Today’s design and manufacturing world is quickly evolving to a model-based environment, one where intelligent 3D CAD models are the authority, containing not only the information to build a part or assembled product, but also to verify the end result against the nominal 3D CAD design. This reality requires more definition than ever before, expanding the role of measurement and reverse engineering software.
Model-based measurement and reverse engineering directly complement and feed the bigger concept of model-based definition (MBD). When deploying an MBD strategy the 3D CAD model becomes the basis for all information necessary to manufacture a part or product along with attributes for product lifestyle management (PLM). Everything needed to produce a part or finished assembly is included in the CAD model, from design to manufacturing, and all geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) data. This maintains the all-important digital thread (aka the digital twin). The use of MBD can be far reaching and include many different attributes of a given part or product, including finish, coatings, colors, version control, statistical process control (SPC), and much more.