Power-Gen International to Showcase Remote Visual Inspection Equipment

September 2, 2010 – 6:32 pm

Power gen international

The Power-Gen International conference and trade show will be held this year December 14-16 at the Orange County Convention Center. Once again Nuclear Power International will be co-located with Power-Gen International. If you’re doing business in the nuclear or fossil power sector, this is where you need to be.

Remote Visual Inspection at Electric Power PlantsThis year several exhibitors will have a wide variety of borescopes, videoscopes, pipe inspection cameras and thermal cameras available for attendees to try out and review. The Power-Gen show will be a perfect opportunity for power plants from around the world to view the latest remote visual inspection technology and products. Anyone that has on going need in interest for borescopes, videoscopes, pipe inspection cameras and thermal cameras should attend the Power-Gen Show in Orlando, Florida this year. Anyone with a remote visual inspection application will be able to visit with several manufacturers and discuss their application all under one roof.

Advanced Inspection Technologies inc. (AIT) is proud to be exhibiting at the Power-Gen show this year and will have a large selection of remote visual inspection equipment on display. AIT plans to exhibit their wide selection of borescopes, videoscopes, pipe cameras, infrared and thermal cameras as well as foreign object retrieval tools. Advanced Inspection Technologies will be located at booth # 4076 and is looking forward to demonstrating their products and discussing applications with customers. Read More »

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Borescope Rentals, Borescopes, Foreign Material Exclusion, Industry Events, Pipe Inspection Cameras, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Video Borescope used at Coca Cola Bottling company

August 17, 2010 – 11:27 am

Bottling Gripper

A 6 millimeter Video borescope was used to inspect a Krones bottling machine. This particular Krones machine rotates at a maximum speed of 800 bottles per/minute. It bottles the sports drink powerade. The clearance between the base of the machine and the rotating section is approximately six millimeters.The Initial problem was discovered when metal shavings were found inside one the port holes due to an imbalance. The video borescope was inserted inside one of the port holes to find the point of contact. Still images were captured along with video of the borescope inspection.

By Thomas Donohoe | Posted in Applications, Borescope Rentals, Borescopes, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Rentals, Video Borescopes, Videoscope Rentals, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Rigid Borescope used to inspect Piper aircraft wing

August 12, 2010 – 10:26 pm

Borescope of Piper Aircraft WingA 2.7 millimeter rigid borescope is being used to inspect cracks inside of Piper aircraft wings. These cracks need to be inspected per FAA regulations and guidelines. Currently Piper is seeking certification to use visual borescope testing as a method of inspection. Cracks form on the wings at the rivot points and can be as small as twenty thousands of an inch or smaller. If a crack is found, the rivot is drilled out, and the rigid borescope inserted in the hole to determine the width and depth. It is essential that at least a ninety percent probability rate of detection must be acheived for certification to be approved.

By Thomas Donohoe | Posted in Borescopes, Micro Borescopes, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Video Borescopes, Videoscope Rentals, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Video Borescopes Get Smaller and Offer More

July 24, 2010 – 2:16 pm

Portable hand held video borescopes can now fit in your pocket. A video borescope is designed for industrial, automotive, HVAC, aircraft, welding, law enforcement and other applications. These new hand held video borescope can inspect the interior of castings, machined parts, aircraft, HVAC ducts, pipe, tubes, welds, automotive components and other parts that were previously impossible to inspect.

Portable Video Borescopes

New Cobra-Scope™ Fits in Your Pocket

The new portable hand held video borescopes can weigh in at only 1 pound (.5 Kg) and can snake through incredible small accesses as small as 4.5mm (.177 inch). Video borescopes are now breaking barriers of such portability while offering a true high-resolution image and advanced features. The smaller, more affordable and feature rich video borescopes will be a welcome tool for remote visual inspection professionals across a wide range of industries.

The new video borescopes offers users a variety of useful features: A tough aluminum molded hand piece offers a durable system, high resolution 1/18″ CMOS imager for the clearest images, water proof probe length is constructed from flexible stainless steel and PVC goose-neck for durability, a brilliant adjustable LED light illuminates the area being inspected, still images and up to one hour of video can be recorded on the removable SD memory card, law enforcement will be able to take advantage of the motion sensor that automatically starts recording and the internal battery can be recharged for 4 hours of continuous operation.

