HARDWARE REVERSE ENGINEERING

Techniques now exist for visually scanning mechanical parts and generating CAD models from them, using machine vision technology; for example, the REFAB (Reverse Engineering - Feature Based) tool available from the Department of Computer Science of the University of Utah (2) and ARL's site. In REFAB, a laser digitiser is used to the scan the part, and the analysis software then analyses the shape of the part, using features which are based on typical machining operations, to generate a computerised manufacturing description which can be displayed, used to copy the product, or produce new products using the design.