Your company works hard to bring quality products to market, but your current inefficient development process slows you down. Your engineers rely on traditional tools like measuring tapes, calipers, verniers, or photos to gather dimensions and document how to shorten time to market and lower development costs—tools that weren’t designed for the speed and accuracy that modern product design demands.

Your team aims to create accurate CAD models. But without complete or reliable data they spend hours integrating information into CAD software, making assumptions and reworking designs. The result: a lengthy, problematic design workflow that increases development costs and delays your time to market.

If this reflects your reality, then this article—and the infographic The Journey From Scan to CAD—are well worth your time.

The problem with measuring tapes and calipers in modern design

Traditional tools are easily accessible, but they are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. These tools struggle to capture complex geometries or reproduce curved surfaces, limiting their effectiveness in modern product design. Measuring large parts manually also becomes physically demanding and often results in incomplete or inaccurate data. Achieving consistent accuracy with these old-fashioned methods depends heavily on the operator’s skill and experience.

Handheld 3D scanners, on the other hand, are portable, versatile, and fast. They can capture full part geometries—including large, complex parts—with high-resolution, highly accurate scan data.

But reliable scan data are only the beginning. Without robust postprocessing software, turning 3D scans into accurate CAD models can quickly become frustrating. When designers must work around limited mesh-handling functionalities in CAD software, extracting usable information from scan data becomes tedious and complex, making the development process slow and inefficient.

To convert scan data into ready-to-use CAD models quickly and seamlessly, Creaform developed the HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series—a handheld 3D scanner that delivers accurate, rigorous measurements of complex shapes in any environment, regardless of setup conditions or user experience. Thanks to its dynamic referencing and high-resolution capabilities, it captures the finest details on any surface finish and generates high-quality .STL models, even in challenging conditions.

Backed by 20 years of expertise in developing and refining laser 3D scanners, the PRO Series delivers high performance at a smart price, offering the best value for money on the market. Built in North America and trusted by more than 10,000 users, this proven technology reflects Creaform’s commitment to reliability and dedicated customer service.

Watch the video or read more about the HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series.

To streamline the transition from scan to CAD, Creaform also developed the intuitive Scan-to-CAD Pro software that’s integrated into the Creaform Metrology Suite.

Scan-to-CAD Pro is an advanced reverse-engineering module built for product designers who need to accelerate the creation of accurate, editable CAD models. It enables users to draw 2D sketches directly on scan cross sections, create complete 3D models within the scan project, and streamline the transition to CAD with seamless file preparation for parametric export. Real-time deviation analysis and direct comparison between the CAD model and scan data are easily accessible, helping designers achieve usable CAD models on the first attempt and ensuring the fastest path from scan to CAD.

Watch the video or read more about the Scan-to-CAD Pro software module.

Faster time to market with lower development costs

Product designers are looking for an integrated hardware-software solution that enables quick 3D scans, an effective scan-to-CAD transition, and a streamlined design process.

The HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series, bundled with Scan-to-CAD Pro, is that powerful, accessible, and reliable solution, saving hours in product development, shortening time-to-market, and lowering development costs.

Unlike traditional measuring techniques, the PRO series can acquire complete design information in a single measurement session. This eliminates the need for multiple site visits to gather missing data, saving companies valuable time and resources. The PRO Series is also simple to learn and easy to use, making it accessible to all, regardless of the level of expertise or experience in 3D scanning.

With the HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series capturing complete and accurate 3D scan data, product designers can easily extract and align features, as well as create parametric surfaces. Scan-to-CAD Pro’s intuitive interface provides richer, more complete information, enabling faster transitions into CAD software to create better, more tailored, and optimized designs.

Through this streamlined design process, manufacturers need less back and forth and iterations to get a complete CAD model. This efficiency allows them to develop products that better meet customer requirements—faster and more cost-effectively than before.

In practical terms, the HandySCAN 3D|PRO Series, which includes the Scan-to-CAD Pro software module, helps accelerate time to market. With shorter development cycles, manufacturers are better positioned to take on more projects, respond to more demands, achieve higher goals, and drive sustainable growth.

Published Oct. 27, 2025, by Creaform.