Unified review of 3D model generation for reverse engineering

Reverse engineering is a methodology for constructing CAD models of physical parts whose drawings are not available by digitizing an existing prototype, creating a computer model and then using it to manufacture the component. This paper presents a review of the techniques available for reverse engineering, with particular emphasis on the three-dimensional model generation. The different steps involved in the process are described, and then a number of techniques available for the model generation from the point data are illustrated. These are then compared with regards to speed, accuracy and domain of problems solved. Thus, this paper brings together the literature on the subject in a unified way.