Reverse engineering and 3-D scanning are often considered synonyms. But 3-D scanning is also an efficient way to compare as-built physical objects to theoretical digital 3-D models (i.e., CAD models), and thus an essential asset to every quality control (QC) department’s tool box. Today’s 3-D scanners offer excellent accuracy, are easy to use, and are fully integrated by all major 3-D inspection software. However, three basic questions remain: When should a part be scanned? What features should be scanned? What features should be hard-probed? Here are a few criteria that can help you make the call.

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