Catastrophic failure of machinery or structures is usually expensive to repair and can pose a threat to the health and safety of workers and the public. Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) of materials, components and structures can give inspectors and technicians warnings of many potential failures before they cause problems. A videoscope is an inspection instrument that consists of a small camera mounted on a length of cable that permits inspection of internal surfaces and other features of an engine, machinery or structure without causing damage to delicate parts or the need to dismantle.

Olympus has been at the forefront of videoscope development for many decades and with the introduction of the iPlex NX industrial videoscope, the company enters a new era of precision with a unit that has a strong focus on measurement accuracy.

“The NX can be used for a broad range of applications and is the new ‘gold standard’ for videoscopes,” said Olympus product specialist Brendan Slaven. “This latest unit gives you the best of everything.”

An iPlex NX can help locate flaws that were previously undetectable, as well as streamline inspections in even the most difficult-to-reach areas. The scope combines an industry-leading high-pixel CCD chip, an ultra-bright laser diode light system delivered through the tip of the probe and the manufacturer’s unique PulsarPic processor to automatically adjust light output, to deliver the clearest images possible in changeable inspection conditions.

According to Slaven, the iPlex NX has the highest resolution of any scope on the market. “The new design and other enhancements mean the NX can accurately measure areas up to four times larger than conventional scopes,” he said. The iPlex NX also offers a unique multi Spot-Ranging function that enables real-time measurement of the distance from the scope tip to multiple points on the inspection surface. This provides real-time surface shape information with no pause or break in the inspection.

The videoscope camera can be controlled remotely by an operator while it is inserted in the cavity to be inspected. Olympus’ pioneering TrueFeel electric articulation has been enhanced with reduced mechanical lag and greater sensitivity giving the NX ultra-responsive articulation and an increased range of motion in four directions.

“The NX is also the first high-end scope with a touch screen interface,” Brendan said. “You have the choice between the touch screen or Olympus’s ergonomically designed manual controls to suit the environment and inspection application.

“The touch screen is manoeuvrable for optimised ergonomics and viewing comfort allowing for more than a dozen commonly used functions to be changed with a single touch.

The NX videoscope can be configured for a variety of inspection tasks, with 6.0 mm probes ranging in length from 3.5m to 7.5m and 4.0mm probes with lengths of 3.5m and 5m. The finer probe tip allows access to very confined spaces such as between heat exchanger tubes or turbine blades. The compact and robust construction of the NX design has achieved International Protection Rating of IP55 and complies with stringent US military standards for dust and rain resistance, as well as drop testing.

The 8.4-inch display screen has an anti-reflective daylight-view monitor, allowing accurate inspections even in direct sunlight. The smaller size makes the iPlex NX ideal for locations with limited operator access including boilers, aeroplane fuselages and engines and wind turbine gear boxes.

Post-inspection tasks such as archiving and reporting are simplified as operators can quickly recall and give titles to captured images from the NX display console. Olympus’ optional InHelp data management and reporting software automatically saves images in folders organised by inspection location. Diagnostic information can easily be added to specific images using a couple of button clicks during the inspection, which saves valuable time back in the office. If changes need to be made or results queried, images and video data—including measurements, comments and other annotations—can be edited at any stage on a PC for reporting purposes.

The iPlex models provide the latest technology in videoscope instrumentation, in line with the Olympus tradition of producing instruments that continue to be at the forefront of non-destructive testing.