REVERSE ENGINEERING
& 3D SCANNING
Reverse engineering is the process of starting with an existing physical component and taking the necessary steps to turn this into a digital file. This digital file can then be further modified as required or used to duplicate the original part.
This process is particularly useful where parts have become damaged and replacements are no longer available.
A typical example of this is shown in the picture to the right, where the original gear (left) is missing teeth. This could be 3D scanned and then finished in CAD to replace the teeth. The centre and right images show the gear replicated using both the MJF and SLA processes.
MANUAL REVERSE ENGINEERING
vs 3D SCANNING
For simple parts, reverse engineering can be completed by manually taking dimensions from the original part and transferring these into CAD.
For more complex parts, 3D scanning can be used to create an exact copy of the original geometry.
If you are not sure which method is best for your project, please send us a picture of the original part and we can let you know which is more suitable and cost effective.