberscope. Fiberscope uses differ slightly from standard borescope models, as they can twist and turn through even the tightest of spaces. Fiberscopes have fiber optic lenses attached to the device. While they don’t always provide the highest-quality images, their ability to see into spaces other types of borescopes cannot makes them incredibly versatile.
For instance, if a technician is inspecting the internal workings of a piece of machinery on an assembly line, they might reach for a fiberscope. The flexibility offered by fiberscopes allows technicians to quickly insert the scope around bends and corners. Operators can snake the fiberscope into tight spaces and capture images of the internal workings with ease.
What are Some Examples of Videoscope Uses?
Videoscopes are another common type of borescope. These shock-resistant tools can be maneuvered, folded, and bent without causing damage to the device. Operators can capture both still and video images with such tools – given this versatility, there are seemingly endless videoscope uses. HVAC technicians, for instance, may use videoscopes to inspect the health and condition of a building’s ductwork.
Videoscopes contain digital inspection cameras that are attached to a push rod, which can be inserted into small spaces like air ducts. Technicians insert the videoscope into the air duct and gently guide the scope through the maze to ensure that the space has been adequately cleaned and maintained. They watch the real-time progress of the scope on a small monitor. Since many videoscopes contain Bluetooth capabilities, it’s easy to record the footage and share with colleagues and clients.
How are Borescopes Used Across Different Industries?
In addition to the aerospace, HVAC, and manufacturing borescope uses, these tools have a wide range of applications. Plumbers, for instance, use rigid videoscope cameras to diagnose clogs in their clients’ pipes. Articulating videoscope cameras are instrumental to the automotive engineering world – without such tools, technicians would have to disassemble machinery to inspect their work. Chemical and refinery plants often rely on UV videoscopes in their non-destructive testing dye penetration tests. They use a fluorescent dye to highlight defects and cracks in their machinery and capture it all on screen with a UV videoscope.
Special features help make borescopes even more useful. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity make it easier than ever to save, share, and revisit inspection footage. Some borescope models even connect to your cell phone, allowing you to control the device from your home screen. Locator transmission features give operators the chance to trace the device’s progress even after it’s out of sight – it acts like a GPS for your borescope. Long and short borescope cables allow you to change up the length and distance your scope can reach. Portable inspection cameras repackage everything that’s so great about borescopes into one convenient carrying case. Since these options often run on batteries, there’s no need to connect to a power source while in the field.
Order Your Borescope Now
If you’ve got a tight space to inspect, these versatile tools are truly invaluable. You can rent or order one from us today. Not sure where to start? Call us now at 931-362-3304 for a free quote!
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