What is Reverse Engineering?
Reverse engineering means to recreate a part based on available data about it. Keep in mind that the goal of reverse engineering is not so much as to create a part that looks and feels identical to the original part (although it can be), but rather provides the same (or better) performance as the original part. The material might be different. While it will likely fit in the same space envelope, non-critical geometry might not be the same. However, the part achieves the same purpose and performs the same function.
Need some more information? Check out these post on the Advanced EMC Technolgies blog: