Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Australia, 1997.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the School of Computer Science. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2007/08/30). Includes bibliographical references.

Stuttgart, Univ., Diplomarb., 2001.

Stuttgart, Univ., Diplomarb., 2004.

Diss.--Universität Köln, 2008/2009. / Includes bibliographical references and index.

Berlin, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2003. / Computerdatei im Fernzugriff.

Although we cannot show a direct link between tool adoption and tool interoperability in this thesis, we have completed the first step by increasing our understanding of interoperability. This thesis shows how to use existing technology such as XML, SOAP and GXL to improve interoperability. Although the ideas behind XML are not new, XML has been used to increase interoperability between systems. While the goal is to improve interoperability, we also keep in mind other software engineering design concerns, such as ease of maintenance and scalability. To evaluate our ideas about improving interoperability, we completed a prototype, which allows us to compare our approach to other existing systems. Our prototype is a reverse engineering tool for which existing systems and requirements are readily available. Some of the more relevant requirements include tool customization, persistence, tool deployment and interoperability. These requirements were combined with the reverse engineering requirements in the design stages of development in the hope of creating a more cohesive system. In our quest to improve interoperability of reverse engineering tools, we considered three types of integration. Data integration refers to the extent to which applications can share or use each other's data. Control integration is the ability of one system to request another system to perform some action. Process integration is similar to other forms of integration in so far as it looks at how to easily move between two user processes or actions. In this thesis we compare our prototype, the ACRE Engine, with the Rigi system. The comparison focused on our understanding of interoperability. We found that the Rigi system has many data integration features-most of which stem from its proprietary data format, Rigi Standard Format (RSF). Rigi's ability to integrate control between applications is restricted to file system messages. We did find the Rigi system could complete process integration tasks effectively. In this thesis we show that the ACRE System is at least as good, and in most cases better than the existing Rigi system with respect to the three forms of interoperability mentioned above.

Seit geraumer Zeit wird im Maschinenbau (und nicht nur dort) mit Reverse Engineering ein komplexes Vorgehen im Entwicklungsprozess bezeichnet. Bislang getrennt und in Etappen ablaufende Vorgehensweisen werden durch den Rechnereinsatz integriert. Schlüssel dafür sind computergrafische Algorithmen, die es erlauben, aus Scan-, Röntgen- und Messdaten (Punktwolken) Oberflächen zu rekonstruieren. Die als Polygonnetze beschriebenen Oberflächen können für CAD und CAM, für Optimierungsverfahren (FEM) oder für die Qualitätssicherung (Werkstoffprüfung) genutzt werden. [... aus der Einleitung]

Here explored is a method by which designers can use the tool of topology optimization to numerically improve barriers to reverse engineering. Recently developed metrics, which characterize the time (T) to reverse engineer a product, enable this optimization. A key parameter use din the calculation of T is information content (K). The method presented in this thesis pursues traditional topology optimization objectives while simultaneously maximizing K, and thus T, in the resulting topology. This thesis presents new algorithms to 1) evaluate K for any topology, 2)increase K for a topology by manipulating macro-scale geometry and micro-scale crystallographic information for each element, and 3) simultaneously maximize K and minimize structural compliance(a traditional topology optimization objective). These algorithms lead designers to desirable topologies with increased barriers to reverse engineering. It is concluded that barriers to reverse engineering can indeed be increased without sacrificing the desirable structural characteristic of compliance. This has been shown through the example of a novel electrical contact for a consumer electronics product.

Published Article / The development of innovative products and their realisation by means of advanced manufacturing methods and process combinations is more becoming a key issue in international competitiveness. The industrial production is subsequently influenced ever more by the possibilities that Rapid Technologies -Rapid Modelling and Reverse Engineering, Rapid Prototyping and Tooling, Rapid Manufacturing can offer. Reverse Engineering (RE) is the process of digitising a physical object to obtain computerised data for further development as opposed to manufacturing a product from a digital model, e.g. CNC machining. This paper reflects experiences gained in the use of RE approaches for industrial applications, comparing specifically the use of tactile methods and digitising techniques based on photogrammetry principles. Process capabilities and the internal process chain are scrutinised. Practical case studies are presented and discussed with an emphasis on project lead times and dimensional accuracy obtained. Particular attention is paid to challenges related to surface recreation and manufacture of tooling for various components. The purpose of the paper is therefore to highlight the capabilities and wide range of applications for Reverse Engineering, while at the same time outlining pitfalls and limitations of this remarkable technology.