This paper focuses on reverse engineering (RE) in a mechanical design domain. RE is an activity which consists in creating a full CAD model from a 3D points cloud. The aim of RE is to suggest an activity of redesign in order to improve, repair or update the case of study. According to the users, the CAD models of RE softwares are usually frozen and do not allow an activity of redesigning. This paper shows a RE methodology which allows defining, saving and reusing geometrical features defined by knowledge analysis of the case of study. This methodology called knowledge based reverse engineering (KBRE) supports the knowledge management. Knowledge is materialised by the features which are fitted in a points cloud.