3D Scanning Blog, Industry Insights & Technology Updates

When should I use a 3D scanner instead of a PCMM, and when is a PCMM still the better choice?

A selection guide for evaluating 3D scanning, covering what a scanner does that a PCMM cannot, where a PCMM still outperforms scanning, and why the answer for most parts is a scanner-plus-portable-CMM combination rather than either device alone.

21 Jul, 2026

How to Choose a Portable CMM and 3D Scanner for scan-to-CAD reverse engineering and occasional first article inspection?

A practical guide to choosing an industrial 3D scanner that handles both scan-to-CAD reverse engineering and first article inspection, covering accuracy requirements, whether a 3D scanner can replace a PCMM, and recommending the best SCANOLOGY solutions for different workflows.

21 Jul, 2026

Digital Preservation: 3D Laser Scanning for Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage sites and ancient artifacts constantly face the threat of natural erosion, environmental damage, and human impact. Historically, researchers used plaster casting and physical calipers to measure and duplicate historical items. These phys

23 May, 2026

Industrial 3D Inspection Scanning: From Sampling to full-field Quality Control

An industrial 3d scanner is a highly advanced metrology instrument designed to verify the physical dimensions of manufactured parts against their original CAD designs. Historically, quality assurance teams relied on slow Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM

11 May, 2026

3D Scanning File Formats: How to Choose Between STL, OBJ, and PLY

Capturing physical reality with metrology equipment generates massive amounts of geometric data. When engineers use a professional device to digitize a mechanical part, the hardware records millions of individual coordinate points. Turning that raw data i

06 May, 2026

The 2026 Budget 3D Scanner Buying Guide: Top Value Picks

An affordable 3D scanner is a highly capable metrology device that captures precise physical geometry without straining your engineering budget. In the past, professional laser scanning technology was accessible only to large aerospace and automotive comp

30 Apr, 2026

Master Your Handheld 3D Scanner: 8 Tips for Perfect Quality

A handheld 3d scanner is a highly portable metrology device used to capture complex physical geometries precisely. Operators rely on these agile tools to digitize heavy machinery, ancient artifacts, and complex automotive parts directly on the factory flo

19 Apr, 2026

3D Scanning and Printing: The Complete Seamless Workflow Guide

A 3d scanner and printer setup creates a powerful, closed-loop digital manufacturing system. Historically, engineers struggled for days to manually draft complex organic shapes or reverse engineer broken legacy parts. Today, integrating a professional 3d

10 Apr, 2026

Laser Scanning in Construction: Heritage & Industrial BIM

Laser scanning in construction is a highly precise digital method used to capture intricate physical details on complex architectural sites. Rather than simply mapping massive, empty warehouses, modern engineers use this technology to record the exact geo

30 Mar, 2026

3D Scanner Resolution: What Do The Specs Mean?

3D scanner resolution is the smallest distance between two points a scanner can capture. People often call this metric point distance. It determines how much fine detail a 3D imaging scanner shows in a final digital model. Resolution decides if a scanner

23 Mar, 2026

Master Your Handheld 3D Scanner: 10 Tips for Perfect Quality

A handheld 3d scanner is a highly portable metrology device used to capture complex physical geometries precisely. Ultimately, operators rely on these agile tools to digitize heavy machinery, ancient artifacts, and complex automotive parts directly on the

16 Mar, 2026

The Complete Guide to Reverse Engineering 3D Scanning

3D scanning and reverse engineering is a fast digital process for turning physical parts into accurate digital models. It bridges the huge gap between old physical objects and modern digital design. A high-quality 3d scanner for reverse engineering captur

10 Mar, 2026

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