Assembly Mirror : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

Click the button in the toolbar.
Select Assembly > Copy > Assembly Mirror from the menu bar.

Copy components by mirroring them about a plane.

This function is used to mirror entire assemblies or sub-assemblies with respect to a selected plane while maintaining their structure.

The mirroring can be performed either by creating new parts (Geometrically Mirrored Parts), or, if the assembly to be copied is symmetrical, by adding new instances and placing them in mirrored positions (Positionally Mirrored Parts). When positionally mirroring assemblies, the system automatically determines whether to mirror or copy and rotate an assembly, based on whether it is symmetrical or non-symmetrical.

Required Step 1

Pick the components to be mirrored.
Use MMB to <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) when finished.

Required Step 2

Pick the plane about which the parts will be mirrored (the plane can be a planar face or datum plane).
After the plane is picked, the function moves to the next step.

Required Step 3

Set the mirroring options. The mirroring parameters are displayed and the preview shows the parts or sub-assemblies mirrored about the plane. The Legend option (see below) displays an information dialog explaining the color codes of the mirrored components.

The following parameters are displayed:

Position Mirror Symmetrical Parts

Select the mirroring method for the components to be mirrored about the plane selected in required step 2. The following options are available in the dropdown list:

Copy Mirror All Components

All components are geometrically mirrored about the plane. These components are copied as new mirror components (new parts or sub-assemblies); the new mirrored components contain a mirrored geometry of the original components. The result is a new component for each part mirrored (a new mirror and import feature is created in the Feature Tree of the mirrored assembly or part respectively; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts, below).

The UCS of the new part is a copy of the original part's UCS (according to the plane).

The preview display of all geometrically mirrored parts are displayed in PINK, as explained in the Assembly Mirror Legend dialog (see the Legend option below).
For example:For example:

Mirroring Electrodes: When using the Copy Mirror All Components option and at least one electrode is selected, an additional toggle option is displayed Recreate Electrode Features / Copy Electrode Geometry - see the other parameters below.

Position Mirror Symmetrical Catalog Parts

All symmetrical catalog components are positionally mirrored about the plane, according to an additionally selected symmetry plane (see Note 1 below). These parts are copied as rotated/transformed instances. The result is an instance part of the original part; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts, below.
The UCS of the instance part is a copy of the original UCS according to the symmetry plane selected. The instance is then placed according to the new rotated UCS.

See Note 2 below regarding symmetrical and non-symmetrical catalog parts.

All non-catalog components are geometrically mirrored about the plane, as per the Copy Mirror All Components option above. These components are copied as new mirror components (new parts or sub-assemblies). The result is a new component for each part mirrored; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts, below.

Note: When positionally mirroring parts, the system automatically determines whether to mirror or simply copy and rotate a part, based on whether it is symmetrical or non-symmetrical.

The preview display of all positionally mirrored parts (parts that can be rotated to provide a mirrored position) are displayed in BLUE; all geometrically mirrored parts are displayed in PINK, as explained in the Assembly Mirror Legend dialog (see the Legend option below).
For example:For example:

Position Mirror Symmetrical Parts

All symmetrical components are positionally mirrored about the plane, according to an additionally selected symmetry plane (see Note 1 below). These parts are copied as rotated/transformed instances. The result is an instance part of the original part; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts below.

The UCS of the instance part is a copy of the original UCS according to the symmetry plane selected. The instance is then placed according to the new rotated UCS.

All non-symmetrical components are geometrically mirrored about the plane, as per the Copy Mirror All Components option above. These components are copied as new mirror components (new parts or sub-assemblies). The result is a new component for each part mirrored; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts, below.

Note: When positionally mirroring parts, the system automatically determines whether to mirror or simply copy and rotate a part, based on whether it is symmetrical or non-symmetrical.

Notes:

Regardless of the mirroring method selected, you can change the method for each part individually. For example, you can define that all catalog parts would be only positionally mirrored, or choose to geometrically mirror every part. See Change Mirroring Method for Individual Parts below.
In general, Catalog parts e.g. screws, pins, etc. (which are symmetrical in reference to the Z axis) are, by default, copied as instances by position and therefore also appear as the "same part" in the BOM.
There are catalog parts, such as springs, that are not symmetrical in nature. However, by default, these are also mirrored as an instance.
An Assembly Mirror preference is used to define whether to copy the attributes of the original components to the new (mirrored) part or sub-assembly, and also to set the UCS orientation of mirrored components.

