Then you have to ask yourself, "Does my CMM software report functional size/location or some least squares best fit?"

Let's say you are measuring a 2D circle. You scan 3000 points. Some softwares will still give you the least squares diameter and center. Where as you would probably want the minimum inscribed circle contained within the data and the center of that MIC (minimum inscribed circle) to be reported. Same goes for 3D but more so. We would want it's orientation to be used when calculating it's MIC. "C" stands for cylinder in this case. Read up on Virtual Conditions in the ASME books to get a better understanding.

More data might be thought to be better. But don't give it to the wrong algorithm.

IMHO,
Todd Wackford
"Inspection should detect defects, not create them"