Industrial Borescopes

The industrial borescopes are devices that enable visual inspection of areas that are otherwise difficult to access. Due to the various possible applications, there are devices with very different equipment. In general, however, an industrial borescope consists of the display and control unit and the sensor, at the end of which the camera is located. The use of industrial borescopes enables quick analyses of areas that are difficult to access without time-consuming disassembly and opening of components.

Selection criteria for an industrial borescope Before making a preselection from the huge range of devices, it should first be clarified which minimum requirements the borescope must meet. Often, the following characteristics can be determined in advance:

- Flexibility of the probe - Camera head diameter - IP protection rating of the camera sensor - Viewing angle, viewing direction, focus and image resolution of the camera - Memory for images and videos - Interfaces for data transmission, video output - Ability to connect different probes - Accessories

Rigid, semi-rigid or flexible borescopes

The camera sensor of a borescope can be either a rigid rod or a flexible cable. Rigid borescopes often operate without the ability to capture and process images. However, rigid borescopes with a digital camera are also available, making it possible to capture, process and store the displayed images. A rigid borescope can be used well for quick inspection, for example under motor vehicles or components, or installations in a higher position. For this purpose, rigid probes have a 90-degree angle in the upper area, or a movable camera head protrudes from the rigid probe rod. The rod length can be up to 3 meters for telescopic versions.

Flexible and semi-flexible probes allow inspection of pipes and cavities with limited access. Flexible probes are available in lengths from 1 m to 120 m. Lengths of 10 meters and above are usually wound on a kind of cable drum. To move the long lengths safely into the area being inspected, there are additional elements that protect the camera head and facilitate movement. For points that are difficult to reach with a flexible probe, a cable guide can be used. This cable support consists of a rigid sheath tube into which the flexible cable is guided and secured.

Camera head diameter

If the borescope camera must be inserted into cavities through narrow openings for quality control or for searching for fault causes, the diameter of the camera head is important.

Borescopes with 2- or 4-direction articulation

There are applications where a fixed forward-facing camera is sufficient. However, side-view cameras are generally more suitable for internal inspection of pipe walls and similarly shaped components. A sensor can also contain two fixed cameras for front and side views. It is then possible on the display to switch between the current image of the front view and the side camera on the control panel.

For some inspections, it is advantageous if the camera head can be steered in different directions independently of the current orientation of the rod or cable. A distinction is made between the four directions of movement: up, down, right, left. For example, a borescope can have 2- or 4-direction articulation. This means that the camera can be rotated in two or four directions using a rotary switch, buttons or a joystick. In addition, the camera head can be rotated up to 360 degrees around the axis of the sensor. In each case, it is indicated whether the borescope camera probe can be controlled in 2 directions or 4 directions and whether it can additionally be rotated around the axis of the probe.

IP protection rating

Since the probes, unlike the display, come into contact more often with moisture, dust and foreign bodies, probes are often manufactured with high IP protection ratings. The IP protection rating is an international classification for the protection of electrical devices by the enclosure. The first of the two digits represents the protection of the electrical components against dust and foreign bodies, the second represents protection against water. The higher the number, the better the internal components are protected. The IP 67 rating for the borescope camera sensor, for example, means that the camera sensor is fully protected against dust ingress and can be immersed in water for up to 30 minutes. The borescope camera can therefore be used with this probe to inspect filled but non-pressurized lines, components and containers.

Viewing angle - viewing angle

The viewing angle or aperture angle of the camera determines the size of the image section. A high camera viewing angle provides a better overview and faster orientation. Relatively small viewing angles are particularly suitable for details and spatially very confined inspections. For example, a borescope camera for inspections can be equipped with an aperture angle of 60, 67, 90, 105, 120, 135 or 150 degrees. Focus and depth of field of view - Focus and depth of field of view

Optical devices can produce a particularly sharp image of the recorded objects at a certain distance. Objects closer or farther away appear less detailed. With devices with focusing capability, sharpness can be adjusted within certain limits. For inspections in very narrow cavities, a probe with a suitable depth of field of view should be used. Examples are: Depth of field of view front camera: 5 mm ... 50 mm, 15 mm ... 100 mm / 10 mm ... infinity / 30 mm ... 60 mm Depth of field of view side camera: 3 mm ... 50 mm

Image resolution Image resolution is one of the decisive factors for the sharpness of details on the display, especially for stored images and videos.

Storage of images and videos

In many areas it is useful to store the images or video sequences of an inspection in order to create documentation. Many borescopes today offer the option of taking photos and videos and storing them on an SD card in the device. These images and videos can be provided with a time and date stamp during recording for better identification. Common storage formats are JPEG for images and MP4 or ASF for videos. This data can later be transferred to a PC or laptop for further processing, if required.

Data transfer Borescopes can be connected to a computer via USB. In most cases, two different modes can be selected, one for transferring the stored data and one for transmitting the current image. Almost every borescope camera with a video recording function also has the ability to transmit the video signal to a separate monitor, e.g. a TV screen. Common video output formats are NTSC and PAL. Variety of probes for borescopes There are model series to which various flexible probes can be connected. This offers the advantage that only one control unit needs to be purchased and that the user is already familiar with handling and operation when changing the probe. The probes may differ not only in the characteristics mentioned above. For example, there are also differences in the illumination of the inspection point, for example with special UV light.

Accessories for borescopes

For many applications, special accessories are available for better access and imaging of the areas to be inspected. It is necessary to ensure that the accessories match the model series used. The following elements are used for easier positioning of the sensor cable and for protecting the camera: - Cable guides - Ball Guides - Wheel Guides - Centering brushes

Screw-on magnetic attachments with hooks can be used to remove magnetic and non-magnetic parts. Mirror attachments allow other viewing directions for probes with a fixed camera. Borescope locators can be used to find the position of the damaged area in hidden channels whose exact location is unknown (for example, sewers on private property). After the position has been determined, excavation only needs to be carried out at that point.

You can purchase additional software for certain borescope models. This special software offers, for example, a measurement function for measuring and documenting cracks or fragments. The documents created in this way can be saved and forwarded via email.