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Reverse engineering

Reverse engineering aims at analyzing and understanding the design of an existing product in order to create a copy, make improvements, or solve problems. In the case of mechanical parts, reverse engineering is often necessary due to the absence of plans or CAD models. The use of a 3D scanner and a measuring arm can be highly advantageous in the reverse engineering process.

Reverse engineering a mechanical part involves several steps to understand its design and create an accurate 3D model. Here are the general steps of a reverse engineering process:

data acquisition

The first step is to obtain data from the existing part, which can be done using a 3D scanner on a measuring arm. The goal is to collect all the necessary information about the geometry, dimensions, and features of the part.

data processing

Once the scanning or measurement data has been acquired, it needs to be processed to obtain a usable mesh. This may involve cleaning up raw data, aligning scans or measurements, or merging different parts of the part.

3D modeling

A 3D modeling software is used to create a digital model of the part from the mesh. The reverse engineering CAD software can be a specialized tool like Geomagic Design X, Polyworks Modeler, or a more general-purpose software like Catia, NX, SolidWorks.

Verification and adjustments

Once the 3D model is created, it is important to verify it against the original part. Compare dimensions, shapes, and features to ensure that the model closely matches the existing part. If necessary, make adjustments to improve the accuracy of the model.
Reverse engineering of a car with surface modeling from mesh
Alignment of the scanning data with the CAD file
Reverse engineering of a car rim inside Design X software
User scanning a wheel with Kreon Ace measuring arm and Skyline 3D scanner

What are the advantages of a 3D scanner for reverse engineering?

What are the advantages of a measuring arm for reverse engineering?

By using a Kreon 3D scanner and a measuring arm for reverse engineering, you can benefit from the speed and precision of the 3D scanner to capture complex geometry, as well as the dimensional accuracy and flexibility of the measuring arm for precise measurements. This combination enables a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of parts and quick decision-making to ensure compliance with specifications.

One of our customers bought a measuring arm for reverse engineering. Discover how he uses it.

Discover the case study
Classic car poster
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