The borescope and an endoscope are both inspection tools that let you see into places that are otherwise hard to access, but they’re designed for different applications and have some key differences.
Borescope – Primarily for industrial inspection of machinery, pipes, engines, turbines, and other mechanical or structural areas.
Endoscope – Primarily for medical examination of the human or animal body (though the term can be used in veterinary and some industrial contexts).
| Feature | Borescope | Endoscope |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Available as rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible. | Almost always flexible for navigating body passages. |
| Diameter | Usually larger (4–20 mm) for mechanical inspection. | Much smaller (as little as 1–5 mm) to fit into body cavities. |
| Length | Can be very long (up to several meters) for industrial needs. | Usually shorter (a few cm to 2 m) depending on medical use. |
| Durability | Rugged, resistant to oil, dust, water, and mechanical wear. | Medical-grade, sterilizable, but not built for abrasive environments. |
Borescope – Often uses LEDs at the tip for illumination in dark machinery interiors; image quality ranges from basic to high-definition.
Endoscope – Uses specialized medical optics and sometimes fiber optics for high-resolution, clear images; may include channels for surgical tools or suction.
Borescope – No strict sterilization standards; designed to resist harsh chemicals and mechanical debris.
Endoscope – Must meet strict medical safety and sterilization protocols to avoid cross-contamination.
Borescope:
Inspecting engine cylinders in cars or aircraft
Checking inside HVAC ducts or pipelines
Examining welds and internal mechanical parts
Endoscope:
Gastroscopy (viewing the stomach)
Colonoscopy (examining the large intestine)
Arthroscopy (viewing inside joints)
Borescope = industrial eyes for machines.
Endoscope = medical eyes for the human or animal body.
They look similar in function but differ in size, flexibility, safety standards, and application environments.
