WHAT WE DO
3D Inspection
Accurate 3D Inspection for Any Part, Any Industry
Whether you're inspecting a small precision component or a large structural assembly, our 3D inspection services provide the accuracy and clarity your engineering and quality teams depend on. We work with manufacturers across Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. to deliver high-resolution measurement data that supports production, R&D, maintenance, and compliance.
Our team performs inspections onsite for large or sensitive parts, or we can receive shipments for smaller components that require detailed metrology analysis. All inspection work includes complete traceable reporting that aligns with your drawings, CAD models, and tolerance requirements.
What 3D Inspection Can Do for You
3D inspection uses high-accuracy scanners, laser trackers, and metrology software to capture millions of data points across an entire part surface. This allows us to generate precise CAD comparisons, GD&T reports, and full-surface deviation maps.
- Dimensional verification against CAD or engineering drawings
- GD&T analysis including flatness, concentricity, true position, runout, and more
- Heat maps & deviation colour plots to visualise variances instantly
- Inspection of complex geometries that traditional tools cannot measure
- Rapid first article inspection for supplier approval or PPAP
- Tooling and fixture validation using 3D surface comparison
Inspection reports can be delivered in any format your team requires, including PDF, Excel, CAD overlay, or native metrology software output.
Applications Across Multiple Industries
Our 3D inspection capabilities support a wide range of industries, including:
- Aerospace — complex surfaces, turbine components, composite structures
- Automotive — BIW, stampings, trim tools, injection moulded parts
- Power Generation — turbine blades, housings, pumps, structural components
- Marine & Shipbuilding — hull sections, propeller geometry, alignment verification
- General manufacturing — machined parts, assemblies, prototypes, castings
Our metrology processes follow industry-accepted standards found in resources such as ASME GD&T guidelines and recognised best practices used across global manufacturing.
First Article Inspection (FAI) & PPAP Support
Meeting customer requirements is critical for supplier approval. Our 3D inspection workflow accelerates FAI, PPAP, and validation work by generating complete dimensional reports quickly and accurately.
- Full dimensional layouts
- CAD comparison reports
- Ballooned drawing verification
- Automated reporting for repeat parts
Inspection can be performed using 3D scanning alone or combined with precision alignment for tooling validation.
Why Choose Our 3D Inspection Services?
Customers across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic choose our inspection services because we provide:
- High-accuracy measurement tools trusted by major OEMs
- Mobile onsite inspections for large or sensitive components
- Fast reporting for urgent engineering and quality needs
- Straightforward communication with engineers who understand your drawings
- Support from experts in GD&T, CAD, and manufacturing
Whether you're troubleshooting a production issue, verifying tooling, or inspecting a new prototype, our team ensures reliable, repeatable, and traceable results.
Our 3D Inspection Workflow
- Review requirements — tolerances, drawings, CAD models, inspection points
- Capture data using high-accuracy 3D scanning or laser measurement
- Analyse geometry with advanced metrology software
- Generate reports including colour maps, GD&T, and pass/fail criteria
- Deliver results digitally and walk through findings with your team
Need related capabilities? See our reverse engineering and automation pages.
3D Inspection FAQs
How accurate is your 3D inspection?
Our systems regularly achieve accuracy between ±0.001” and ±0.005”, depending on part size, material, and environment.
Do you inspect large tools or assemblies?
Yes — we can scan large components onsite using tripod-based systems and laser trackers.
Can you compare parts directly to CAD?
Absolutely. Colour deviation maps and GD&T measurements can be aligned directly to your design models.
Do I need to send CAD files?
CAD models are preferred for the most accurate comparison, but we can inspect using 2D drawings alone if needed.
Do you offer inspection for PPAP or FAI?
Yes — we perform full First Article Inspection (FAI) and PPAP reporting for suppliers across multiple industries.
Can you scan small or delicate parts?
Yes — smaller components can be shipped to us for controlled-environment scanning.
From the first measurement to the final report, you can trust Tried and True to provide you accurate and concise data. Contact us if any of the following needs apply to you:
HOW WE WORK
You can trust Tried and True Metrology with your measurement needs. See below for our work process.
