We're pleased to announce the latest addition to our inspection and quality assurance capabilities: the Creaform MetraSCAN BLACK|Elite Portable 3D Scanning System paired with the HandyPROBE Next Portable CMM.

This investment marks another step in our ongoing commitment to providing customers with faster, more accurate, and more flexible measurement solutions, no matter how complex the geometry or demanding the tolerance.

What is the MetraSCAN BLACK|Elite?

The MetraSCAN BLACK|Elite is a portable, optical CMM 3D scanner developed by Creaform, part of AMETEK Ultra Precision Technologies. Designed for shop-floor and metrology lab use, it captures millions of data points across a part's surface in a matter of minutes, generating a high-resolution digital twin that can be compared directly against CAD models or used for reverse engineering.

Key features include:

• High measurement accuracy and resolution suitable for tight-tolerance components
• Multiple blue laser crosses for rapid, reliable surface capture
• True portability — the system isn't tethered to a fixed CMM bed, so we can bring measurement to the part rather than the part to the machine
• Resilience to environmental variation, vibration, and temperature changes typically found in production environments

Adding Metrology-Grade Probing with the HandyPROBE Next

Paired with the scanner, the HandyPROBE Next gives us wireless, handheld touch probing tied into the same coordinate system as the scanner. This is ideal for capturing features that are difficult to scan optically — deep bores, hidden datums, edges, and precise geometric features where probe contact provides the most reliable result.

Together, the two systems give us a single integrated metrology workflow: scan the surfaces, probe the critical features, and report against the model — all in one setup.

What This Means for Our Customers

This investment unlocks a number of benefits for the projects we deliver:

• Faster first-article inspection — particularly on complex, freeform, or organic geometries where traditional touch-probe CMM would take hours
• Reverse engineering of legacy and obsolete components — capturing accurate digital models from physical parts where original drawings no longer exist
• In-process and final quality validation — comparing machined parts directly against the CAD model with full colour deviation maps
• Tooling, jig, and fixture verification — ensuring assembly tooling stays within tolerance throughout its working life
• Faster turnaround on inspection reports — getting measurement data and reporting back to customers more quickly than ever

Continued Investment in Capability

The arrival of the MetraSCAN BLACK|Elite and HandyPROBE Next reflects our continued commitment to investing in the people, technology, and processes that allow us to deliver precision-engineered components to the industries that rely on us.

If you'd like to discuss how our new scanning and metrology capabilities could support your next project — whether that's inspection, reverse engineering, or quality validation — please get in touch with our team.

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