Device integration
Drive your 3D scanner or portable CMM directly inside Control X, or work with raw scan data from any device.
Capture or import scan data, align it to CAD, measure it, report it, then repeat the inspection on the next part. Sold in Professional, Essentials Connect and Essentials editions.
Limited-time offer: 20% off every Geomagic Control X module, on both perpetual and subscription licenses.
Geomagic Control X 2026.1
Geomagic Control X is 3D metrology software for inspecting parts from scan and probe data. Quality teams use it to capture data from a 3D scanner or portable CMM, align it to CAD, measure and apply GD&T, and send out a report that a manager, customer or buyer can read.
Control X works with most 3D scanners and portable CMMs on the market. It can drive many of them directly inside the software, and it reads raw scan data from devices it does not control. Once an inspection is set up, it can be repeated on the next part with new measured data, and it can be automated with Visual Scripting, Python scripting and the Automation Server.
Geomagic is now part of Hexagon, which completed its acquisition of the Geomagic software business from 3D Systems in April 2025. The current release, Control X 2026.1, adds plug-ins for ZG handheld scanners and the HyperProbe, the DefinSight plug-in for Scantech (SCANOLOGY) scanners, new scripting actions and faster mesh decimation.
What it does
Hexagon states that Control X accuracy is validated with the NIST, PTB and NPL standards organizations.
Drive your 3D scanner or portable CMM directly inside Control X, or work with raw scan data from any device.
Compare scan data to CAD or to another scan with color-map 3D Compare, 2D section compare and compare points. Professional adds boundary, edge, silhouette and curve deviation.
Initial, best fit, RPS, datum, 3-2-1, coordinate and transform alignments, plus adaptive and homing. In 2026.1, best fit can be limited to reliable measured data only.
Customizable annotations, CAD-aware dimensioning, PMI import and GD&T callouts in 2D and 3D. New in 2026.1: projected tolerance zones for position, perpendicularity, angularity, parallelism and concentricity. See how GD&T works on scan data.
Scan, analyze and report surface defects and variations with Deviation Location, which measures their major length and minor width. Airfoil and 2D twist analysis cover blades.
Analyze multiple results and build professional inspection reports, including 3D PDF. DMIS (DMO) output is available, and 2026.1 adds it to Batch Process and the Automation Server. Read our FAI workflow guide.
Automation
Control X is built for repeat inspection. Set up alignment, measurements and report on the first part, then replace the measured data and the whole inspection updates.
More in our guide to automated 3D inspection.
CAD and PMI
Control X Professional imports native CAD files with their product manufacturing information, so the tolerances already in the model drive the inspection. The 2026.1 release supports:
Every edition reads neutral formats such as IGES and STEP.
Live capture
With a supported device, Control X captures data live instead of importing it afterward. LiveScan, LiveInspect and LiveGeometry let operators scan and probe while the inspection builds, with Move Device and probe sequence tools for portable arms.
Live device control is part of Professional and Essentials Connect. Essentials imports scan files.
How it works
Scan or probe live with a supported device, or import scan files. Load the CAD model, with PMI if you have it.
Best fit the data to CAD, or align on datums, RPS points or a 3-2-1 setup.
Run 3D and 2D compare, add dimensions and GD&T callouts, and locate defects.
Generate the report, then replace the measured data or let the Automation Server run the next parts.
Editions
Hexagon sells Control X in three editions. All three share the core alignment, 3D and 2D compare, GD&T and reporting tools. The differences are device control, native CAD import, advanced analysis and automation.
| Feature | Professional | Essentials Connect | Essentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral CAD and scan import/export IGES, STEP, STL, PTS and similar | Included | Included | Included |
| Native CAD and scan data, PMI import Also ASCII geometry import | Included | Not included | Not included |
| 3D compare, 2D compare, compare points, geometry deviation | Included | Included | Included |
| Boundary, virtual edge, silhouette and curve deviation Plus plots | Included | Not included | Not included |
| Airfoil, 2D twist and Deviation Location | Included | Not included | Not included |
| GD&T (2D and 3D) and report tools | Included | Included | Included |
| Initial, best fit, RPS, datum, 3-2-1, coordinate and transform alignment | Included | Included | Included |
| Adaptive and homing alignment | Included | Included | Not included |
| Scanner plug-ins and live device control LiveScan, LiveInspect, LiveGeometry, Move Device, probe sequences | Included | Included | Not included |
| Simulated CMM points | Included | Included | Not included |
| Repeatable inspection and Automation Server Replace Measured Data; Automation Server added to Essentials in 2025.1 | Included | Included | Included |
| Scan Process, Batch Process, Visual Scripting, Python scripting Plus Replace Reference Data | Included | Not included | Not included |
| Multi-result inspection Single-result inspection in every edition | Included | Not included | Not included |
| Advanced CAD tools Sew, split, offset, thicken, mirror, separate | Included | Included | Not included |
| Advanced curve tools Offset, project, fit spline, trim, extend, contour curve from 3D compare | Included | Not included | Not included |
Edition contents as published in Hexagon’s 2025 Geomagic Control X plan comparison. Hexagon calls the full edition Control X Professional. Not sure which one fits? Tell us your scanner and your parts and we will recommend an edition.
