Development capability profiles of selected reverse engineering techniques

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Reverse engineering (RE) has emerged as an important tool in the design stages of a product. Thedemand for better performance of hardware and software has spawned many different technologiesthat fall under RE. The diversity of technologies is linked to the different application areas ofindustry. It is critical to understand what the exact capability of each individual technology is, inorder to choose the appropriate RE system.The objective of this study is to develop capability profiles of different RE technologies available,such as: Coordinate Measuring Machine, Articulated Arm (Cimcore), Non-contact scanner (GOM),and contact scanner (Renishaw). To achieve the objective, the different characteristics of eachtechnology are measured and quantified.A capability profile can be regarded as defined criteria that represent the performance of a REtechnology and in this study, is defined by quantifying the following characteristics: Accuracy Repeatability Speed of Measurement Work Envelope User-friendliness.The significance of developing these capability profiles is so that they may be compared to oneanother. This is important, especially for the accuracy criterion, as each technology is manufacturedby a different company, making an acceptable accuracy comparison amongst the differenttechnologies impossible.The study also suggests an evaluation tool which will help a decision maker choose the appropriatetechnology for a specified objective. Guidelines are also given to potential end users of REtechnologies on how they should go about acquiring the right system.On a more general level, the study contributes to research in recent trends, in the RE industry interms of application, hardware, software and the selection of RE systems.By developing these capability profiles, the study aims to contribute to its value in academia, as wellas for industry partners and potential RE end-users.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University