×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Part/ Body mirror

Part/ Body mirror

Part/ Body mirror

(OP)
How I can miiror part or body within file itself without making a copy?

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Hi,

there is a Function for it on the toolbar just below
the pattern icon. See also SE -> Help -> Index -> Mirror

 - Mirror Copy Feature Command
 - Mirror Copy Command

dy

RE: Part/ Body mirror

(OP)
Both command you mentioned is for copying. I don't want to duplicate, but to move as mirrored part.

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Hi,

sorry, I've overlooked that. Then you may try this

- put the part in an assembly
- Function Mirror
  - select the plane to mirror about
  - select the part
  
- within the window that pops up
  - select Mirror in column 'Action' when not already
    set
    
  OK
  
Close the asm without save. Now you should have in the same
folder the original part is in a new one the name is suffixed
by '_mir'

dy

RE: Part/ Body mirror

(OP)
Thanks Don,

I haven't checked yet, but I got a another solution:

Insert part copy a construction body, mirror it and convert it to a base feature (right click menu on mirror feature)

RE: Part/ Body mirror

(OP)
there is option for mirror when inserting a part copy.

Thanks Don!!

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Hi,

yup, that's also a solution. Downside: it's a part copy
in both cases without any history.
When you have a need for the two parts then with the first
solution (mirror copy) you have this option:

after mirroring the part you can then split the part
by using the 'Divide Function' which will create
2 parts which are related to one, the 'Master Part'
 
dy

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Going off at a slight tangent here - I would avoid creating opposite hand parts with the insert part cop/mirror command unless you are absolutely certain that you will always require both parts.
For example - I'm working on a job at the moment where someone has created the mirrored version of a machine and some of the parts are mirrored part coppies. Unfortunately only the mirrored version is used in the machine (and only the mirrored version is drawn !), so when I come to modify the part I have to go back to it's original and modify that one -- GRRRRRRR!!!

bc.

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Beachcomber,

Depending on how complex the part is, you could use the direct edit tools to make modifications of the part copy and leave the original as is.  I've even started experimenting with using copies of an original part then stretching, adding holes and other featuers using direct edit to make longer parts etc.  This seems to be a simpler approach than using families of parts.

Kyle

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Hi Kyle,
Yes you're quite correct, and these are valid and extremely useful methods when applied correctly. It's just that in this case the original part was copied for the new project but was NEVER going to be used. Only the mirrored part is used.
Again going off the point slightly here, this particular customer creates an entirely new set of models and drawings for every project - and that's about 1000 drawings - even if they are identical to previous projects. Hard to believe really - but it's great for us contractors !!

bc

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Beachcomber,

I just tried a mirrored part copy and SE won't let you break the link.  I think the only solution is to use the mirrored part copy and maintain the link or export the mirrored part copy as a .sat, STEP, parasolid etc.  Of course, now you have no history on the part.

On your second comment, do you use Rev manager to copy the drawings and models to save time.  I did that when I made a new revision to drawings that also now needed to be linked to family of parts members and it worked perfectly.

Kyle

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Kyle,
Yes we do copying with rev manager, property manager etc.

bc

RE: Part/ Body mirror

kjoiner,

you can break the link. Once your part is copied, open or edit the mirrored part. Modify the part copy feature. Click on the change settings/parameters button in the SmartStep ribbon bar, and in the dialog box that opens, uncheck "link to file".

I have no idea why you can't do that while you're creating the part...

BTW my terms may not be all correct as I'm working on a French version...

RE: Part/ Body mirror

Gemnoc,

I forgot to look in the settings dialogue box.  I only right clicked and tried the break link.  Then I tried interpart manager.  I forgot the third way.

Kyle

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources