Mirror Component

[phillpd]

Is there an option to mirror a component and it be associative ?

NX 9.0.3.4
NX 10 (Testing)
Windows 7 64 (Windows 8.1 Tablet)

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, you can use the 'Mirror Assemblies Wizard' for that, which can be found in the Components section of the Assemblies ribbon. You'll be given the option to create the 'mirrored' Component either associative to the original Component by creating a WAVE linked body or non-associative where the body created will be 'dumb'. The 'Wizard' automatically creates the necessary new part files and adds them to the existing Assembly, although you don't have to save the active assembly is you were only looking to create the 'mirrored' Component for use in another Assembly, but you will have to remember to actually Save the new Component(s) as they are only created temporarily in the current session.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[phillpd]

John, I did try and get that to work, but it didn't give me what I need.

What I need is the "same" component added twice ... the primary component will be constrained, the secondary component should be mirrored through the XZ-Plane.

I'm guessing I want a Component Pattern that allows me to Mirror.

My current solution is to create a WAVE Linked Mirror Body, then constrain the component to the body.

NX 9.0.3.4
NX 10 (Testing)
Windows 7 64 (Windows 8.1 Tablet)

 

[multicaduser]

Mirror assembly does not use the position of the assembly constraints or even the csys of the component but rather the center of mass for the component. So if you have a plate with chamfer on the corner the mirrored "duplicate" component will not even be parallel with the first component. This is my understanding after a long call to gtac.

 

[JohnRBaker]

I'm sorry, I thought you were looking for an actual 'mirror image' of a component, that is the exact opposite in terms of its topology as well as its location. But, if all you want is to place a second Component relative to the original Component so that it's spatially position is a 'mirror' of the original location, but the Component itself has not changed, it would just be as if you had added a second copy of the Component and simply positioned it 'on the other side', as it were, relative to some 'plane-of-reference'. If that's what you're looking for the same 'Mirror Assemblies Wizard' can do that as well. In fact, this makes the whole process much more straight forward.

Just start the 'Mirror Assemblies Wizard' just like before only when you get to the step titled 'Mirror Setup' simply DON'T select either the 'Associative' or 'non-Associative' options, but rather just leave it alone and you will automatically get what is known as the 'Reuse and Reposition' option. In that case a copy of the original Component is simply repositioned by mirroring its LOCATION through the referenced Datum Plane. Now beware that this does NOT create any relationship between the original Component and the one that is added. It's as if the second Component was just dropped into place with no constraints or relationships.

Now if what you're looking for is to be able to move one Component in you Assembly and have a second copy of that same Component move based on maintaining a mirrored position with the first one, you could create a Datum CSYS at the location where you positioned the first Component and constrain it relative to the CSYS and then, using Mirror Feature, make an associative copy of the Datum CSYS and constrain your second Component relative to the mirroed CSYS. Now when you move the first Datum CSYS, that will move the first Component and second one will move as well, but it will follow the mirrored location of the first CSYS.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.