Prototype & First Article Inspection
Verify your first part before you commit to production.
When a new part comes off the machine for the first time — or a prototype comes back from the shop — you need to know whether it matches design intent before anything else happens. Persase performs complete first article and prototype inspections using 3D scanning, comparing every surface and feature of the physical part against your nominal CAD model. Any part. Any size. Full documentation delivered.
Persase first article inspection — complete as-built verification against CAD for any part, any size
What We Deliver
- Full surface CAD comparison — every surface of the as-built part scanned and compared against the nominal CAD model, with a complete color deviation map showing where the part is in and out of tolerance
- GD&T evaluation — all geometric tolerances from your engineering drawing measured and reported, including true position, flatness, cylindricity, profile, and runout
- Datum-based alignment — the part is aligned to your defined datum reference frame before any measurements are taken, ensuring results are consistent with your drawing intent
- Complete inspection report — a fully documented report with dimensional results, deviation maps, and GD&T tables — ready for customer submission or internal approval
- Prototype deviation analysis — for development parts, a detailed breakdown of where the prototype deviates from design intent — actionable feedback for the next revision
- Any part, any size — from small precision components to large assemblies and structures, Persase has the scanning capability to handle the full range of part sizes
Industries That Use This
| Industry | How they use it |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | First article inspection documentation for new parts entering production or supplier qualification |
| Defense | First article documentation for new production parts and supplier source approval |
| Manufacturing | New product introduction quality gates — verify the first part before committing to a full production run |
| Engineering | Prototype deviation analysis to guide design iterations and confirm form, fit, and function before tooling release |
the process
How It Works
The inspection starts with your CAD model and engineering drawing. Persase selects the appropriate scanner for the part — whether it’s a small precision component or a large assembly — and captures the complete as-built geometry in a single scan session. The scan data is then aligned to your defined datum reference frame, anchoring every measurement to the exact reference points on your drawing. From there, all GD&T callouts are evaluated automatically — true position, flatness, profile, cylindricity, runout, and any other controlled features — and every surface is compared against the nominal CAD model to produce a full color deviation map. The result is a complete, submission-ready inspection report with dimensional results, deviation maps, and GD&T tables. For prototype work, the report highlights exactly where the part deviates and by how much — giving your engineering team the clear, actionable data they need to move to the next revision or release the design for production.