A borescope is generally used to inspect different parts of an aircraft engine. Regular maintenance of the visual inspection tool is important to detect signs of wear and tear. Lack of proper care can damage your borescope and you may have to replace it.
Here are some tips on the general care and maintenance of the videoscope tool. The tips will help ensure that the tool operates efficiently for a long time.
1. Charge the Battery Completely
Make sure that the battery of your portable video inspection tool is charged completely before use. Batteries of most borescopes can charge completely within four hours. A fully charged battery will allow an uninterrupted inspection of the engine. Charging the battery fully before use also increases its lifespan.
2. Extend the Insertion Tube Slowly
The insertion tube should never be inserted when it’s coiled up. Always extend the insertion probe fully before use. This is important to avoid internal damage to the tube. Fully extending the probe before use helps enhance the life of the borescope.
Great care should be taken when inserting the probe. It should be inserted slowly to avoid any damage to the tube. Moreover, it will also allow the maintenance staff to identify all the internal damaged parts that could lead to critical engine failure.
3. Never Immerse in Liquid
Never assume that the borescope is waterproof. You should not immerse the device in any type of liquid. While the insertion tube is waterproof, the display monitor is not. Additionally, you should note that the insertion tube is not resistant to damage by corrosive fluids. When it comes to acceptable chemical exposures to the borescope probe we use the ‘Rule of Thumb’; If you’re OK putting your thumb in it, it should be ok for the probe.
Consider mounting the video scope device to accidentally dropping water on the device. This will also prevent the device from getting damaged due to falling on the floor.
4. Repair the Pipe Insertion Camera
A defective pipe insertion camera can be fixed by re-terminating the camera’s head at the damaged section. Cutting the damaged pipe area can result in a loss of some length of the pipe. But, it will result in considerable savings as you don’t have to buy a new video scope device.
5. Ensure Proper Temperature
Make sure that the device is operated in a safe temperature range. Manufacturers generally recommend that the device should be operated within the temperature range of -20 o C and 60 o C (-4o F and 140o F). Operating the device outside the safe temperature range can cause damage to the device, resulting in costly repairs or replacement.
6. Clean the Probe
The probe’s optical surface should be cleaned regularly. Dirt and fingerprint on the probe’s optical surface can result in degraded performance.
Clean the lens of the camera and probe tip with a 70% alcohol-to-water solution and a cotton swab. To reduce contamination, it is recommended to store the device in a case.
Contact USA Borescopes for repair and maintenance of borescopes. We also offer different types of visual inspection devices for aircraft and aviation engine inspection. Our clients include owners of commercial jets, business and private, and medical and commercial helicopters.
