Gregor Timmermans, technical manager for new parts manufacturing at Sulzer Elbar, looks at the process of measurement and material analysis for re-engineering gas turbine components. Over the last decade, the technique of reverse engineering has received a tremendous boost, mainly helped by the development of suitable hardware and software. The principle of reverse engineering, however, is as old as the repair business itself. It can be applied in its most basic form where a dimension is taken from a sound part to be used in the repair of another part. It is also possible that all dimensions are taken and a full 3D copy of the design is generated including manufacturing drawings and specifications. It is a characteristic of reverse engineering that the component already exists and is being used to gather information.
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