Videoscope

Remote Visual inspection (RVI) is one of the fastest screening tool and its usage is growing rapidily in the Industry. Its imperative that you choose the right tool for the right inspection. Industrial Videoscope are used for blockage detection, dents, scratches, leakages, intenal cracks, erosion of material, area loss & foreign materials. 

In general the size of the camera will depend on the area to be inspected but in this article we will limit the selection to smaller diameter cameras commonly used for turbines, pipes, pumps, valves, automotive components, covert & rescue operations. The selection of the videoscope for the visual inspection widely depends on some prime factors:  

Image Quality   

RVI is all about good image and with latest camera technology you are able to get high definition image i.e. a minimum of 1280 X 720 (HD) quality. The other important factor is screen size and in general the bigger is the better but the movement you go for larger screen you loose portability so the optimum screen size is 5 to 7 inches which ensures wider defect viewing on the screen. For classification of defects image colour is import and for getting true colours white balanced features is must. 

Adequate lighting 

Inorder to get a good image adequate lighting is paramount. Adjustable light intensity with LED’s on the tip of the probe is a good combination for capturing clear images and videos. Minimum ambient light required while doing visual inspection should be 1076 Lux as per ASME Sec V . 

Length and Diameter  

The diameter of the probe depends in the size of the insertion tube /job but a minimum of 6-8mm diameter probe is widely preferred due to its application in varied industries. Length of the probe depends on the jobs to be inspected for example for a turbine inspection 2-3 meters probe length is sufficient on other hand for other industrial inspection 6-8 meters is acceptable. 

Probe Safety  

Temperature sensors on the probe tip with warning on screen is desirable as entering the Job with unknown temperature could damage the probe which is the most expensive part of the equipment.  

Articulation and Field of view 

A minimum articulation of 120 degree by the probe is essential to be able to cover the maximum area of the job . Equipment which have a four-way (up/down/right/left) or 360 degree articulation help in better inspection and capturing clear image and videos. A minimum field of View (FOV) of 90 degree is essential so that the operator can see a wider look at the areas to be inspected. 

Image Storage, Sharing & annotation 

Equipment with low storage capability are not compatible for continuous inspection. Hence it is essential to have good storage capability to store HD images and videos. With latest technology its possible to share live data on other devices/sceens which is helpful in quick decision making. Is mandatory to have image annotations to the images so that important points and remarks can easily be noted and stored for later reference . 

Equipment Weight 

When it comes to inspection at Elevated heights , the equipment weight plays a key role. Higher the weight ,more difficult it will be for the operator to strap it on while doing inspection and hence lighter videoscopes with essential features should be selected.

Battery Life  

Videoscopes with low battery life affect the continuous inspection for longer hours and waste a lot of operator’s time in recharging and using again. Hence the optimum operation time of 4-5 hours must be taken into consideration while selecting a videoscope. 

Ergonomics  
In order to reduce operators, fatigue It is important that joystick for probe control should not be attached to the screen helping the user to operate the probe smoothly.  

In order to reduce operators, fatigue It is important that joystick for probe control should not be fixed to the screen helping the operator to use the probe and visualize the image simultaneously.  

Also, the equipment should be user friendly, preferably touch screen with control buttons on the left side of the screen so that the operator can easily navigate the features while doing continuous rigorous inspection through Joystick control in right hand.

We offer Industrial Videoscopes from M/s. Infinity Innovation GMBH, Germany who is driven by a passion for innovation and has accumulated wide range of industry