AAT3D Secures NIST Certification Advancing On-Machine Closed-Loop Inspection
Applied Automation Technologies (AAT3D), a global leader in precision metrology solutions, has announced that its CAPPS software suite, including CAPPS-DMIS for traditional Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) and CAPPS-NC for on-machine measurement, has received certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for all geometric feature fitting algorithms. The certification applies to both seeded and unseeded data sets, verifying the software’s performance against the most stringent industry standards.
The NIST evaluation encompassed a comprehensive range of geometric features, including lines, circles, planes, cylinders, cones, and spheres, confirming CAPPS’ ability to deliver consistent and accurate results across diverse inspection scenarios.
“Achieving NIST certification is a significant milestone for our CAPPS software,” said Ray Karadayi, President & CEO of AAT3D. “It validates our dedication to providing our clients with trustworthy and precise measurement tools essential for quality assurance and manufacturing excellence.”
From Offline Measurement to Closed-Loop Control
While CMM-based offline inspection remains a cornerstone of quality control, manufacturing is moving toward real-time, in-process verification. This is where CAPPS-NC plays a pivotal role. Integrated directly into CNC machine tools, CAPPS-NC transforms the machining center into a measurement platform — enabling on-machine inspection, adaptive machining, and closed-loop process control.
With closed-loop inspection, measurement data is fed back into the machine tool’s control system. Detected deviations from nominal geometry can automatically trigger tool path adjustments, compensation for thermal expansion, or corrective re-machining — all without removing the part from the fixture. This eliminates the time and cost of transporting parts to a separate CMM, reduces production downtime, and virtually eliminates the risk of scrap caused by undetected errors.
NIST Certification: Trust in Every Calculation
NIST’s certification process verifies that CAPPS’ feature-fitting algorithms meet strict mathematical and computational accuracy standards. For manufacturers, this means absolute confidence that measurement data, whether collected on a CMM or a CNC machine, is traceable, repeatable, and reliable.
In sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical devices, where tolerances can be measured in microns, this assurance is critical. NIST’s independent validation ensures that CAPPS’ algorithms perform consistently not only in ideal conditions but also in real-world shop-floor environments where vibration, temperature variation, and surface finish challenges can impact results.
A Step Toward the Digital Thread
The combination of NIST-certified measurement algorithms and on-machine closed-loop inspection aligns with the broader manufacturing shift toward the digital thread — the seamless integration of design, manufacturing, inspection, and process optimization data. CAPPS software provides a single metrology platform that supports both offline and in-process inspection, reducing complexity and enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.
By embedding trusted, certified measurement into the heart of the manufacturing process, AAT3D is helping companies move closer to the vision of self-correcting production systems, where quality control is no longer a separate step but an integral, automated function of manufacturing itself.
For more information: www.aat3d.com