Video borescopes are designed for industrial remote visual inspection at power generation, petrochemical, process, food and pharmaceutical plants. Law enforcement officials and other professionals will also find the portability and features of the new video borescope useful. Applications include: HVAC, industrial and commercial pipes, rotating machinery, aircraft, castings, quality control, law enforcement and drug traffic interdiction.

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Borescopes, Video Borescopes, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Remote Visual Inspection Tools Defined

July 6, 2010 – 1:58 pm
Rigid Borescopes

Rigid Borescopes

• Rigid Borescopes

A borescope is not flexible, generally inexpensive and provides a superior image. A rigid borescope, Boroscope or bore scope is an industrial tool best suited to inspection of automotive cylinders, aircraft turbine engine or a rifle bore. A borescope may be used with a video camera to record digital images and video. AIT also offers borescope rentals.


Micro Borescope

Micro Borescope

• Micro Borescopes

A micro borescope is typically flexible or semi-rigid; these mini borescope instruments are super thin and designed for the absolute smallest inspection access.  Micro borescopes can be as small as 0.35 mm in diameter. A micro borescope or mini boroscope is best suited to inspection of small manufactured components such as castings, turbine cooling holes and other Parts with very limited access.

Fiberscope, flexible borescope

Fiberscope

• Fiberscopes

A fiberscope is a flexible fiber optic bundle with an eyepiece and a lens. A fiberscope, flexible borescope, or fiber optic borescope flexes around tight corners and the fiberscope has the ability to articulate the distal end. High fiber optic content in a flexible fiberscope is critical to provide the highest possible resolution to the viewer. AIT also offers Fiberscope Rentals.

Videoscope

• Videoscopes

A Videoscope or Video Borescope is an advanced type of flexible borescope that houses a very small CCD in the end of the video scope. Image quality of a videoscope or video probe is excellent. A videoscope is normally 4.0 to 8.0 mm or in diameter and comes in lengths up to 50 ft. A videoscope, video borescope, videoprobe, video scope or video probe offers digital image capture or recording. Other advanced features may also be included with a videoscope. AIT also offers Videoscope Rentals.

Pipe camera, push camera, pipe inspection camera

Pipe Camera

• Pipe Inspection Cameras

A pipe inspection camera, push camera or push rod camera is a straight view video camera at the end of a semi-rigid push rod. A push camera or pipe camera easily inspects 30 mm diameter pipes and larger up to 200 feet. A push rod camera or pipe camera head contains adjustable LED lights and a flexible “goose-neck” for getting around corners. Push cameras or pipe cameras are typically used to inspect long industrial lines or pipes that can be hundreds of feet long. Push & pipe cameras typically have the capability to record digital images for later review of inspections. AIT also offers Pipe Camera Rentals.

thermal cameras, infrared cameras

Thermal Camera

• Thermal Cameras

Thermography is the use of an infrared camera to view thermal energy emitted from an object. Infrared thermal cameras allow us to see infrared or “heat” radiation and provide precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities. Practically, all industrial systems get hot before they fail and a thermal camera or infrared camera allows inspectors to see problems before they occur. A thermal imaging camera is an extremely cost-effective diagnostic tool for many industrial applications. Infrared cameras help the predictive maintenance industry improve manufacturing efficiency, manage energy, improve product quality, and improve worker safety. AIT also offers Thermal Camera Rentals.

FME, foreign material exclusion

Motorized Alligator Jaws

• Foreign Material Exclusion

Industrial plants on the cutting edge of technology use foreign material search and retrieval to ensure a safe start up. A good Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) program not only prevents but is also prepared to locate and retrieve foreign material from your industrial system.



By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Borescopes, Fiberscopes, Infrared Cameras, Micro Borescopes, Pipe Inspection Cameras, Push Cameras, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Video Borescopes, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

ASNT Lists Remote Visual Inspection Sources

June 17, 2010 – 12:28 pm
Remote Visual Inspection Vendors

ASNT Lists Remote Visual Inspection Vendors

The American Society of Non Destructive Testing (ASNT) website offers a list of remote visual inspection vendors that provide borescopes, videoscopes and fiberscopes. The online NDT Buyers guide lists 18 categories for visual and optical testing. Dozens of remote visual inspection vendors can be found from around the world. The ASNT is an excellent source to find the best vendors for equipment such as borescopes, fiberscopes and videoscopes. A quick visit will place end users in touch with a wide variety of remote visual inspection choices.

