Full Product Manual

MANIPULATING THE ARTICULATING PROBE

Next, get used to manipulating the articulating probe. Typically, borescope users insert

their probe into an orifice (a hole in a wall or an engine’s cylinder, for example) or into

an inaccessible or hazardous area (the back or an equipment rack or an engine

compartment, for example) to view components or environments that would otherwise

be invisible. Compared to an obedient probe, your soft metal articulating probe is more

flexible, but it does not retain its shape. Its obvious advantage is articulation. Using the

articulation control wheel (Fig. 2, Callout 7), you can turn the probe tip to inspect targets

off the main axis of the probe while it is in a tight space, without having to remove and

re-insert the probe.

The articulation control wheel allows you to bend the tip of the probe up to 155° to the

left or right. To bend the tip to the left, rotate the wheel counterclockwise (see photos

below left). To bend the tip to the right, rotate the wheel clockwise (see photos below

right).

To lock the tip of the probe into its bent position, move the

red lever below the control wheel to the left (see photo at right).

Remember to unlock the probe tip (by moving the red lever

to the right) before using the control wheel to move it again.

Be aware that your application environment may limit how

much you can articulate the probe. For example, if you are

inspecting a 1 in. diameter pipe, you will be unable to bend

the probe tip more than a few degrees; any more would

bring the tip into contact with the pipe's inside wall. The

relevant P18HPART specification is that 2 in. (50mm) of

clearance is required for 90° articulation (in either direction).

In many cases—inspecting the interior of an engine

cylinder, for example (see photo at right)—adequate

clearance will not be an issue. In fact, the ±155° articulation

range enables “look back” inspections of intake and exhaust

valves from within the cylinder.