Reverse Engineering is the procedure of understanding an existing object better. With the knowledge of the design and working of that product, there can be several things done. That means reverse engineering is beneficial for several sectors. The popularly used method is a 3D scan to CAD, where the engineers scan the object and then move it to CAD for examination. Earlier, people used to observe objects manually and then draw them using a pencil and paper. The method was good enough, but it did incorporate a few problems:
Inaccuracy: Humans tend to make mistakes, and that fact is undeniable. With the manual method, the chances of inaccurate measurements were high. So people could not reach their desired output in a single attempt, which increased the cost of the procedure. Also, there was no guarantee of success in any number of attempts.
Unreachable Areas: Most objects or machines have those areas where it is nearly impossible for a person to access. It means that they had incomplete information about the product they are examining. That made it tough for people to scan the object for accurate results.
Then came in the game, handheld 3D scanners. They changed the way things were done in reverse engineering. These devices enabled people to scan objects with the ease of laser. So both inaccuracy and incomplete data problems were resolved with handheld 3D scanners. Moreover, they provide a smooth transmission from scan to CAD. Therefore, people can get a digital image without actually making it anywhere.
The scanners’ scan to CAD approach made the work extremely convenient for people as they could start working on the model as soon as they finish the scanning. Otherwise, they first had to draw it on the paper, and then move it to the CAD software.
Reverse Engineering For Aftermarket Parts
Now that people know how reverse engineering works and how handheld 3D scanners help in the process, it is time to move on to the technique’s uses. The most popular use of reverse engineering is for aftermarket parts. Those who do not know, aftermarket parts are the replacement components of products that are not manufactured by the original seller.
For example, imagine a person buys a car from X company, and after some time, he requires to change the wheels of the vehicle. They have two options in this case. First, to buy the new tires from the X company. Second, to buy it from third party manufacture who ensures quality. The second option is known as the aftermarket parts. Here are a few reasons why people opt for components that the manufacturer does not produce.
- Less Expensive: Usually, the aftermarket parts are inexpensive as compared to the original manufacturer parts. This is one of the prominent reasons why people buy it from some third-party dealer. These parts generally come with a warranty for the quality. So they are almost equal to the quality of the actual component.
- Discontinued Parts: After some time, the manufacturers discontinue their products, replacing them with new and innovative ones. With the product, they also stop the production of spare parts. In such a case, the person has no choice but to go for the aftermarket parts.
These points raise the demand for aftermarket parts. But how do these third-party producers are able to match the original part’s quality and design? The answer to that is reverse engineering. By using handheld 3D scanners, they understand how the pieces are originally made. After that, they transfer scan to CAD to create the model of the component they want to design. Then they construct the same part in as much less price as possible while keeping the quality intact. That is one of the reasons why they are available cheap.
There are several development tools. But most of the aftermarket part developers use CAD because of its ease to use and its compatibility with most of the handheld 3D scanners.
Conclusion:
The demand for aftermarket parts is already high, and it is expected to increase in the coming years. That raises the use of reverse engineering to construct high-quality components at a lower price. And it can only be done using a handheld 3D scanner, which can easily cover the entire element with its laser. It makes the work not only efficient but also highly convenient.
