Borescope?

[flyguy]

Accidentally ran across this while looking at Nikon microscopes on eBay. Maybe usable with a portable computer/laptop, whatever. I like the price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7mm-Inspection-Camera-Scope-USB-Digital-Endoscope-Borescope-Waterproof-2M-TE15/400488806364?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D8583804848875498938%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D250814743667%26#shId

Gee hope no one has to copy that. Ah, OK, didn't print the ENTIRE link. LOL

DC

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Borescope?

They had A LOT of them for sale when I checked. I ordered one and will let all know if they are worth it. Sure would be nice if it would fit through the drain hole in a lift strut. ;-)

Hank

[flyguy]

Re: Borescope?

I have been vacillating on buying one even at that price as I don't own a portable computer of any kind. Didn't ad say it is 7 mm diameter? Good to go on spark plug holes for sure.

[M Towsley]

Re: Borescope?

Unless someone drilled out your drain hole it won't even be close. I have a 6mm VOscope video stick that works well for the strut attachment point but definitely not the strut drain holes.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Borescope?

I wasn't really serious. I think you could get it in the adjuster hole of the small strut, but it would be hard to see the strut condition since it is looking down the length, not sideways at the interior.
I think if it works it will still be nice for looking in cylinders through the plug holes and especially for looking behind the panel.

Hank

[vetdrem]

Re: Borescope?

I ordered one of these when the original post came out. It came in today. What a nice tool. I have been showing it off to the group at the airport, and they all wanted the info to order one for themselves.

All the comments about the strut inspections are correct, but it is a lot easier to use then the $180 dollar scope that I got from ATS (on sale) and this one takes pictures and movies.

GREAT TOOL FOR A GREAT PRICE

Louie

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Borescope?

Just got mine too. I need to load the software. This is going to make working behind the instrument panel a LOT easier!
Hank

Now how can I make a bracket to hang it from the headliner to shoot out the front and show the instrument panel in flight? The thing is TINY! But it sure isn't going into a drain hole. ;-)

[cvavon]

Re: Borescope?

I also ordered one also loaded it on old lap top and it will do a lot of the inspections on the air plane that are hard to see like inside the wing and the engine, also around the tail end of the fuselage.Is a very good tool for the price. Also the company that made it has a web site with all kinds of different cameras.

[flyguy]

Re: Borescope?

Any interesting variations on the type of portable equipment (computer or?) that you guys are checking the 'scope out with?

Think I will pass this on to my old Chevy Camaro hotrod forum. I'm real pleased that it turned out to be a usable product. Unfortunately I only have a couple of desktop computers and no portable of any type. I still might buy one anyway; can't resist a scientific device/tool at a bargain price. Chuckle.
DC

[Marv]

Re: Borescope?

Flyguy i am in the same situation, but i already ordered one. Buy a $22 item because it seems to be a deal, then spend $400 or more so yhou can use it. LOL Marv

[cvavon]

Re: Borescope?

Will run on windows XP Vista and win7 also Mac I have it on a desk top with Win7 and a lap top that is XP works grate on both. At the air port today with it and a friend is building an experimental had a micro switch up in side the gear well and with your eye you could not read the print on it with the scope was plain as day and large easy to read is a grate tool I can't wait to use it in the wing on 26658 will do a grate spar inspection.

[flyguy]

Re: Borescope?

I finally bought two of these. At about the same time I got a tablet computer for another project, but it turns out (DUH) that the software will only run on XP and similar OSes. So anyway couldn't resist the temptation to fire one of them up. Used my desktop and looked inside the water jacket of a 350 chevy vortec head that I had ported some time back. Here is the photo it took.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Borescope?

Pretty good quality. I have a photo just like that from my last Colonoscopy! Looks like there may be a way to recover the cost of a laptop to use it with.
Hank

Maybe we could subcontract out to TSA. ;-)

[skip]

Re: Borescope? Software on Linux

OK, I read the thread and had to break down and order one. For anyone not interested in software for the little boroscope, you can stop now.

I am usually cautious about purchasing parts like this because I have the advantage (disadvantage?) that I do not run Windows. I am an old Unix guy, and all my systems run Linux. But it was sooooo cheap.

Today, I got a break from painting the wing fittings for my right wing rebuild on N34237 to open a package from ebay. There was the little boroscope/microscope/endoscope and a little CD of (I suppose) Windows software.

Long story short, the thing works out of the box on a modern Linux desktop. The software used is "guvcview".

On my Fedora 19 desktop and laptop, I fetched guvcview with "sudo yum install guvcview" (Ubunto users will fetch with apt-get rather than yum...)
and about a minute and a half later, I was scanning around my desk, inside the drawers, inside my mouth (so THAT's what that gold crown looks like)...

Tomorrow morning, the laptop and the new toy will go to the hanger and take a tour of the gas tank. I wave been wondering what the finger screen looked like and didn't want to tear apart a working gas tank. This thing will get a lot of use!

I can't really help anyone with "I only have Windows 3.1 and not Windows XP" type questions, but for anyone using linux, the thing just works.
For what its worth...

Skip Egdorf
BC12D sn 7700 N34237

[flyguy]

Re: Borescope? Software on Linux

I thought this might be appropriate here. I had some other uses for one so I shopped online for a Notebook computer that could be used with the borescope camera. I found a Dell site online and that has a huge offering of "factory refurbished" units. Found one that had the characteristics that I wanted and did the bid thing on it and won the bid.

I should mention here that I have not been a big enthusiast for Dell computers, mostly because they had a habit of making them to not work with standard PC add-on components from say your local Fry's electronics. I have one of their older Desktops on my electronics workbench.

Well I have to change my opinion somewhat; This unit is quite nice. It seems pretty much like other notebooks I have seen. They did put a plastic stick-on sheet on the back of the display section to cover scratches, but it looks durable and the entire unit gives the appearance of being new.

It has Windows 7, which I like only a little less than XP (it has it's good points too), a fast processor, plenty of memory and hard drive capacity. Came with an excellent serious looking AC adapter/charger.

I paid $220 for it and shipping was free. The unit was packed in a custom package, not just thrown in a box. Very professional. Unit was exactly as described.

I am extremely happy with the purchase and I anyone is considering getting one to use for this and additional applications Dell's refurbished store seems to be the best deal I have seen.