Inspection without disassembly: the USA Borescopes technical approach
During an interview at ASNT 2025, one of the most important events in the inspection industry, Bill French, sales specialist at USA Borescopes, explained how non-destructive visual inspection technology is transforming maintenance and technical diagnostics processes in highly demanding industries.
The protagonist of this transformation is the borescope, a portable device with a micro-camera at the tip that allows internal inspections without the need to dismantle equipment. This solution, increasingly adopted by sectors such as aviation and power generation, provides agility, savings and visual technical evidence.
What is a borescope and how does it work?
The borescope is a remote visual inspection tool with a micro-camera mounted on the end of a flexible cable; this camera transmits images in real time, and allows recording photographs or video of the interior of machinery, engines or closed systems.
Unlike traditional inspections, this equipment avoids disassembly of components, the cable is only introduced through an opening or technical access and the operator can precisely observe hard-to-reach areas.
This type of inspection is considered non-destructive, as it does not affect the integrity of the equipment being inspected. The operator can detect cracks, accumulations of debris, corrosion or structural defects without altering the operation of the system.
Key applications in critical industries
As Bill French explained, the use of borescope is especially valued in industries where access to internal components involves high cost, risk or prolonged downtime.
One of the main sectors is aviation and aerospace, where inspectors use this equipment to check aircraft engines, hydraulic systems and other components without disassembling sensitive parts.
Another industry that uses it intensively is the power generation industry, in both nuclear plants and wind farms. In the latter case, for example, the gearboxes of wind turbines are periodically inspected according to protocols based on the number of operating hours.
In addition, manufacturing and foundry companies use these devices to verify the internal quality of manufactured parts, ensuring that there are no defects before delivery to the end customer.
Technical decisions with visual support
Beyond the technological aspect, the true usefulness of the borescope is manifested in the support it offers to the maintenance or inspection professional.
By recording images and videos of the inside of the equipment, the technician can justify with clear evidence why he recommends a specific intervention, either to perform a repair or to avoid unnecessary work.
This ability to document the actual system status optimizes resources, while building trust between supplier and customer by basing decisions on objective visual evidence.
Value for the industry
The equipment of USA Borescopes represent a relevant tool in the modernization of technical inspection processes, since their application in sectors such as aviation, energy and manufacturing allows reducing costs, minimizing downtime and making decisions based on accurate visual information.
The combination of advanced technology, ease of use and versatility has positioned the borescope as an essential resource for professionals seeking efficiency, safety and reliability in their diagnostics.
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Source: Inspenet.
