Innovation > Processes > Reverse Engineering

Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering is an integrated part of the design and engineering process and can be used inside all disciplines of these automotive processes. In most cases a product or system will be investigated to understand the exact product/system, operation or demands. The reason behind can be benchmarking or the intention to develop a competitive product or system.

Reverse engineering is a legal way of designing but has to be accomplished under strictly legal boundary conditions.

In general Reverse engineering can be described as study to make a subject understandable. The term Reverse engineering is also used when a CAD model is made from a for instance hand made clay-model of a new or already existing product or unit.

In automotive we know the example of a car-body clay-model. The translation is most of the time based on a scan process. (laser-scanner, 3D-coordinating measuring bench , or a stereovisic camera)

Example of scanning a model:

1. 1. Original model will be scanned.
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3. 2. Digital model of 3D coordinates.
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5. 3. The 3D coordinates are translated into lines by a CAD program.
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7. 4. The lines will be translated into surfaces.
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9. 5. With a 3D milling machine or a milling-robot a copy of the original will be made.

Source: Daimler AG.


Discussion
The automotive forum at the network section contains a special Reverse Engineering forum where you can discuss on this topic.