Introduction: In the field of industrial inspection and maintenance, there is a tool that is like a stethoscope in the hands of a doctor, which can penetrate many obstacles and penetrate into the inner world of machinery and equipment, revealing structures and details that cannot be directly observed by the naked eye: industrial optical endoscopes. This article will introduce in detail the working principle, structural characteristics and important role of industrial optical endoscopes in practical applications.
An optical industrial endoscope is a precision instrument used for industrial non-destructive testing, which uses the principle of optical imaging to penetrate deep into the inside of the device through a slender and flexible or rigid probe to visually observe and record internal structures or defects. An optical endoscope usually consists of the following parts:
1.Probes (or objectives): The probe is equipped with a miniature optical lens on the front to capture and focus the inside view, and some probes can be bent or rotated to make it easier to navigate complex environments.
2.Optical path system: Optical endoscopes can be divided into two types: straight tube type and fiber optic type. Straight-barrel optical borescopes transmit images directly from the inside of the probe to the observation end through physical reflection or refraction; Fiber-optic endoscopes use a fiber bundle to transmit images, through which light is transmitted to the inspected area and back to form a clear image.
3.Imaging & Observation Components: In the traditional form of an optical endoscope, the image is projected directly through the eyepiece to the operator's eye. In modern optical endoscopes, it is also possible to transmit images to television monitors or digital cameras through optical path conversion technology, which is convenient for multiple people to observe and record.
4.Light source: To ensure clear imaging, optical endoscopes are often equipped with a separate or built-in light source to illuminate the area being inspected.
Industrial optical borescopes need to be designed with durability, flexibility, and image quality in mind. Its structural features include:
Robust materials: Probes and optical path systems are often made of abrasion-resistant, high-temperature, and corrosion-resistant materials to withstand a variety of harsh industrial environments.
Clear images: Clear images and rich details are ensured by optimizing the optical design and selecting high-quality optical components.
Straight or optical fiber transmission: Straight optical borescopes use a straight optical path to transmit images, which is suitable for a relatively regular and simple channel inspection environment.
Fiber-optic endoscopes, on the other hand, use fiber bundles to transmit images, which can maintain good image quality even in curved and complex paths, but may have a certain loss of image clarity and brightness compared to straight endoscopes.
Industrial optical endoscopes are widely used in aviation, automotive, energy, shipbuilding, metallurgy, electric power, rail transit and many other industries for non-destructive testing and fault diagnosis inside equipment. Specific application examples include:
Engine Inspection: Check the internal condition of cylinders, turbine blades, combustion chambers, etc., to look for wear, cracks, carbon deposits and other problems.
Pipeline inspection: clean and inspect the inside of oil and natural gas transmission pipelines and chemical equipment to find corrosion, cracks, blockages, etc.
Boiler and pressure vessel inspection: confirm the quality of welding, the degree of corrosion and the integrity of internal fittings.
Summary: As an important means of non-destructive testing, industrial optical endoscope has become an important tool for modern industrial maintenance and quality management by virtue of its unique advantages of optical imaging technology. With the development of science and technology, optical endoscopes are also constantly innovating and upgrading, expanding towards higher definition, stronger flexibility and more functions, and continue to provide more accurate and efficient detection solutions for all walks of life.
Industrial optical endoscopes