Why do engineers use reverse engineering

Reverse engineering provides the visual to work out outdated kinks in an older system. Quality is the most important aspect of this process. Discovering any product vulnerabilities Similar to the previous step, reverse engineering supports finding faults in the product. It is best for an issue to arise during the research phase rather than the distribution phase.

Succeeding includes lowering manufacturing costs and raising product effectiveness as much as possible. Creating a reliable CAD model for future reference Most reverse engineering processes include a full-working CAD file for future references.

A CAD file is created so the part can be examined digitally if future issues arise. This form of technology has enhanced engineering productivity and product expression. Inspiring creative minds with old ideas Lastly, reverse engineering gives way for innovative design. During the process, an engineer might discover a system that could be useful for a completely different project.

If an individual or an organization produces a product or idea, is it ok for others to "disassemble" the product in order to discover the inner workings? Lexmark does not think so. Since Lexmark and companies like them spend time and money to develop products, they find it unethical that others can reverse engineer their products.

There are also products like Bit Keeper that have been hurt by reverse engineering practices. Why should companies and individuals spend major resources to gather intellectual property that may be reversed engineered by competitors at a fraction of the cost? There are also benefits to reverse engineering. Reverse engineering might be used as a way to allow products to interoperate. Also reverse engineering can be used as a check so that computer software isn't performing harmful, unethical, or illegal activities.

Reverse Engineering abuse basics commerce intellectual privacy risks social speech. Index 1. What is reverse engineering RE? Reverse Engineering RE : "disassemble or analyze in detail in order to discover concepts involved in manufacture. Reverse engineering is "the process of discovering the technological principles of a mechanical application through analysis of its structure, function and operation.

That involves sometimes taking something apart and analyzing its workings in detail, usually with the intention to construct a new device or program that does the same thing without actually copying anything from the original. What are some common uses for reverse engineering? According to the Computer World , reverse engineering is commonly used: As a learning tool as a way to make new compatable products that are cheaper than what's currently on the market.

In cases where the original blueprints are long since lost or destroyed, reverse engineering is perhaps the only way to bring such products back to life. If you can obtain a working model of an old product, you can typically trace the steps of its design and use those insights to construct a new model, repair a part or improve future products. One of the most common reverse engineering applications is legacy parts replacement, which involves examining and reproducing select parts of larger machines to keep them in operation.

Every once in a while, one of the machine parts will wear out and need to be replaced. If the machine is old, certain parts might no longer be in production, either because the OEM no longer makes the part of is out of business.

While the factory could make a huge investment in a new conveyor system, the preferable option is to retain the same equipment and replace the faulty part. With reverse engineering, you can use a 3D scanner to digitally replicate the design of the defective part. From there, a new copy of the component can be created and installed into the machine.

Depending on the size and complexity of the component in question, the initial cost to have it reverse engineered could exceed the price of a newer or different model. However, once you have created a digital copy of the original design and successfully replicated the part, you can use that information to recreate the component again and again.

Reverse engineering allows you to reproduce parts that work in your preferred mechanical setups, regardless of whether the original manufacturers are still in business. This knowledge can help to complete the repair accurately and efficiently. You can then use this information to inform how you repair or service the part. The data you gain from reverse engineering can help you determine which components you need to replace to fix a given problem. It can also inform your repair process by helping you better understand how best to access, remove and replace a certain part.

Reverse engineering techniques can play a valuable role in failure analysis. If a machine fails, you may need to take it apart or examine design files to determine why. Once you have this information, you know how to fix or improve the product so that it functions properly again. Examining a product using reverse engineering can reveal damaged parts of faulty designs.

Looking at digital design files created through reverse engineering can also reveal flaws and help inform how you plan to repair a piece of equipment. Reverse engineering is also used for parts improvement. You might need to alter a component after conducting a failure analysis, or a particular might just be due for an upgrade.

If no replacement or alternative part is available on the market, you could have the part reverse engineered to create a copy of the original design. From there, you could modify the design for improved performance. If a machine requires stronger joints or weld reinforcements, the faulty parts will be examined for their measurements and redesigned with increased thickness or stronger metals. Through reverse engineering, you can determine which dimensions must be maintained and which aspects you can change.

If you could combine two or more parts into a single, more functional component, reverse engineering could bring that fact to light. Reverse engineering can also be used for diagnostics and problem-solving in a sequence of industrial processes.

In a factory setting, the flow of operations can sometimes slow due to a faulty or underperforming function. When a manufacturing system consists of numerous machines and components, it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem.

Through reverse engineering, you can determine how everything works as one and use that knowledge to identify where things can and do go wrong. Without reverse engineering, companies would be forced to replace entire machines regularly, investing vast sums of money in the process. At Astro Machine Works, we do reverse engineering for organizations in various sectors , including the aerospace, electronics and medical industries.