They will not measure in 3D per se.
CMM is mostly for doing point to point measuring. It is capable to measure a 3D surface, but the CMM needs some kind of program to measure a surface like I think you are describing.
You can get reverse engineering done like you are describing.
I am trying to find the company I used.
Brian
Just wondering what the capabilities of a CMM are? I mean, how much into 3-d will they go? I've got a piece that I'm trying to replicate, but at a scale of 1:1.3, and rather than draw it in Solid Works, I'm thinking a CMM might be the better way to go.