Learn about Reverse Engineering
Reverse Engineering can be defined as the process wherein a device’s, object’s, or system’s technological principles are discovered by analyzing its operation, function, and structure. It often refers to detaching something, say- a software program, electronic equipment, or mechanical device and carrying out the analysis of its workability in detail. This is done in order to manufacture a new program or device which performs the same function without doubling anything from original.
Motivation: Reasons behind the emergence of reverse engineering include interoperability, lost documentation which means loss or non-existence of documentation of the concerned device, product analysis, security auditing, exclusion of protection of copy, circumvention of restrictions regarding access, and fraud.
Rapid Prototyping of ‘mechanical devices’ : With the ever-increasing popularity of CAD, ‘reverse engineering’ has proven to be a blessing for creation of ‘3D virtual model’ of the on hand physical part to be used in 3D CAE, CAM, CAD and many other soft wares. The measuring of physical object can be done by making use of ‘#D scanning technologies’ such as computed tomography, ‘structured light digitizers’, laser scanners, and CMMs. The data that is measured usually gets represented as ‘point cloud’. It is devoid of topological information. That’s why, the processing and modelling takes place into usable format like a ‘triangular faced mesh’, CAD model, or a collection of surfaces of NURBS. Applications such as Polyworks, Image ware, Geomagic, or Rapidform are used for processing the ‘point clouds’ into the formats that can be used in applications like 3D CAE, CAM, CAD or visualization.
Reverse Engineering of ‘software’ : The term ‘reverse engineering’ differs from person to person when applied in terms of software. Reverse engineering is a bit complicated but simply it is the process that involved looking at the subject system in order to create its representation at the higher level. This level might be called the ‘level of abstraction’. As far as software is concerned, reverse engineering can be described as an examination process only. There is no modification from the software point of view. The use of ‘software anti-tamper technology’ takes place in order to deter reengineering and reverse engineering of the software-powered systems and proprietary software.
Two major reverse engineering types exist in the present scenario. In the first type, source code is available, but program’s greater level aspects are poorly documented or invalidated. If you look at the second type, you will not find a source code. Any efforts made in this direction would be termed as ‘reverse engineering’. The 2nd use is that which majority of people know. ‘Reverse Engineering of software’ is implied at making use of ‘clean room design’ technique for avoiding infringing copyrights. In today’s world, around 95% of reverse engineering consists of ‘reverse engineering of software’.
On the other hand, ‘black box testing’ in ‘software engineering’ has many similarities to reverse engineering. The tester normally possesses the API. However, their main goal is to locate undocumented features and bugs by smashing the products from the outside. This process is used for customizing the embedded systems as well.
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Learn abour the Difference between Prototyping and Rapid Prototyping
Rapid Prototyping can be defined as the process of constructing physical objects automatically by making use of ‘solid freeform fabrication’. The initial techniques regarding Rapid Prototyping came into being in late 1980s. They were then used for producing prototype parts and models. In today’s world, they are being used for much wider applications. For instance- manufacture of quality parts. This technology is used by certain sculptors for producing complex shapes in order to display them in ‘fine arts exhibitions’.
Origin: Prototyping has taken virtual designs through ‘animation modeling software’ or ‘computer aided design (CAD)’. Thereafter, transformation into virtual, thin, horizontal cross-sections takes place. Each cross-section then gets created in the physical space. This process goes on till the model gets completed. It is better known as WYSIWYG process. Let’s understand this process in detail.
WYSIWYG: WYSIWYG as the abbreviation for ‘What You See Is What You Get’. It is used in ‘computing’ for describing a system wherein content looks similar to final product at the time of editing. It is generally used in word processors. However, this use is in the form of HTML (Web) authoring. The popularization of this phrase was carried out by the comedian ‘Flip Wilson’. His character ‘Geraldine’ used to say this very often to give an excuse against her idiosyncratic behavior.
This expression came to be applied later to computer-based applications as practicality in technology arrived. At times, it is phonetically spelt as ‘Wizzywig’ or ‘Wizywig’. It has also been used as a brand name for a ‘lighting design tool’ utilized in theatre industry to pre-visualize the shows and 3D CAD.
The process further : The additional fabrication causes the machine to read data from CAD drawing. What you will find next, is that you will have layers of powder, sheet material or even liquid that are laid down. Likewise, a model gets built-up from a chain of cross-sections. Such layers, corresponding to CAD model’s virtual cross section, are then fused automatically or joined together for creating the ultimate shape. The easiest way to explain the biggest benefit of additive fabrication is that anything can be created using this feature.
The CAD software and machines are interfaced by the ‘standard data interface’ in the ‘STL file format’. The function of STL file is approximating the shape of an assembly or a part by making use of triangular facets. You will only get a higher quality surface if it is produced by smaller facets.
The word ‘rapid’ can be used relatively. The construction of models using present-day methods could take time ranging from a few hours to a few days. This depends on the technique used, along with the complexity and size of the model. The additive systems take less time. They can produce models within some hours. Some techniques such as ‘solid freedom fabrication’ make use of two materials for construction of parts. The 1st material is known as ‘part material’ and the 2nd one as ‘support material’. The removal of support material takes place by heat. It might also be dissolved with water or any other solvent. Plastic products that are going to be produced in large quantities you will find that injection molding is a cheaper alternative.
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