Aging Augers: A Reverse Engineering Case Study
It’s not uncommon for customers to come to Industrial Works with an assembly or part that’s in need of repair or maintenance. These situations are straightforward – we develop a plan to restore the part to working order and then execute it so our customer can get back to work. In some instances, however, these worn-out or damaged parts are simply beyond repair. What can be done then?
The answer lies in Industrial Works’s reverse engineering process! Using as little as your original, fatigued part, our designers can recreate models and reproduce a brand-new part that’s ready for use in your existing systems. Read on to learn about a recent case study that we undertook for a customer in need of a bit of reverse engineering assistance!
The Point of No Return
Recently, a vegetable and produce company got in touch with our team. One of their stainless-steel blancher augers was wearing out, and it needed repair soon to prevent work stoppages during upcoming harvesting seasons. After having the large part shipped to our facility, our path forward became clear.
This auger was in no condition for repair. The metal was clearly suffering from significant fatigue cracks, and corrosion had eaten through many welds, compromising the integrity of the original part. With refurbishment out of the question, our team was left with one solid option. We were going to have to reverse engineer the part. This would be no small task – this massive auger needed to integrate into a large produce washing system, and so it would need to be replicated down to even the smallest details and tolerances.
Creating the Replacement Part
Using the precision measuring equipment available in our facility, our specialists got to work, taking diameters, thicknesses, and compiling a full technical data package for what remained of the existing auger. By accurately measuring the original part and determining the right material for the replacement, we were able to piece together a complete model of the part we’d need to build to get our partner back up and running again.
Once this groundwork was laid, the project was placed in the hands of our ISI specialists. The ISI business unit tackles stainless steel projects for food safe and sanitary environments, and their experience would make quick work of manufacturing this large-scale auger. Once the part is completed, it will be shipped out to our customer’s facility where it will be installed and tested, ensuring that their facility is ready for many harvest seasons to come.
When Might My Business Need Reverse Engineering?
Avoid Costly Downtime with Faster Replacement Parts
This is a great example of a situation where a business might need assistance in reverse engineering a part or assembly, but it’s by no means the only situation where this technology is useful. In addition to receiving parts that are simply damaged beyond repair, our designers frequently reverse engineer parts for customers on extremely tight deadlines. For instance, a customer recently required an important part for their production equipment, but the OEM replacement would take as long as eight months to arrive from overseas – longer than any business can afford to shut down critical equipment. By bringing your project to Industrial Works, our team can carve away at long lead times, producing replacements here faster than slow supply chains could have them shipped.
Keep Obsolete Equipment Running
Another frequent situation where reverse engineering can come in handy is when customers are dealing with obsolete or discontinued equipment. With no manufacturer support or official OEM replacement parts, companies that rely on older machinery can sometimes be stuck between a rock and a hard place – unable to upgrade to expensive new equipment, but unable to replace aging parts in the existing system. Industrial Works can fabricate these important replacements from scratch, helping customers keep their trusty equipment in service even after manufacturer support is halted.
Does your business need help reverse engineering a part? Whether you’re on a tight schedule, or are simply working with old or obsolete parts, don’t worry – no part is irreplaceable when you have Industrial Works at your side!
Reach out to us today to learn more about our reverse engineering capabilities and get a quote for your upcoming project.