Visual Inspection

Visual inspection is a nondestructive testing technique that provides a means to detect and examine a variety of surface flaws, such as corrosion, contamination, surface finish, and surface discontinuities. This article discusses the equipment used to aid visual inspection, including borescopes (rigid and flexible), optical sensors, and magnifying systems. The article discusses the special features of borescopes, the factors that influence the choice of a flexible or rigid borescope for use in a specific application, and some of the image sensors used in visual inspection.