(Nikon Metrology: Brighton, MI) -- Quality inspection is an integral part of bringing parts to market. From pacemakers to aircraft engines, detecting flaws in critical parts before final products are completed and mass produced can save lives and ensure product performance.

The traditional problem is that inspection takes time. Inspecting a first-off product can take hours on its own and hold up the entire production process. Inspection technology such as coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and vision inspection systems continue to add sophisticated features, but at times these systems’ software packages have not been particularly user friendly.

One modern development has been inspecting a component’s 3D CAD model to save time and improve efficiency. “Inspecting CAD and 3D is definitely a ‘checklist’ item,” says Mike Provenzano, applications engineer for vision products at Nikon Metrology. “If you don’t have it, you’re off a customer’s checklist.”

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