Reverse Engineering
As computer-aided design (CAD) has become more popular, reverse engineering has become a viable method to create a 3D virtual model of an existing physical part for use in 3D CAD, CAM, CAE or other software. The reverse-engineering process involves measuring an object and then reconstructing it as a 3D model. The physical object can be measured using 3D scanning technologies like CMM's, laser scanners, structured light digitizers, or Industrial C.T. Scanning (computed tomography). The measured data alone, usually represented as a point cloud, lacks topological information and is therefore often processed and modeled into a more usable format such as a triangular-faced mesh, a set of NURBS surfaces, or a CAD model.
Examples
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Reverse Engineering Impeller
Scan Legacy equipment to create fully surfaced cad model to enable the manufacture of new pattern equipment -
Reverse Engineering Blocker Door
the blocker door required scanning and CAD data creating to enable the component data to be emailed and manufactured at the customers Asian manufacturing plant -
Reverse Engineering Pump Casing
The customer supplies an existing pump casing manufactured before the advent of CAD they require it to be scanned and from the captured cad data create a fully surfaced digital model
