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R&D or Reverse Engineering
In today’s competitive world, manufacturers are always struggling to stay ahead and gain market share. To do this, they are constantly monitoring new patents; in addition, they use a technique called reverse engineering to evaluate competing products. In addition to this, reverse engineering is commonly used to determine the specifications for “aftermarket” replacement parts; these are then manufactured and sold without the original manufacturers’ participation. Naturally, the techniques and equipment used to reverse engineer a part are dependent on the part in question. These techniques can be as simple as calipers (or a micrometer), or they can be highly sophisticated pieces of vacuum equipment that perform elemental analysis of very thin surfaces.
Determining the dimensions of an aftermarket part is a good example of reverse engineering. The process starts with measuring all the part dimensions. This is readily done with a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). This piece of equipment has an accuracy of better than 100 millionths of an inch, and it can produce the dimensions in the same format that one would use with a computer drawing program (i.e. AutoCAD). Incidentally, the accuracy and repeatability of the CMM is much better than that normally specified for mechanical parts. Once a sample part (or a number of representative parts) has been measured, the engineer must determine which dimensions are critical and what are their allowable tolerances (these are often tighter than the general tolerances used for the part). Identifying the critical dimensions and determining their tolerances is accomplished by understanding the use of the part and knowing how the part fits together in the overall assembly. Often a potential customer will participate with the manufacturer when defining the critical dimensions. The remaining tolerances on the other dimensions are normally determined by using the standard tolerances dictated by the technique used to make that aspect of the part.
The legal challenge is IP if the copied part in question was honestly developed either through acceptable reverse engineering procedures or independent research and development (or a combination of both). The part development would not be legitimate if drawings from the original part had been used. In such a dispute, the legal team should include a person has extensive experience in patents, research and development, reverse engineering, measurement techniques and part evaluation.
Dr. Thomas L. Read at www.ipexperts.com has the knowledge and background to aid you in making a valid determination as to how a part (or process) was developed. He is a patent holder with more 30 years of manufacturing experience. In addition, he is experienced in process development and part design, measurement, dimensioning and manufacturing. He also has extensive experience in materials analysis, layer profiling and other critical reverse engineering techniques. Dr. Read has worked in all aspects of manufacturing; this includes research and development, new product introduction (including pilot line production) and in manufacturing. He has also performed reverse engineering on many occasions. This hands on experience is important, and it allows him a unique insight into the development of a product.
-Thomas L. Read, Ph.D.
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Reverse Engineering - Aftermarket Manufacturing
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A Division of Technical Assistance Bureau, Inc.