What is your choice: rigid borescope, fiberscope or videoscope?

Some advice for your choice:

To determine the correct instrument for your application, please take into consideration

• Size (diameter) of entry point.
• The necessary length needed to reach the area of inspection.
• Does the area to be inspected have a clear straight path or is there obstructions or curved or radius areas where the instrument would have to negotiate.
  
• Does your application require image documentation?

Videoscope has more advantages compared to borescopes:
where a borescope or fiberscope is adaptable to video the image produced has greater resolution and higher magnification. It is very good if many people view the image displayed on a monitor and allows for less eye fatigue than using them in the visual mode. It is also cost effective to attach a borescope or fiberscope to video as long as sufficient illumination is available.

VIDEO BORESCOPE EVOLUTION

I found interesting facts about evolution of videoscopes:

• Mid 1980s: 10 mm (0.4 in.) diameter tip articulating industrial CCD video borescope, black and white chip with red, green and blue color sequencing.
• 1985: 38 mm (1.5 in.) diameter nonarticulating (pipe scope), full color CCD industrial video borescope.
• 1986: first portable system case video system - the internal dimensional analysis kit. Built in color monitor with compatible keyboard; image freeze and video discontinuity measurement; digital video image phone linkage to transmit test images stored on floppy disk.
• 1990: 11 mm (0.43 in.) diameter, articulating, full color CCD video borescope. Second generation portable system case, built in cathode ray tube, keyboard, analog to digital conversion, internal 100 MB hard drive or floppy disk; image comparison, internal modem image transmission, video cursor measurement, menu driven image processing, floppy disk loadable upgrade software and case with handle.
• 1991: first battery powered, over the shoulder portable, CCD video borescope system. Shadow reference line projection measurement, joystick activated motorized cable pull versus hand knob operated scope tip articulation; 8 mm (0.3 in.) diameter, articulating, full color CCD video borescope; third generation portable system case, built in miniature computer, digital zoom, miniature cathode ray tube, light source, camera control unit, three dimensional computer aided design wire frame measurement of stored digital images, case and handle; remote visual testing report software, text template, digital images and digital voice annotated inspector comments.
• 1992: video borescope curvilinear pipe wall pit measurement using pipe axis alignment correction; three dimensional computed aided design wire frame discontinuity measurement by video borescope.
• 1993: fourth generation portable case system with built in or remote liquid crystal display, scope camera control unit, light source, memory card and SCSI port for external digital accessory expansion options; optical borescope eyepiece discontinuity measurement using digital processor with interchangeable off the shelf CCD eyepiece camera, developed and patented in the US.
• 1995: 6 mm (0.24 in.) diameter, articulating, full color CCD video borescope.
• 1996: live transcontinental US Air Force F100 engine test via digital image exchange between Savannah, Georgia, and Berlin, Germany.
• 1997: digital store measure industrial miniature computer for scope systems; unique architecture utilizing miniature ball grid array digital signal processing to meet stringent small size specifications; simultaneous live digitized eddy current impedance plane read out on live video image; video borescope with stereoscopic measurement of discontinuity size using dual objective base line separation calculations, scope handle thumb mouse for menu navigation, internal microphone for annotation of stored images and compatible miniature liquid crystal display; hands free goggles to view tests.
• 1999: 5 mm (0.2 in.) diameter, articulating, full color CCD video borescope.
• 2000: smallest system case to date; brightest internal light source; integral system liquid crystal display in scope handle.
• 2002: fifth generation system case video borescope with live digital motion capture; USB fast digital communications port; removable plug in image storage media; personal computer programmable and activated scope articulation; depth perception and three dimensional viewing of test object's internals; 4 mm (0.16 in.) diameter, articulating, full color CCD video borescope.

You can purchase these fifth generation videoscopes here

New Medit Video Camera

Today it is difficult to find anything to perplex our mind. Orbital telescopes penetrate the space abyss, and high precision cameras are installed in the smallest devices like mobile phones. But for industrial purposes a new Medit camera gives an outstanding example of high tech device.
This camera is designed to be used in a wide variety of Scientific Imaging,Endoscopy and Microscopy applications.

You can read more about this interesting device here.
Here I'd like to present some pictures made with the help of this camera.

First, Camera plus Microscope


Then, Camera plus Optical Borescope

Videoscopes: Where You Cannot See

Video inspection systems are widely used in the industry. From piping systems to aircraft engines, a videoscopes allow to see places that are otherwise impossible to get inside.
The most important component of a video inspection system is called a borescope. It is a tube that has a camera on one end and a viewing system on the other. Video borescope works pretty is designed like a pipe or tube that can be inserted in small, tight, out-of-the-way spaces.
Video inspection systems are of particular value in the medical industry, particularly in the diagnosis and surgical field. The advent of video inspection systems allowed doctors to see inside a body and make accurate diagnoses. Many types of medical instruments can be attached to the camera end of an endoscope that allows it to perform precise surgical procedures.
Nowadays videoscopes are getting more sophisticated use as borescopes become smaller and powerful. It is interesting to see what kind of devices would help us in the future.
If you are interested in these devices (borescopes, videoscopes) you can find more information at this site.

Use of a borescope to inspect building cavities

A bright example of borescope use in building industry.

Sometimes it is necessary to check for mold inside building constructions.

Unless a building area is already visibly damaged or moldy, we proceed with as little damage or "invasiveness" as possible. Often no invasive cuts are needed to see into a building cavity. Often an experienced inspector who knows where to look, can reach very reliable conclusions about hidden mold with no damage to a property at all. Or we can perform non-damaging invasive inspection such as the careful removal of trim for further inspection.

Where a 2" diameter hole is not permitted, we may explore using this small borescope which requires a hole about the diameter of a pencil. Often this probe can be inserted behind loose trim or in existing building openings to permit a limited-access view of building cavities without any destructive cuts at all. You can find additional information on borescopes here.

Pinnacle Buys 4mm Videoscopes

Pinnacle Airlines outfits its maintenance bases with the new 4mm diameter 1,500mm long videoscope kits. The 3-kit buy intends to replace existing fiberscopes and older technology video units. The videoscope kit has an additional advantage in the compatibility of the base video processing/illuminator and display unit with both rigid and flexible borescopes of various sizes allowing the recording capabilities to be extended for use for all visual inspections using cameras and other adaptors as needed.

Borescopes from Medit Inc provide the brightest possible images…

Medit Inc offers a wide range of rigid borescopes for professional users. The borescopes provide a very bright, clear, detailed images.

Medit borescopes are equipped with new objective lenses with a wider view field and light sources. The brighter illumination makes even challenging applications routine.

A wide choice of different models (from 2.7 mm-175mm to 4 mm-330 mm) means that there is a borescope to suit most applications and budgets. Most machined metal parts afford ample access for the Medit micro borescope to see burrs and surface finish in bores and cross holes. You can find other types of borescopes for looking into larger, dark spaces including automotive and aircraft cylinders, pressure vessels, pipes and even within building wall cavities.

You can also buy a carry case, portable light source and a coupler for PC connection.
You can purchase these wonderful devices here