Frequently Asked Questions

3D scanning measures the surface of a physical part without contact, using lasers and cameras, and turns it into a digital 3D model. The scanner projects laser lines onto the part, the cameras track their shape and millions of measurement points are collected every second.

These points first form a point cloud, then a surface model made of triangles (STL), and if needed a CAD model (STEP, IGES). While classic measuring devices take points one by one, a 3D scanner captures the whole surface within minutes.

• Quality control: comparing a produced part with its CAD model and showing deviations with a colour map and report.
• Reverse engineering: creating a CAD model of a part with no drawing, a worn part or an imported part.
• Tooling and wear analysis: measuring wear and deformation in moulds, castings and tools.
• First article and assembly checks: verifying the first part and assembly fit before series production.
• Spare parts and digital archive: keeping a digital copy of critical parts and remanufacturing them when needed.
• Design, medical and cultural heritage: product design, orthoses/prostheses and digitising sculptures and historical artefacts.

• Small parts (up to 30 cm): for gears, casting details or mould tips, palm-sized short-range blue laser scanners (SIMSCAN series, PRINCE775) capture fine detail best.
• Medium parts (30 cm – 1 m): for engine blocks, housings and moulds, multi-mode handheld scanners (KSCAN-E, SIMSCAN-E) balance speed and accuracy.
• Large parts (1 – 3 m): for chassis, body panels and large moulds, devices with a large scan area and photogrammetry support (KSCAN-Magic, KSCAN-E) prevent error accumulation.
• Very large parts (3 m and above): KSCAN-X with its 2.6 × 1.8 m scan area or TrackScan Sharp with 8.5 m tracking distance are needed.

Besides size, your tolerance, whether targets can be stuck on the part and the working environment also change the choice. Our Device Selection Guide recommends the most suitable device with a few simple questions.

Handheld scanners find their position from small reflective targets (markers) stuck on the part. They are flexible, portable and more accessible as an investment; ideal for reverse engineering and general measurement.

Tracker-based systems (NimbleTrack, TrackScan Sharp) track the scanner with an external optical camera, so no targets are needed on the part. They are preferred for fast measurement of many parts in series production, delicate surfaces where targets cannot be applied and workshops with vibration.

Photogrammetry precisely positions coded targets around the part using high-resolution photos. Because the scanner is tied to this framework, error does not accumulate on large parts.

For example, the SIMSCAN Gen2 has a standard volumetric accuracy of 0.015 + 0.035 mm/m, which drops to 0.015 + 0.012 mm/m with the MSCAN-L15 photogrammetry system: on a 3 m part the error falls from about 0.12 mm to 0.05 mm. If you measure parts larger than 1 m for quality control, photogrammetry is recommended.

Yes. Naz Scan is our handheld blue-laser scanner for those who want an easy and affordable start in 3D scanning. It weighs 425 grams, scans small parts with up to 0.05 mm accuracy and delivers models as STL/OBJ, ready for 3D printing.

It is ideal for hobby projects, models and 3D printing, school and maker training, and product design. For quality control work that requires documented measurement, we recommend our industrial scanners.

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With an industrial scanner you pay not for a nice-looking model, but for the guarantee that the measurement is accurate and repeatable. That guarantee comes from:

• Metrology-grade optics: factory-calibrated cameras with fixed relative positions and precise laser projectors.
• Thermal stability: a body and compensation designed so the measurement does not drift as the device warms up or the room temperature changes.
• Documented accuracy: values are verified on calibrated reference artifacts with defined test methods; every device ships with a calibration certificate.
• Professional software and support: tolerance analysis, CAD comparison, reporting, training, warranty and service.

For hobby, education and design, an entry-level scanner like Naz Scan is often enough. In quality control, tooling and reverse engineering, however, the measurement must be documented and the same every time; there, an unknown error costs far more than the device itself.

These are the three values most often confused when comparing scanners:

• Resolution: the smallest detail the device can capture (point spacing). High resolution does not mean the measurement is accurate.
• Accuracy: how close the measured value is to the true value, e.g. up to 0.030 mm for the PRINCE775.
• Volumetric accuracy: how the error grows with part size, the decisive value for large parts. For the PRINCE775 it is 0.020 + 0.060 mm/m: on a 2 m part the total error is about 0.020 + 2 × 0.060 = 0.14 mm. With the MSCAN photogrammetry system it drops to 0.020 + 0.025 mm/m, about 0.07 mm over 2 m.

Many low-cost devices only list "0.02 mm resolution" and never state volumetric accuracy. If you measure large parts, always ask for it.

