Reverse engineering technology - material and substance investigation
Introduction
When using reverse engineering to repair old machinery and restore parts, one of the biggest headaches is determining the material of the parts.
If the part is made from the same material as the damaged part, some people may think that since the original part is still available, it would be easy to distinguish by measuring it with a measuring tool or by looking at the color, but this is not always the case.
In this column, we will discuss material identification issues and methods for determining materials and quality.
Why is it difficult to identify materials?
1. Wide variety
For example, stainless steel, which is known for being rust-resistant, can be roughly classified into austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic types based on its properties.
They are further classified according to their uses and the ingredients they contain, so there are a huge number of different types.
Therefore, it is not easy to identify them by their purpose or appearance.
2. It is difficult to distinguish by appearance
Although the color and luster vary depending on the material, they are generally silver in color.
Identifying by color is extremely difficult, and it becomes even more difficult if the surface is plated or painted.
3. Measuring materials is difficult
There are handy X-ray fluorescence analyzers that can be easily used to measure metal materials, but they have a weakness in that they are not suitable for measuring carbon content.
To accurately measure the amount of carbon, carbon and sulfur analyzers (combustion method) are available, but this has the drawback of requiring the removal of part of the material being tested, which can damage the original part.
So how do you choose the right material for parts when reverse engineering? We will cover some important points in our next column.
Please contact us if you need assistance with drawing machines or machine parts!
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about machinery, including old machines that are no longer working properly.
If you have any problems with your old machine, please feel free to contact us using the inquiry form below!
Enhanced safety features through reverse engineering: Area sensors
Introduction Reverse engineering often involves requests to recreate parts from older machinery that are no longer supported. However, many older machines prioritize production capacity and do not meet modern safety standards, and the machines are problematic…
Enhanced safety features through reverse engineering – Double switch
Introduction Reverse engineering often involves requests to recreate parts from older machinery that are no longer supported. However, many older machines prioritize production capacity and do not meet modern safety standards, and the machines are problematic…
Reverse Engineering for Enhanced Safety – Safety Fences
Introduction Reverse engineering often involves requests to recreate parts from older machinery that are no longer supported. However, many older machines prioritize production capacity and do not meet modern safety standards, and the machines are problematic…
Reverse Engineering and Components ~Screw Shafts~
Introduction When older machinery is beyond repair, we receive inquiries about reverse engineering. While we receive inquiries about a wide variety of machines, there are certain parts that we are surprisingly often asked to work on. This column will discuss such parts…
Reverse Engineering: How to Avoid Failure? Part 2
Introduction: Reverse engineering is a technique that can repair parts of machines whose support has ended, but it cannot repair all products and parts, and there is a possibility of failure. This column will explain how to perform reverse engineering…
Difficult even with the physical object? Reverse Engineering of Gears
Introduction Gears are a common subject of reverse engineering requests due to their failure. While the basic mechanism of power transmission is the same, the shapes and combinations of gears vary greatly depending on their application. Even I, the author, discover something new every time I research gears…
Points to note when choosing grease
Introduction: Most machines with rotating parts, such as shafts, use bearings. Inside the bearings, grease is sealed to prevent wear and ensure smooth operation. Different types of grease are used depending on the application…
Reverse Engineering Techniques: Material Selection Based on Application (Part 3)
Introduction When using reverse engineering to repair old machines and restore parts, the material of the part can be a headache. If you make a new part using the same material as the damaged part, you can't easily distinguish it by measuring it with measuring tools or by looking at its color because the original part is still available...
What are the advantages of 3D printers that shine through reverse engineering?
Introduction 3D printers have become commonplace, not only in the manufacturing industry but also among many people who use them personally as a hobby. However, there are many advantages to effectively utilizing 3D printers in the field of reverse engineering. This time…
What are the essential points to check when reverse engineering!? <Part 3 - Components>
Introduction Reverse engineering, while a broad term, deals with a wide variety of machines and parts. Analyzing such diverse objects using reverse engineering is no easy task. In fact, when proceeding with reverse engineering…
Reverse Engineering Techniques: Material Selection Based on Application (Part 2)
Introduction When using reverse engineering to repair old machines and restore parts, the material of the part can be a headache. If you make a new part using the same material as the damaged part, you can't easily distinguish it by measuring it with measuring tools or by looking at its color because the original part is still available...
Reverse Engineering Techniques - Selecting Materials by Use, Part 1
Introduction When using reverse engineering to repair old machines and restore parts, the material of the part can be a headache. If you make a new part using the same material as the damaged part, you can't easily distinguish it by measuring it with measuring tools or by looking at its color because the original part is still available...
Reverse Engineering Techniques - Material and Substance Investigation Part 2
Introduction When using reverse engineering to repair old machines and restore parts, the material of the part can be a headache. If you make a new part using the same material as the damaged part, you can't easily distinguish it by measuring it with measuring tools or by looking at its color because the original part is still available...
How to avoid failure in reverse engineering? Part 1
Introduction Reverse engineering is a technique that can restore parts of machines that are no longer supported, but it cannot restore all products or parts, and there is a possibility that it will fail. In this column, we will explain how to reverse engineer...
Examples of reverse machining of molds made by other companies
Introduction When you have trouble with an old machine, the most common problem is repairing broken parts. If there are drawings for the parts, you can recreate them based on those, but with old molds, there are often no drawings, so repairs are often abandoned...