Dimensional measurement technology may not be a common topic of conversation for the general public, but it is an essential component of many products that we use every day. It is one of the several behind-the-scenes steps in many manufacturing processes and is also often used during product development.

Hiring a dimensional measurement provider can be a daunting task, especially if you are not well versed in the various techniques that are employed in the industry. What type of measurement techniques should be used for your application? What tolerances are acceptable? What is a reasonable turnaround time for your project?

3D scanning can be an effective tool for first article inspection. It is relatively fast, produces accurate results, and can be more cost-effective than other solutions. However, 3D scanning does not work for every first article inspection application. For example, if the part includes internal features or surface finishes that are not compatible with optical inspection tools, a different approach might make more sense.

First article inspection is an important component of successful manufacturing. The first article in production must be inspected, or measured, to determine whether it meets the engineering specifications. If it does not, corrective steps must be taken. These steps take time and money, which is why first article inspection must be quick and accurate.