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Borescopes, Fiberscopes, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Offshore Oil Rigs Use Videoscopes For Remote Visual Inspection

May 31, 2010 – 1:04 pm
videoscopes inspection on oil rig

Industrial Videoscopes Inspect Offshore Oil Rigs

Remote visual inspection is a critical part of ensure that an offshore oil rig is operating safely and efficiently. An offshore oil rig is constructed with miles of industrial pipe line, motors, valves, turbines, diesel engines and rotating machinery. It is critical that these and other operating systems on these platforms are inspected routinely for condition. Industrial videoscopes or video borescopes are the best method to inspect the various components.

Videoscopes are typically used to inspect the internal condition of pipes. Engineers will look for pitting, cracking corrosion, scale and other defects with an industrial videoscope. Turbines and other rotating machinery can be inspected for condition using a videoscope to snake into the small accesses. Valves can be inspected with a videoscope for internal condition and and defect that may impair safe and efficient operation. Safety and efficiency are both improved greatly on offshore oil rigs with the use of videoscopes.

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Applications, Borescopes, Pipe Inspection Cameras, Push Cameras, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Video Borescopes, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Satellites Require Videoscope Inspection

May 30, 2010 – 11:55 am

The manufacture of expensive and complex communication satellites need to be thoroughly inspection with videoscopes. Any potential defect or foreign debris needs to be discovered for a space satellite to function properly. A videoscope can be snaked through tubes and behind electronic panels to check for problems before the construction is completed. Typically it is impossible to reach inside these small accesses to visually inspect for problems. Videoscopes are small enough to snake behind panels or be pushed through tubes as small as 4.0mm and as long as 50 ft.

Advanced Videoscopes Inspect Satellites

Satellites Need Videoscope Inspections

Without videoscope inspection of these critical areas defect may go unnoticed and foreign debris may be inadvertently left inside the critical components of the satellite. A small defect such as a hairline crack could easily cause system failure. Foreign debris such as a small tie wrap needs to be removed or the object may “float” in zero gravity and cause a short between electronic components. Videoscopes are available in a range of length, diameters and directions of view to meet multiple applications.

Before a satellite is packed and launched into space manufacturers ensure that they have completed a thorough remote visual inspection of the entire system using the most modern videoscopes available.

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Applications, Borescopes, Foreign Material Exclusion, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

What is Remote Visual Inspection?

May 14, 2010 – 1:57 am

The industry called Remote Visual Inspection (RVI).  Remote Visual Inspection tools allow people to visually inspect areas they have no easy access to.  This could be as simple as an oil passage in a casting or a 50,000 gallon fermentation tank.

This industry has evolved quickly over the past 10 years as products have evolved and more users across more industries started to use the equipment.  This has happened for two big reasons:

  1. The price of the instruments have come down as more suppliers have entered the market, and
  2. Corporate/business practices have dictated that more efficient means of maximizing plant output be achieved.
push camera or pipe camera

Push Camera

As example, a rolling mill, be it aluminum or steel, could have hundreds of large gear boxes on their rolling lines.  These gear boxes are large and expensive.  The rolling process is not easily stopped and started.  If there is suspicion that one of the gear boxes might have some problems, the maintenance or production group used to have limited options (hope it works until next scheduled outage/shutdown.  By using RVI, it is possible to take a quick look inside the equipment to assess how bad any damage may be.  This is called Predictive Maintenance, or Preventive Maintenance (PPM). Read More »

By John Sullivan | Posted in Applications, Borescopes, Fiberscopes, Pipe Inspection Cameras, Push Cameras, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Video Borescopes, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

How To Select A Borescope: Diameter

April 16, 2010 – 5:50 pm

The diameter of a borescope, fiberscope or videoscope is probably the first and easiest specification to be determined when selecting the most appropriate remote visual inspection instrument. With a clear understanding of inner dimensions of the area that needs to be accessed choose an instrument that will be able to navigate and wind its way to the inspection point with ease. Keep in mind the 90 degree bends will typically require a 2 to 1 ratio of area being navigated, such as the inner diameter of a pipe to the outer diameter of the Borescope, Fiberscope or videoscope.

A borescope that has the optimum diameter for your application will not only result the best borescope inspection images but will be easy to use and and resist damage. A thorough understanding of your borescope application will give you confidence that the borescope instrument selected will perform the remote visual inspection requirements in the most efficient manner.

By Paul Fitzgerald | Posted in Borescopes, Fiberscopes, Remote Visual Inspection Knowledge, Videoscopes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)