Outside In

This article discusses reverse engineering software is slowly changing the way design engineers do their everyday jobs. With the pervasiveness of computer-aided design packages, reverse engineering technology has become a practical tool to create a 3D virtual model of an existing physical part. This model is then available to be used in 3D CAD, computer-aided manufacturing, or other computer-aided engineering applications. The reverse engineering process needs hardware and software that work together. The hardware is used to measure an object, and the software reconstructs it as a 3D model. The physical object can be measured using 3D scanning technologies such as a coordinate measuring machine, laser scanner, structured light digitizer, or computed tomography. The wider accessibility of handheld-laser scanners and portable CMMs like the one used at Excel Foundry means more companies can afford reverse engineering for their own unique ends. The scanner has turned out to be equally useful for engineering and for local archeological and preservation projects; and so far, it has been used to help preserve endangered artifacts.