Here is a link to the ATOS 3 system that we use.
http://www.capture3d.com/products-ATOS.html
It's a white light system that provides millions of data points per scan. From that you can develop surfaces that can be downloaded for N/C machining of tools or molds.
I have been a tool engineer for over 30 years and know both methods, splashes and digital for doing this type of work. Taking a splash is much more time consuming and not as accurate as the digital methods.