Compatibility
Hexagon publishes the devices that connect directly to Control X, through LiveCapture or Scanner Direct Control. Data from other devices comes in through standard scan files.
Using a scanner from us? SCANOLOGY (formerly Scantech) handheld and optical tracking scanners are on Hexagon’s Scanner Direct Control list, and 2026.1 connects them through Scantech’s DefinSight software. Scans from Artec scanners come in through standard mesh files, such as STL, OBJ and PLY, exported from Artec Studio. Browse all SCANOLOGY scanners.
Technical specifications
Requirements for Geomagic Control X 2026.1 as published by Hexagon. Scan data is demanding, so plan around the recommended configuration if you work with large or high-resolution scans.
Lowest supported configuration.
For large scan files and day-to-day production inspection.
Buying a workstation for scanning? Ask us before you order and we will check the spec.
Why buy from us
We sell, set up and support 3D scanners and inspection software together, so you have one team to call for the whole workflow.
We can arrange a free trial of Geomagic Control X so you can test it on your own scan data before you buy.
Training, technical support and updates are included with all software we sell.
Pair Geomagic Control X with a scanner we sell and set up, and keep one point of contact.
Not ready to buy? Our 3D inspection service measures parts for you.
Request a free trial, or talk to one of our engineers about your parts, your scanner and the reports you need to produce.
Already a Geomagic user? Renew your license or maintenance.
Geomagic Control X is 3D inspection and metrology software. Manufacturers use it to compare 3D scan and probe data to CAD or to another scan, apply dimensions and GD&T, find surface defects and deformation, and produce inspection reports, often as a repeatable or automated process.
Hexagon. It completed the acquisition of the Geomagic software business from 3D Systems on April 2, 2025, and Geomagic is now part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. Downloads, release notes and the knowledge base are on Hexagon’s Geomagic support site.
Control X 2026.1.0, released in May 2026, adds a ZG handheld scanner plug-in, HyperProbe support through LiveInspect, the DefinSight plug-in for Scantech scanners, grayscale line scanning for Hexagon devices, new Visual and Python scripting actions, projected tolerance zones in GD&T, faster mesh decimation, new mesh split tools, DMIS output from Batch Process and the Automation Server, and Leica LGSx import.
Pricing is quoted. It depends on the edition (Professional, Essentials Connect or Essentials), the license type and maintenance. Contact us for a quote or request a free trial.
All three include alignment, 3D and 2D compare, GD&T, reporting, repeatable inspection and the Automation Server. Essentials Connect adds direct scanner and probe control, simulated CMM points and adaptive alignment. Professional adds native CAD and PMI import, advanced deviation analysis, airfoil and Deviation Location, multi-result inspection, Visual and Python scripting and Batch Process. See the edition table above.
Very likely. Hexagon lists direct support for scanners and arms from SCANOLOGY (Scantech), FARO, Hexagon, Creaform, Shining 3D, Kreon, Nikon and others, and Control X imports common scan files such as STL, OBJ, PLY and E57 from any device. Direct device control needs Professional or Essentials Connect.
Yes. Replace the measured data to rerun an inspection on a new part, or use the Automation Server to process inspection jobs across server and client PCs. Professional adds Visual Scripting, Python scripting, Scan Process and Batch Process.
Every edition reads neutral formats such as IGES and STEP. Professional also imports native CATIA, Creo, NX, SOLIDWORKS and Inventor files, plus Parasolid, ACIS and others, and reads PMI from CATIA V5, Creo, NX and SOLIDWORKS.
A 64-bit Windows 10 or later PC with at least 8 GB of RAM, 30 GB of free disk space and an NVIDIA GPU with OpenGL 4.0 and 2 GB of VRAM. Hexagon recommends Windows 11, a recent Core i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9 processor, 32 GB of RAM or more and an NVIDIA RTX card with 4 GB of VRAM or more. Microsoft Office is required for the reporting tools.
Yes. We can arrange a free trial of Geomagic Control X so you can test it on your own parts before you buy. Request a free trial.
Yes. Training, technical support and updates are included with all software we sell. Hexagon also publishes free Control X tutorial videos on its Geomagic support site.
Choose whatever is easiest for you: give us a call, book a Zoom call, or send us a question.
Speak with one of our engineers directly.
Pick a time that suits you. See the scanner in action and get your questions answered.
Tell us what you want to scan and an engineer will get back to you.
Tell us about your parts and what you need from a scanner. An engineer will get back to you by email.
Prefer to talk now?
+1 864-469-0093
Zoom · with an engineer
Pick a day and time that suits you. The Zoom link comes by email as soon as you book.