The accuracy of optical 3D measuring systems is verified with internationally recognised test methods. The most common are:

• VDI/VDE 2634: German engineering guideline for acceptance and verification of optical 3D measuring systems.
• ISO 10360-8: performance testing of coordinate measuring systems with optical distance sensors.
• ISO/IEC 17025: accreditation standard showing the competence of the calibration laboratory.

In these methods the device is tested on reference spheres and bars with precisely known dimensions, and the result is recorded on a calibration certificate. This certificate and traceable calibration are standard for industrial devices but missing on most hobby-grade ones. When buying, ask: "Which method was the accuracy measured with, and is there a calibration certificate?"

A scanner measures by projecting light onto the part and watching its reflection with cameras, so the type of light directly determines measurement quality:

• White / LED structured light: fast, but easily affected by ambient light and shiny surfaces.
• Infrared light: convenient for scanning people and soft objects; limited for fine detail and precise measurement.
• Red laser: sharp lines and high speed; well suited to scanning large surfaces quickly.
• Blue laser: its shorter wavelength gives a thinner line, less penetration into the surface and less glare and noise, resulting in sharper detail and cleaner data on shiny or dark surfaces.

The PRINCE775, for example, has two modes: 7 red laser crosses for fast scanning (480,000 points per second) and 5 parallel blue lasers for fine detail (0.020 mm resolution). It is a Class II, eye-safe laser.

It is not enough for a device to give a good result once; it must give the same result every time you scan the same part. This is called repeatability, or stable accuracy.

• Thermal drift: in low-cost devices the distance between cameras changes by microns as the body warms up, and the measurement drifts; you may get different results in the morning and in the afternoon. Industrial devices are designed for temperature changes (PRINCE775: operating range -10°C to 40°C).
• Accumulating error: devices without reference markers and photogrammetry accumulate small errors on long parts, making the part look "bent". In industrial systems every scan is tied to reference points, so error does not accumulate.
• Calibration that holds: the device can be verified in minutes with a field calibration plate; its accuracy does not silently degrade over time.

A reliable quality report depends on the measurement being the same today, tomorrow and with different operators.

• Accuracy: around 0.02–0.03 mm and documented on industrial devices; entry-level devices can reach 0.05–0.1 mm on small parts at close range, but this changes as parts get larger and is usually not documented.
• Large parts: industrial devices state volumetric accuracy and support photogrammetry; others usually do not specify it at all.
• Difficult surfaces: with blue lasers, shiny, black and machined metal surfaces can often be scanned with little or no spray.
• Repeatability: the same result on every scan thanks to thermal stability and reference point systems.
• Software and output: CAD comparison, colour deviation maps, GD&T and quality reports you can hand to your customer.
• Support: training, calibration, warranty and local technical service.

In short, a low-cost device captures the "shape"; an industrial device measures it. We recommend our entry-level Naz Scan for hobby and education, and our industrial scanners for measurement and quality control.

A common rule in metrology: the error of the measuring device should be no more than 1/10 to 1/5 of the tolerance you measure.

• If your tolerance is ±0.1 mm, the device should be accurate to around 0.01–0.02 mm.
• If your tolerance is ±0.5 mm, a device around 0.05–0.1 mm may be enough.

Doing quality control with a device whose error is close to the tolerance can show good parts as bad and bad parts as good. Share your part size, tolerances and use case, and we will determine the right device together.

Yes. Thanks to blue lasers and adjustable exposure, industrial scanners can often scan machined metal, black plastic and painted surfaces with little or no spray. Mirror-like or transparent surfaces may need a thin scanning spray. Low-cost devices lose much more data and produce much more noise on such surfaces.

Industrial scanners can be calibrated on site in a few minutes with the calibration plate supplied with the device. Periodic accuracy checks with reference artifacts, and renewed calibration at the manufacturer or an accredited laboratory when needed, are also recommended, so the device's accuracy stays documented.

Yes. You can bring your part to us or ask us to scan at your facility, and we will review the results and the deviation report together. If you only need measurements rather than a device, we also offer a scanning service. Contact us through our contact page to request a demo.

Yes, besides our measurement services we also supply professional handheld 3D scanners and hardware. You can browse our product catalogue or contact us to determine the right model for your needs.

We first assess your project needs, then perform the scan either on-site or at our facility, and deliver the processed data in the format you require.

We provide engineering measurement and scanning services to a wide range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, mold and machinery manufacturing, medical, and energy.

Share your project scope and requirements with us and we will prepare a tailored quote. You can reach us via our contact page.

We deliver in commonly used 3D file formats such as STL, STEP, and IGES, depending on your request.

Yes, when needed we bring our equipment to your site to perform on-site 3D laser scanning.

All project data is handled under strict confidentiality, and we can sign an NDA upon request.