Can 3D scanning replace teaching CAD?
Our position, and the accessibility counterpoint.
Our position
Some curricula pitch scanning as 'now kids don't have to learn CAD.' Do not fall for this. A scanned model is a starting point, not an end product - every useful output requires cleanup, editing, and often full redesign in a real CAD tool. Teach Tinkercad and Fusion alongside scanning, not instead of.
Other voices
Reputable sources worth reading before you decide. Labels reflect our honest read of each source's general stance, not direct quotes.
Reverse-engineering workflows
Broadly agreesProfessional reverse-engineering starts with scan and ends with full CAD reconstruction. The scan is never the deliverable.
Accessibility-first pedagogy
Nuanced / mixedFor students with motor-control or spatial-reasoning challenges, scanning + light modification is more accessible than full CAD. Valid exception.