Dimensional Inspection
Scan-based dimensional inspection services: from physical part to inspection report. We 3D scan your part, compare it against the nominal CAD model or drawing, and deliver a clear report with color deviation maps, dimensional callouts, and GD&T analysis, showing exactly where the part is in or out of tolerance.
Request a Quote
Typical response within one business day. Prefer to talk? Chicago: (331) 758-0940 • Kansas City: (913) 270-3158
When You Need Dimensional Inspection
- First article inspection: verifying a first production run or a new supplier's parts against the design
- Incoming quality checks: confirming purchased parts meet spec before they enter production
- Supplier disputes: independent, visual evidence of where a part deviates from the drawing
- Mold, casting, and tooling verification: confirming tooling produces in-tolerance parts, and finding out why when it doesn't
- Wear and deformation analysis: comparing a used part against its original geometry, or the same part over time
What's in the Report
Color Deviation Maps
The full part surface compared against nominal CAD, with color showing exactly where and how far the part deviates. One image tells the whole story, in a way a table of numbers can't.
Dimensional Callouts
The specific dimensions you care about, measured and tabulated against their tolerances with clear pass/fail results.
GD&T Analysis
Flatness, cylindricity, position, profile, and other geometric tolerances evaluated per your drawing callouts.
Cross-Sections
2D section views through critical features, comparing scanned geometry against nominal, ideal for wall thickness and internal profiles.
Reports are delivered as PDF, with the underlying scan data available on request for your own records.
Why Scan-Based Inspection
Traditional inspection measures a part at a handful of probed points. 3D scanning captures the entire surface, millions of measurement points, so the report shows not just whether a dimension passes, but the complete picture of how the part deviates: warp, shrink, wear patterns, and localized defects that point measurements miss. It's non-contact, fast for complex geometry, and produces visual results that engineers, suppliers, and customers can all read at a glance.
How It Works
- ScopeSend the part details and your nominal CAD or drawing, and tell us which dimensions and tolerances matter. Fixed quote up front.
- ScanWe capture the part with the scanning technology matched to its size and required accuracy, at our facility or on-site.
- AnalyzeThe scan is aligned to your nominal CAD in professional metrology software such as Geomagic Control X or PolyWorks|Inspector, and your callouts are evaluated.
- ReportYou receive the inspection report with deviation maps, dimensional tables, and GD&T results, with a review session to walk through the findings.
Why 3DMakerWorld
We're a Gold-Certified Artec 3D partner and authorized provider of professional metrology software, and we work in this exact scan-and-inspect pipeline every day with the same systems we sell, train on, and support. Chicago: (331) 758-0940 • Kansas City: (913) 270-3158
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dimensional inspection cost?
Pricing depends on part size, the number of dimensions and GD&T callouts to evaluate, and quantity. A single-part deviation map costs far less than a full multi-part first article report. Every project receives a fixed quote up front, typically within one business day.
Do I need to provide a CAD model?
The best results come from comparing your part against its nominal CAD model. If you only have a 2D drawing, we can evaluate the dimensions and tolerances called out on it. And if you have neither, part-to-part comparison against a known-good reference part is often a practical alternative. Tell us what you have and we'll recommend the approach.
How is this different from CMM inspection?
A CMM probes discrete points with very high accuracy at each point. Scan-based inspection captures the entire surface, which reveals form errors, warp, and localized deviations between the points a CMM would touch, and produces visual full-field results. For many parts the two are complementary; during scoping we'll tell you honestly whether scan-based inspection fits your tolerance requirements.
Can you inspect parts on a recurring schedule?
Yes. Repeat inspections use the same alignment and callout template, so results are directly comparable across batches or over time, which is exactly what wear monitoring and ongoing supplier quality need.
Is my part and data kept confidential?
Yes. Parts, CAD, and inspection results are treated as confidential, and we're happy to sign your NDA before any project details are shared.
Need a part verified? Request a quote above, or call Chicago: (331) 758-0940 or Kansas City: (913) 270-3158.