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Reverse Engineering
Precise data of a model is crucial for successful 3D printing. But they do not always have to be manually recorded and built up in a CAD file. With the help of Reverse Engineering or 3D scanning using computer tomography, you can generate high-quality print data for your object in a short time.Manual CAD design is time-consuming and prone to errors. Save time and money by collecting 3D data of your products via Reverse Engineering. In this process, an already existing object is analysed in order to create plans and design data based on it.
Why Reverse Engineering?
3D scanning for Reverse Engineering is a time- and labor-saving step to create print data of a finished object. This advantage is particularly evident when scanning large or complex objects. Possible corrections or individualizations can be made directly in the 3D data.
Reverse Engineering is always a good option if no 3D print data of an object is available or if the product has been subsequently modified and processed. The use of Reverse Engineering is also imaginable for the planned reproduction of manually created individual pieces.
Reverse Engineering and Optical 3D Scanning
The commonly used 3D scanning with cameras, lasers or stripe light projectors is an effective method to create simple, basic 3D data of an object. Thus, simple 3D scans can already be created with a smartphone and the right app. The strength of conventional 3D scanning with optical methods lies primarily in the representation of the exterior: The size, shape and surface properties of an object can be captured and mapped using 3D scanners.
When it comes to the exact structure of an object, however, simple 3D scanners reach their limits: Internal structures, complex shapes and material properties cannot be captured and mapped without post-processing. However, this data is indispensable for reproducing an object using 3D printing. Simple 3D scanning with optical methods is therefore not ideal for Reverse Engineering. This requires a technology that captures an object holistically and creates a complete three-dimensional image.
3D Scanning with Computed Tomography (CT)
In medical diagnostics, image-based computed tomography has been known for a long time. With its advantages, CT technology also makes itself suitable for the detailed creation of 3D models. The deep, layer-by-layer scan of a body serves as the basis for the precise creation of 3D data of an object.
For this purpose, the object to be inspected is positioned on a turntable in a CT scanner and a large number of X-ray projections are taken from different angles. The projection images are then processed by a reconstruction system to produce a three-dimensional image. The information generated in this way can be used to detect dimensional deviations and defects, even in complex components.
Details can be imaged with an accuracy of up to 10 µm.
Advantages of Reverse Engineering
- Lost or non-existent 3D data can be generated from manually manufactured objects using Reverse Engineering.
- Reverse Engineering saves a significant amount of time and labor compared to the manual creation of CAD data.
- Data created in the CT scan is highly precise, up to an accuracy of 10 µm.
- If an object has been modified afterwards, these modifications are recorded in the 3D scan for future production.
- Potential sources of error can be identified from the 3D data before production begins.
Limits of Reverse Engineering
When performing an CT scan, so-called artifacts can occur that negatively influence the result of the scan. The occurrence of these artifacts and thus the suitability of the component for the scanning process depends primarily on these factors:
- Object size: above a certain dimension, objects can only be scanned to a limited extent.
- Object thickness: The more massive the surface being scanned is, the more the CAD data generated will differ from the original component.
- Material type: If the material has a too high density, this may influence the scan.
- Material combinations: Objects to be scanned must consist of a homogeneous material. If different materials are used, the data may be evaluated incorrectly.
