Reverse engineering employing a 3D laser scanner: A case study

An important step in many manufacturing processes is the definition of the three-dimensional form of an object's shape. A common example is the definition of a designer's model created in clay or wood. A three-dimensional laser scanner offers the advantage of speed and non-contact sensing compared to traditional touch probe sensing. The three-dimensional data produced have been used in a multi-patch reverse engineering program in order to model objects where many types of surface patches, such as quadric and free-form, are blended together on one object. The surface reconstruction algorithms have been demonstrated to provide accurate and smooth surfaces that are suitable for CAD database integration and CNC machine toolpath generation. The algorithms have been implemented in an interactive 3D surface modelling program that produces surfaces compatible with current CAD/CAM systems. The application of the technology to the reverse engineering of a typical injection moulded part is described.