Additive manufacturing (AM) is reshaping how we design, prototype, and produce parts with unparalleled precision and flexibility. But even the most advanced 3D printing workflows can stumble when digital and physical worlds don’t align with millimetre-level accuracy. That’s where high-precision 3D scanning becomes the essential missing link, providing reliable, actionable data to hone every step of your AM process.

Why Scanning Matters in Additive Manufacturing

Here’s why including scanning is a game changer:

  • Closing the loop on accuracy – from physical parts back to digital models, scan data validates printed outputs.
  • Cost-effective quality control – catch deviations early, fix them quickly and reduce expensive rework before they cascade downstream.
  • Reverse engineering made simple – quickly digitise legacy or bespoke parts even when original CAD data is unavailable.

 

Real-World Use Case: Aerospace Reverse Engineering with Artec Leo

Here’s a standout example where precision scanning made a real-world difference in the aerospace sector – a core focus for Mark3D:

“A vintage aircraft’s untextured, organically complex surfaces were digitised with the Artec Leo scanner. Its wider field-of-view and exceptional manoeuvrability enabled seamless capture – even inside confined spaces – without dragging along external hardware like laptops. The result? Noise-free scan data that empowered engineers to recreate functional spare parts directly from the digital model.”
(As described by a consultant from 3DMakerWorld, artec3d.com)

This story shows how accurate scanning unlocks reverse engineering possibilities, even for heritage or legacy components that can’t be reproduced with conventional methods.

Introducing Our New Scanner Range: Perfectly Tuned for Markforged Workflows

We’re thrilled to unveil our new range of Artec 3D scanners, purpose-built to integrate seamlessly with Markforged systems. Here’s how they elevate your additive manufacturing workflow:

  • Precision capture of complex geometries, ideal for custom or legacy aerospace components – just like the example above.
  • Validation built-in: effortlessly compare printed parts to CAD models with high-accuracy scan data.
  • Automated QA and inspection with streamlined reporting tools.
  • Rapid iteration loop: scan, design, print, verify – back to design with confidence.
  • Fits naturally into every phase of Markforged production, from reverse engineering to prototyping, tooling, and end-use parts.

How it Fits With Markforged Workflow

Imagine your end-to-end process becoming a fully integrated, closed-loop system:

  1. Scan a physical part (old, bespoke, or printed) with unmatched accuracy.
  2. Refine or reverse engineer with the scan data, bringing the physical part back into your digital design environment.
  3. Print it on Markforged equipment, confident it will meet specifications.
  4. Validate the printed piece against the CAD model via quick scan-to-CAD inspection.

This isn’t just clever, it’s transformative. It puts control, precision, and efficiency at every step of your additive manufacturing process.

Closing the Loop: The Future of Additive Manufacturing is Closed-Loop Manufacturing

High-accuracy 3D scanning doesn’t just bolt on to your workflow, it powers it. It connects reality and design, so they work as one, ensuring every part is printed right, every time.

By integrating our new scanner range with Markforged’s trusted additive manufacturing platform, you’re unlocking a smarter, leaner, more predictable path forward, from one-off prototypes to flight-worthy components.

If you’d like to find out more about the Artec 3D Scanners available from Mark3D please get in touch