How Reverse Engineering Benefits from 3D Scanning?

HANGZHOU, China - June 30, 2023 - PRLog -- What Is Reverse Engineering?

Reverse engineering, also called backwards engineering, is the process of analyzing a physical object to understand how it works and create a digital model of it. This technique can be used to create new versions of products or to improve obsolete ones. It is a valuable tool for engineers and designers to work with existing products that lack technical documentation or CAD models.

The techniques for revere engineering have evolved from manual measurements to 3D scanning, which provides a variety of possibilities.

3D Scanning in Reverse Engineering

High-tech 3D scanning for reverse engineering (https://www.3d-scantech.com/solution/reverse-engineering/) is a technology that captures the 3D data of objects by using lasers or structured lights, from which you can obtain information about their shapes and dimensions. From 3D scanning, users can obtain point clouds that represent the surfaces of objects and can be converted into mesh models.

Categories of Measuring Methods

There are different types of measurements available for backwards engineering applications, depending on the size, complexity, accuracy requirement, and material properties of the object to be scanned. Some common categories are:

Contact Probes: Engineers use probes to measure the object's surface and obtain its coordinates. Contact scanners are accurate but slow and may damage delicate or soft objects.

Non-contact 3D Laser Scanners: Non-contact handheld 3D laser scanners (https://www.3d-scantech.com/3d-scanners/) for reverse engineering mainly falls into two categories, 3D laser scanner and structured-light 3D scanner. By emitting laser beams onto the objects, professional 3D laser scanners can obtain the coordinates of points on the surfaces and objects' shapes.

Non-contact Structured-light 3D Scanners: Portable 3D scanners project patterns onto objects and use cameras to record how they deform on their surfaces. Therefore, these 3D scanners can obtain the geometrical details and even colors and textures of products. No-contact 3D scanners are versatile, accurate, and fast to capture 3D data. They can conduct full-field 3D scanning without causing any damage to objects. Some of these 3D scanners may have difficulties with reflective, dark, or transparent surfaces.

Photogrammetry: This technique uses multiple images taken from different angles to reconstruct the shape of an object. Photogrammetry is easy to use but requires high-quality images and may not capture fine details.

Scantech's Industrial 3D Scanners for Reverse Engineering

KSCAN-Magic series 3D laser scanner (https://www.3d-scantech.com/product/kscan-magic-composite...) is the first that combines infrared and blue lasers into one single instrument.

It offers five standard working modes:

Large-area scanning (global initiative infrared laser)

Fast scanning (blue laser crosses)

Fine scanning (blue parallel laser)

Deep-hole scanning (single blue laser)

Built-in photogrammetry system.