Improvements in CMM equipment and developments in model-based software solutions have also helped make the technology more accessible.
Engineers have historically used 2D drawings to convey product manufacturing information, even though they design products in 3D. But as quality control has become even more important, and as parts and components are becoming more complex to measure, the demand for automatic measurement programming has grown.
Recently, more manufacturers have begun using model-based definition (MBD) methods, to insert product data directly into 3D models. This creates one, dependable source of information that ultimately improves quality.