Do I need the physical part in hand, or can you work from photos?

We absolutely need the physical part. Reverse engineering relies on precise 3D laser scanning to capture exact geometries down to the thousandth of an inch. Photos cannot provide the dimensional accuracy required for manufacturing.

How accurate is a reverse-engineered part compared to the original?

Our Faro scanning equipment is incredibly precise, capturing data within thousandths of an inch. However, the final CAD model is often 'idealized'—meaning we correct for wear, tear, and manufacturing defects present in the original physical part to give you a perfect design file.

How long does reverse engineering usually take for a single part?

Scanning can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day depending on complexity. Translating that scan data into a clean, parametric CAD model typically takes a few days to a week. Complex assemblies will take longer.

What file format will I get back — can I use it in my own CAD software?

We provide standard parametric CAD formats like STEP or IGES files, which can be imported into SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, and most other modern CAD platforms. We can also provide native SolidWorks files upon request.

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REVERSE ENGINEERING

Turning an existing part into usable data, drawings, and production-ready files.

Reverse Engineering

June 12, 2024

How Reverse Engineering Brings Obsolete Parts Back to Life

In the world of manufacturing, encountering obsolete parts is an all-too-common challenge. Whether it's a discontinued component or an outdated machine...

Reverse Engineering

April 7, 2024

Giving New Life to Old Parts: The Power of Reverse Engineering in Manufacturing

Remember the time when you had to dispose of a machine part because it was no longer in production? The frustration of not being able to find the exact...

Reverse Engineering

March 7, 2024

Why Reverse Engineering is a Must for Automotive Innovation

Setting off into the landscape of automotive innovation, reverse engineering stands as the beacon guiding us toward groundbreaking solutions. It’s the...

Reverse Engineering

December 22, 2023

Unlocking Automotive Innovation: The Power of Reverse Engineering

In an era where technological advancement shapes the future of industries, the automotive sector stands at the forefront, embracing "Automotive Reverse...

Reverse Engineering

December 2, 2021

What Is the Purpose of Reverse Engineering?

Engineering has come a long way over the years. The innovation and versatility of the industry have been highlighted with technological advances, leaving...

Reverse Engineering

April 3, 2019

File Types That Can Be Generated with Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering is a process that helps you take existing models, parts, and assemblies and generate 3D data that can be manipulated and reproduced....

Reverse Engineering

March 12, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering is a process that lets you take parts, existing models, and assemblies and use them to generate 3D data. The scanned data can then be...

Reverse Engineering

February 25, 2019

Turnaround Times for Reverse Engineering a Part

With the advances in technology, many people think that reverse engineering is as simple as doing a quick scan and receiving a complete 3D CAD model the...

Reverse Engineering

January 29, 2019

Steps Involved in Reverse Engineering a Part

Reverse engineering is the process of duplicating an existing component, subassembly, or product without having the original drawings, documentation, or...

Have an obsolete part or an existing design you need reproduced? See what our Reverse Engineering, Inspection, and Rapid Prototyping team can do, or keep exploring related articles below. Reverse Engineering, Inspection, and Rapid Prototyping

When Does a Part Actually Need Reverse Engineering?

Reverse engineering is a powerful tool, but it's not always the right first step. Knowing when to reverse engineer an existing part versus starting a fresh design can save significant time and money.

The Case for Reverse Engineering

A part is a prime candidate for reverse engineering when the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is out of business, the part is obsolete, or no CAD drawings exist. It's also ideal when you need to design a new component that must mate perfectly with complex, existing geometry where manual measurement would be inaccurate.

When a Fresh Design is Better

If the existing part has known flaws, fails frequently, or was designed for a manufacturing process you don't intend to use (like a cast part you want to machine), reverse engineering will just copy those flaws. In these cases, it's better to extract the critical mounting dimensions and redesign the part for better performance and manufacturability.

The Modification Middle Ground

Often, the best approach is hybrid: we scan the existing part to capture its complex mounting interfaces, then modify the resulting CAD model to improve strength, reduce weight, or adapt it for a new function.