Reverse Engineering

This task can be trivial or complex depending on the desired outcome. Sometimes simply defining the functionality and creating a new PCB is more cost effective. Sometimes all the previous design work has been lost and the only thing left is a PCB or Gerber files from the PCB manufacturer. Designs can be recreated from the Gerbers or PCB’s to enable product refinements or to just complete the documentation package.

Firmware is more difficult to reverse engineer and it is usually better to define the functions and write new software. Copyright issues are also a sticking point, so writing new firmware is appropriate.

For mechanical reverse engineering, it is possible to use 3D scanners to rough in the shapes into Solidworks, and then have a detail designer complete the work.