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A software package for the reverse engineering of surface forms commonly found in manufactured objects is presented. An object's surface is digitized using a three-dimensional, laser-based scanner that produces accurate and copious data files. Complex surface forms are reconstructed by interactively segmenting the multiple-surface patches, invoking the appropriate surface modelling routine and transferring the resulting surfaces to a CAD package via a standard IGES entity. Examples of the accuracy of the laser scanner data, and software algorithms for modelling planes, cylinders, cones and spheres, are presented by performing comparisons with results generated by a coordinate measuring machine. The paper concentrates on the novel software process to model the principal quadric forms; however, the program's capabilities do extend to free-form surfaces.

Reverse engineering involves digitizing a three-dimensional model or part, by means of a tactile or non-contact optical sensor, converting the data to a CAD (computer aided design) database description and manufacturing by CNC (computer numerical controlled) machines. This paper demonstrates an effective approach to the reverse engineering of physical models by employing a three-dimensional laser scanning system in conjunction with surface-fitting software developed by the authors. Accurate surface data are collected by the laser scanner and then input to the surface-fitting software. Surface entities such as B-spline and quadric functions are employed to build the CAD model. The CAD model is compatible with popular design and manufacturing software packages. A telephone receiver is used to illustrate the efficiency of the process.