Reverse engineering as a term is adopted by many industry subsets. From genetics, computer code, complex PCBs (printed circuit boards), and even military espionage. In this article, we are specifically relating to a metrology-driven process steered by high-precision 3D data acquisition tools. These processes are paramount to the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. These industries rely on the process so much, they help drive the hardware and software to improve quality and efficiency of the process.
What is reverse engineering in the context of the metrology world? Simply, the process of taking a tangible object, and converting it into a digital format. Complexly, there are a variety of paths to be taken to accomplish this goal. It starts with a data acquisition process, commonly a collection of millions of points in 3D space through an optical source. Those optical sources are comprised of lasers or structured light reflecting off the object to be measured and reporting back 3D values through a singular, or multiple arrays of sensors. The quality of the digital input traditionally correlates to the hardware being used. This critical step sets up the success of the digital reverse engineering process. Garbage in, garbage out. Once the 3D volumetric data is captured, the heavy lifting begins in the software. The next step is leveraging software to convert that 3D point cloud into a usable format for its next step in the process, be it additive 3D printing, CNC machining, or just visualization for a complex assembly.