ViewTech Adds 3D Measurement to VJ-4 Video Borescope Line
ViewTech Borescopes has added three-dimensional measurement to its VJ-4 line of video borescopes, a step the Michigan company says lets inspectors size up defects such as cracks and corrosion at the point of inspection rather than back at a desk.
The company announced the 3D Measurement VJ-4 Video Borescope on July 16, describing it as a portable, hand-held instrument that captures measurements in real time while an operator snakes a thin camera probe into engines, turbines, pipes and other closed structures. ViewTech is based in Traverse City, Michigan, and sells the VJ line as the exclusive North American distributor.
Video borescopes are a form of remote visual inspection, one of the more common methods in nondestructive testing. The idea is to examine a part for damage without cutting it open or pulling it out of service. Trade group ASNT describes nondestructive testing as evaluating materials and assemblies without harming them, using tools that help inspectors find flaws that would otherwise stay hidden. A borescope extends that reach into spots a person cannot see directly.
What is new in this release is the ability to put numbers on what the camera finds. According to ViewTech, the 3D measurement system supports eight functions, including straight-line length, depth, area, angle and surface angle, along with a depth profile that maps how a surface rises and falls across a cross section. An inspector can outline the boundary of a corroded area to estimate its size or gauge how deep a pit or crack runs, then decide on the spot whether a part passes or needs repair.
The measurement models come in 3.9mm and 6.0mm probe diameters, each offered in front-view and side-view configurations. Insertion tubes are available in lengths of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 meters. The unit carries a 5.5-inch OLED touchscreen and a full high-definition camera, and it can be run with mini-joysticks or by touch. Onboard file management, optional Wi-Fi and compatibility with the company's ODIN report software let operators log images and build inspection reports.
"The addition of 3D measurement technology empowers our customers to make faster, more informed maintenance decisions right at the inspection site," said Duncan White, ViewTech's director of sales and marketing, in the announcement.
ViewTech markets the tool to aerospace, aviation, power generation, manufacturing, automotive, oil and gas, and general industrial maintenance. Common tasks in those fields include checking for foreign object damage in a jet engine, weld defects in a pressure vessel or coating loss inside a pipe. Being able to measure a flaw without disassembly can cut the time and cost of a teardown, a selling point the company stresses across its catalog.
The launch fits a pattern for ViewTech, which has built its business on probe articulation controlled by a joystick and on ergonomics aimed at technicians who run inspections all day. As the company notes in its company history, it began in 2008 as RF System Lab, introducing the original joystick-articulated VJ borescope, and rebranded to ViewTech Borescopes in 2018 after moving to larger quarters. It says it now serves more than 2,000 companies and calls itself the top seller of video borescopes in North America.
Buyers can request a free on-site or virtual demonstration through the company, which also rents units and offers a loaner program during warranty service. The VJ-4 measurement models ship with four rechargeable batteries, a 64GB card and a carrying case.
About ViewTech Borescopes: Founded in 2008 as RF System Lab and based in Traverse City, Michigan, ViewTech Borescopes sells joystick-controlled video borescopes for remote visual inspection across industrial, commercial and military markets. It is the exclusive United States and Canada distributor of the VJ product line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 3D measurement add to the VJ-4 borescope?
It lets an inspector measure a defect while the probe is still inside the part, in real time. The system supports eight functions, including length, depth, area, angle, surface angle and a depth profile, so an operator can estimate the size of corrosion or the depth of a crack without removing or disassembling the component.
What sizes and configurations does it come in?
The 3D measurement models are offered in 3.9mm and 6.0mm probe diameters, each available in front-view and side-view versions. Insertion tubes come in 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 meter lengths, and the unit uses a 5.5-inch OLED touchscreen with a full high-definition camera.
Which industries is the tool aimed at?
ViewTech markets it to aerospace, aviation, power generation, manufacturing, automotive, oil and gas, and general industrial maintenance. Typical uses include inspecting for foreign object damage in engines, weld defects, erosion and coating loss inside equipment that is hard to reach.
Can buyers try it before purchasing?
Yes. ViewTech offers free on-site and virtual demonstrations, rents units, and provides a free loaner program during warranty service. The measurement models ship with four rechargeable batteries, a 64GB card and a carrying case.