ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0002-3728-1905

Graduation Semester and Year

2021

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Robert M Taylor

Second Advisor

Ratan Kumar

Abstract

Reverse engineering is a process of recreating parts for which the tools no longer exist, reducing the cost of an original part by manufacturing it in-house or redesigning and improving the original part's function. This research demonstrates two methods to reverse engineer a part using Polyworks software, having it printed using an SLS printer and checking the accuracy of the printed part to the original scan. The part is first scanned using a Faro-Arm laser scanner to obtain the point cloud data. The two methods used to recreate and extract the STEP file are: • Exporting NURBS. • Exporting Features and Sketches. The results show the accuracy and difficulties of the two methods. Not only the NURBS generation is complex to recreate, but the CAD generated had a rough and noisy surface which is a bad result when accuracy is the primary aim, the latter method shows better accuracy on recreating the CAD and provides the reference to edit if required. The material used to print the part is Nylon 12 in standard white colour, but this work also compares different materials and printing methods which can be considered depending on the requirement.

Keywords

Reverse engineering, Polyworks

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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