INTERTEST CUSTOM ENGINEERING SOLUTION
STAINLESS STEEL
30 m PUSH CAMERA
& ADJUSTABLE CENTERING DEVICE
Versatile, robust, and wide-FOV camera for tube ID inspection
At a Glance
CHALLENGE
What needed to be overcome?
- Inspect the internal surfaces of manufactured piping
- Replace a legacy camera system with up-to-date technology
- Reduce the number of fixture changes during inspections
DEVELOPMENT
What needed to be designed?
- An adjustable, robust centering fixture along with a separate fixed centering
- An upgraded pan/tilt camera system with a push rod reel
- Improved white LED lighting
SOLUTION
What was the end product?
- A custom-designed, adjustable centering ring to fit in 3-6" IDs
- Fixed centering rings for smaller diameters
- The high-resolution VISIOPROBE VP28X Pan/Tilt Camera
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THE CHALLENGE
A machining and manufacturing customer that produces stainless steel tubing needed to internally inspect their products for surface defects, cleanliness, and foreign object debris before delivery. Pipe sizes range from 2 to 20 inches in inner diameter and can extend up to 60 feet in length, making consistent internal inspection time-consuming and challenging.
The customer relied on a legacy camera and centering system that InterTest designed decades earlier. While effective in its time, the system lacked modern imaging performance, improved lighting, and the flexibility to center reliably across a wide range of pipe diameters. They required an upgraded inspection solution that reduced fixture changes, improved image quality, and increased inspection efficiency.
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DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION
InterTest collaborated with the customer to evolve their existing inspection approach rather than replace it outright. The team selected the VisioProbe VP28X camera head paired with a 30-meter push rod reel, chosen for its improved lighting, higher resolution, long reach, and wide field of view—allowing operators to inspect larger pipe sections per pass.
The primary custom engineering effort focused on camera centering. InterTest designed an adjustable centering device capable of expanding from 3 to 6 inches ID, using wheel-based expansion controlled by threaded locking rings. To address smaller pipe sizes, the team developed fixed-diameter centering sleeves in 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, and 2.75 inches, produced via custom 3D printing using non-abrasive materials to protect pipe surfaces.
This hybrid approach minimized fixture swaps while maintaining accurate camera alignment across the full inspection range.
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THE SOLUTION
The final inspection system provides Grand Valley Manufacturing with a modern, versatile pipe inspection platform optimized for quality control. The upgraded camera delivers improved lighting, resolution, and field of view, reducing inspection time while increasing defect detection confidence.
Custom centering devices ensure smooth, centered camera travel through pipe IDs from 2 to 6 inches, while the push rod system enables single-pass inspections up to 30 meters. By modernizing a proven inspection workflow with updated imaging and adaptable centering hardware, InterTest delivered a solution that improves efficiency, reduces operator effort, and supports Grand Valley’s stringent manufacturing standards.
Project Results
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Adjustable centering system reduces fixture changes across wide pipe diameter ranges
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Improved lighting and wider field of view increase inspection speed and accuracy
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Modernized inspection platform supports reliable quality control for critical tubing applications
