Reverse engineering techniques: From 3D scanning to the CAD file in the concrete industry

Figure 1a+b: University of Perugia

Reverse engineering from auto-surfacing. a) CAD surface; b) mesh

Figure 1a+b: University of Perugia

Figure 2a+b+c: University of Perugia

Reverse engineering from CAD entity extraction. a) mesh; b) extracted CAD entities; c) CAD model from trimmed entities

Figure 2a+b+c: University of Perugia

Figure 3a+b: University of Perugia

Total reverse engineering. a) completely redesigned CAD model; b) mesh

Figure 3a+b: University of Perugia

Maria Cristina Valigi
Associate Professor of Mechanics of Machines at University of Perugia – Italy. Her research interests are: Tribology (lubrication models, contact models and wear measures), mechanical vibrations, modeling and control of mechanical systems.

Silvia Logozzo
Mechanical Engineer for Automation and Robotics, PhD in Industrial Engineering, expert in Mechatronic Systems and Scanning Systems. Researcher in Applied Mechanics at University of Perugia and Research and Innovation Manager at V-GER SRL Bologna.

Gabriele Canella
Expert in 3D Scanning, Industrial Design, CAD-CAM. He was a pioneer in the use of optical scanning in several fields. Creator and developer of 3D Scanning, Modeling and Reverse Engineering hardware and software.

Franco de Angelis
Industrial engineering and project collaborator at Laboratory-SERMS SRL-Terni-Italy
His interests are mechanical, dynamic and CFD simulation programs with a particular attention to the aerospace world and also in programming, and data analysis.

The use of a CAD model is essential in many activities, such as manufacturing, design and mechanics. This paper describes the various reverse engineering techniques and how this procedure, associated with 3D scanning, can be advantageously applied to the concrete industry for digital production and for empowering and optimizing production plants.

The use of a CAD model is essential in many activities, such as manufacturing, design and mechanics. Reverse engineering is the procedure for reconstructing the CAD model of an object or component from measurements gathered by surveys of the object itself. Naturally, the measurements on the components can be performed using different techniques and instruments, but, currently, the best and most effective technique for geometrical surveys of objects is 3D scanning by means of 3D optical non-contact scanners.

This paper describes the various reverse engineering techniques and how this procedure,...