Inspection
CMM Inspection & Scan-to-CAD Reverse Engineering
When you have a part but no drawing, our laser scanning and Scan-to-CAD process builds a usable CAD model from the physical geometry. When you need to verify a part against its model, our inspection equipment handles that too, with results you can act on.
SCAN-TO-CAD PROCESS
From Physical Part to Digital Model
Our laser scanning equipment captures a part's geometry as a high-density point cloud, recording surface features, radii, and dimensional relationships that would take hours to measure manually.
01.
Laser scan
Captures a high-density point cloud of surface features, radii, and dimensional relationships.
02.
Geomagic processing
The point cloud is processed into a usable 3D CAD model, accurate enough for downstream manufacturing.
03.
Delivery format
Siemens NX, or a neutral file format for a different CAD system.
The scanning process is faster and more accurate than manual reverse engineering, especially for parts with compound curves, organic shapes, or complex surface transitions that are difficult to measure with traditional tools.
What we capture
The part as it actually is, not a reconstruction
We capture the part as it exists, not as someone tries to reconstruct it from a series of point measurements.
Where the model gets used:
CNC programming
Toolpath programming for machining
3D printing
Direct print from the captured geometry
Quality inspection
Comparison against a nominal model
Documentation
Reference when a part needs to be reproduced
When to Use Scan-to-CAD
No Drawing, No Problem
Reverse engineering through Scan-to-CAD is the right approach when a part exists physically but no accurate CAD model or drawing exists. That happens more often than people expect:
Legacy parts
From older programs where no accurate CAD model or drawing survived.
Discontinued equipment
Replacement parts that need to be reproduced without an original file to work from.
Pre-CAD tooling
Production tooling that was built before CAD existed.
Field-modified parts
The drawing no longer reflects what was actually built — scanning the as-built configuration gives you a model that matches the real part, not the original intent.
Undocumented aerospace & defense parts
Scan-to-CAD can be the difference between a viable reproduction path and starting an expensive new design from scratch.
If the part worked in service, we can capture the geometry and build to it.
Quality Inspection
Verifying Parts Against the Model
The same scanning and measurement technology that powers our reverse engineering work also supports quality inspection. We use it to compare finished parts against their original CAD model, generating dimensional reports that show where a part is within tolerance and where it deviates.
This is useful at several points in a manufacturing process:
| Inspection Point | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| First-Article Inspection | Confirms that the setup is producing parts within spec before you commit to a full quantity |
| Reworked or Repaired Parts | Confirms that the corrective action actually resolved the dimensional issue |
| Dimensional Compliance Documentation | We can produce inspection reports that support that requirement. |
We work in Siemens NX and Geomagic and can use CAD models you provide or build a reference model from your specifications if you do not have one ready.
How This Fits Your Workflow
Scan-to-CAD as Part of a Larger Project
Scan-to-CAD does not have to be a standalone service. For many customers, the output of a reverse engineering scan feeds directly into the next stage of the project, whether that is:
01.
CNC Programming
02.
Design Work
03.
Inspection
Because IMC also handles machining, design, and fabrication in-house, we can take a scan-to-CAD project and carry it through to finished parts without requiring you to find another vendor for the downstream work. Send us the part, and we will tell you what the full path to a finished reproduction looks like.
For customers with ongoing inspection needs, we can build a repeatable inspection process around your parts and deliver dimensional reports on a schedule that fits your production cycle.
Get In Touch
Have a Part That Needs Reverse Engineering or Inspection?
Send us the part or a CAD file and we will quote the project.