Reverse engineering
// Laserlan experts in reverse engineering
Reverse engineering refers to the process of recreating design drawings by making measurements and / or scans of the piece itself. It is a simple two-step process:
- 1. Scan the object
- 2.Create a 3D model of the object
In what cases do you use reverse engineering?
The most common cases are:
- To create a cheaper item or other item
- Replicate a one-of-a-kind piece
- Create machining drawings for a craft prototype
- Create a nominal model to compare with the inspection
- Make changes and improvements in the design of a product
- Preserve and document handmade molds and obsolete parts
Diferentiation between reverse engineering and 3D scanning
The process of creating a CAD model for reverse engineering services requires some understanding of the original designer’s thought process. For example, one must make assumptions about whether a part is supposed to be symmetrical or perfectly round. With reverse engineering, the goal is often to produce a CAD model of very high quality, or “idealized” surfaces, where the faces are perfectly flat, the holes are perfectly round and the surfaces blend perfectly with each other. This facilitates the creation of feature-based models together with dimensioned 2D drawings. This is different from modeling “as it is built”, where the objective is to intentionally model the defects of a piece wherever they exist.
