How to Choose a Borescope

How to Choose the Right Borescope Videoscope
Inspection Camera for Your Application

Table of Contents:

What Is a Borescope?
A Brief History of Borescope
What Is Borescope Used For?
Things to Consider When Choosing a Borescope
Types of Borescopes

Articulating Borescope

Vividia VC-38 Borescope

In this article, we hope to shed some light on the uses of the borescope, how to identify which borescope best suit your purposes, and what are the best devices on the market right now.

What Is a Borescope?

A borescope is an optical device consisting of a rigid or flexible tube with an eyepiece or digital display (built-in LCD or computer/device) on one end, and an objective lens or camera on the other linked together by an optical or electrical system in between. This tool is also known as an inspection camera or a videoscope.

A Brief History of Borescope

While your eyesight is probably the most critical sense used in diagnosing and repairing vehicles, it is often not powerful enough on its own to see the full picture in every circumstance. Scientists and machinists have developed several new technologies in order to address this issue, and that is where borescope come into play. The first borescope, called endoscope, were actually employed in the field of medicine. Doctors needed precise instruments with narrow tubes and enhanced vision to examine the inside of organs for surgical procedures. As time passed, aviation mechanics soon recognized the use of medical endoscopes in their own practices. They began phasing them into their own routine maintenance and diagnostic works. New technological developments have advanced features like articulation, small probe sizes, or image and video capture that aid technicians even more during inspections. These innovations save time and effort, direct visual inspection, help technicians find root causes more quickly, and make communication easier with pictures and videos. You no longer need to tear parts apart to discover what’s wrong. Built for durability and equipped with a much more affordable price tag, borescope are now the go-to device for aviation and automotive inspection.

What Is Borescope Used For?

Borescope helps to see into places that are normally impossible to see into with the naked eye or that require destruction or dismantling to find a problem otherwise. Simply put, borescoping is an sometimes completely necessary way or an inexpensive and labor efficient way to diagnose problems. Borescopes are used in many industries and applications, from diagnosing simple problems in one’s home to industry applications in industrial, automotive, aviation, home inspection, plumbing, HVAC, and other.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Borescope

Application: Your application will determine the features your borescope will require.
Probe Diameter: The diameter size will be factored by the size of the bore or opening that you will be looking into. Smaller diameters have the advantage of getting into smaller and tighter spaces. The disadvantage of the smaller diameter in some cases are that they may be less brighter due to the smaller probe housing. Small diameter borescopes are also generally more expensive.
Probe Length: This is an important thing to check for when considering which borescope to buy, as it could be critical for your specific use. The standard length for a lot of borescopes is 1 meter, but greater lengths are available for certain models. Borescopes typically range from 1 meter all the way up to 30 meters and above. If probes are too short, consider kits that include extensions.
Articulation: Some jobs and applications may require an articulating tip. An articulating borescope is one that bends at an angle to turn the camera head back using a mechanism such as a swivel, by pressing, or even using a joystick. Depending on the borescope, some tips can be bent in one direction, some bend two ways, and there are also multi directional borescopes which can bend from 90 degrees to one hundred degrees, Some can swivel, and allow for a 360 degree sweep.
Dual Camera: Dual camera features both a front facing camera and a side camera to look either ahead or from the side at a 90 degree angle.
Camera Resolution: could also be affected by the size. Larger diameter borescopes are brighter and normally have higher resolutions than the smaller ones. Small diameter borescopes are also generally more expensive due to the technology limitations and cost to produce quality images with very small cameras.
Focus Range: Some cameras are calibrated to look at objects closer up, while others are designed to see farther away and with a greater depth of field to clearly view a larger area.
Screen Display: How images are displayed in real-time. Borescopes presently carry three main options for screen display: USB, LCD screen, and wireless through a Wi-Fi signal. USB borescopes require connection to a PC or other outside screen through a USB cord to display images. Wireless borescopes work like USB borescopes in that they also need a computer, phone, or tablet, but instead of a USB cord, they connect to the outside device through a Wi-Fi signal. On the other hand, borescopes equipped with their own LCD screens do not require any other devices to run.
Visual: Many of the probes on the market can take digital photos, and some even include video capture functions. Devices with a removable media card will also let you transport and move images or video clips to a computer, which can be incredibly handy if you want to share these files with other people.
Ingress Protection: Some applications require the camera probe to be water resistant or waterproof. Moisture can certainly damage electronic components such as cameras. Consider this when choosing a scope for your specific application.
Cost: Borescopes now range from $30 super cheapo cameras from e-commerce site to tens of thousands of dollars on the higher end. Try to find a comfortable range in buying a scope that does not sacrifice quality, but also does not compromise your budget.

Types of Borescopes

USB Digital Borescope: A borescope that is equipped with a USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity that lets users use their phones or computer screens as a monitor. Users’ devices work in place of a physical monitor attached to the borescope itself, which makes it easier for users to download images and videos and often also opens the door for more complex functions (which are available on the app needed to run this technology).
LCD Screen Borescope: A borescope that comes equipped with a built-in LCD screen for viewing without a separate device.
Articulating Borescope: A borescope which is able to make full turns, perfect for use in difficult-to-access chambers. Each of these borescopes are suited to function in several different environments, and this versatility is incredibly useful when working in the automotive services industry. Since technicians often encounter many distinct challenges, a wide range of borescopes are necessary to ensure both the efficient completion of a task and the longevity of the instrument’s life.
Dual Camera Borescope: A borescope that has two different camera lenses allow users to switch between two different views (for example, forward view and side view) with an easy push of a button. Such technology minimizes the need for a 90-degree or 180-degree articulating tip, which is useful for areas which such movement would be limited or impossible.