Recreate Electrode Features

This is a toggle option Recreate Electrode Features / Copy Electrode Geometry that is displayed when using the Copy Mirror All Components option and at least one electrode is selected.

Recreate Electrode Features

With selecting Recreate Electrode Features, the mirrored electrode will have its own features of blank, UCS and holder that are not based on the mirror plane.

When mirroring an electrode, its features are copied and recreated in the copied electrode. When using this option, the following occurs:

The Associate/Disassociate toggle option is set to Disassociate and disabled.

The Electrode and NC UCS and Holder features are recreated, if they were created in the original assembly.
The Preference option Mirror Electrodes controls the direction of the created UCSs.

The blank and base, along with any geometry created on the base object after the base was created, is copied and merged into the copied electrode in a designated feature.

This is the default option.

Copy Electrode Geometry

When selecting Copy Electrode Geometry, the entire mirrored electrode is an import of the normal electrode. The electrode geometry is copied and mirrored.

When mirroring an electrode with a holder, the holder shape determines if it is also copied. If the holder is symmetrical, it is copied and mirrored along with the electrode geometry, otherwise it is ignored and not mirrored to the new location. The resulting new part is marked as an electrode.
If the holder was not copied, it can be reapplied manually.
Example:Example:

In this example, the right electrode was mirrored to create the left electrode. In this case, the holder is not mirrored.	After the mirror operation, the holder is reapplied manually.

Notes:

Regardless of which of the above toggle options is selected, the following occur:
- The parameters of the EDM Setup are copied; the system-generated parameters (e.g. position parameters) are filled automatically and the manually entered parameters (e.g. burn distance) are copied from the original assembly.
- The trajectory, if used, is copied and mirrored.
An Electrode Preference is used to reverse UCS angles when mirroring electrodes.
Editing the recreated electrodes: The import feature inside the recreated electrodes cannot be turned to Associate. To update the electrode, use Update & Disassociate or edit the Assembly Mirror feature in the Feature Tree.

Without Cut / With Cut

Set the With Cut / Without Cut toggle option as appropriate.

If the With Cut option is selected, the Cut Manager is displayed in the optional step 1.

Options...

The Options parameter button displays the Mirror Options dialog. The Options button is unavailable when the dialog is displayed.

Use this dialog to control the names and descriptions of new (geometrically mirrored) parts.
Example:Example:

Legend

Display the Assembly Mirror Legend information panel which explains the color codes of the mirrored components. Select the checkbox to create a new sub-assembly for mirrored components for every source component sub-assembly that is copy mirrored.
Example:Example:

Associate/Disassociate

This is a toggle option Associate/Disassociate. By default a mirrored component (Copy Mirrored) is disassociated; see Associativity. This means that the mirrored components are not updated with changes made to the source components. This is reversible, and each component can be turned to Associative mode individually. You may also edit the Mirror feature and change all Mirror Copied components to Associative or Disassociative.

If you use Disassociate, the Import Feature that appears in the Feature Tree inside the components (when the function is completed—see below) gets the disassociated icon.

If you toggle to the Associate option, they will affect each other (changes made to the source component will affect the mirrored component).

This option is only available when at least one part is copy-mirrored.

Notes: When editing a mirrored feature:

If the mirror is defined as Disassociate and you edit it, the system updates all components and issues a message requiring confirmation that the copy-mirrored components will be updated and then disassociated.
If all the components have the same Associate/Disassociate states, it is displayed in edit mode regardless of what was defined when the feature was created (in other words, if you manually changed the status of all mirrored components, the changed status is shown).
If different components have different states, the system shows the state that was defined when the feature was created, but does not change the states of the components unless you change it during the edit operation.

Apply Changes

When components previously identified as Symmetrical or Non-Symmetrical are changed geometrically, their status (mirrored/rotated) should usually be updated. Recognized items are marked in yellow. Use the Apply Changes button to update their status.

Change Mirroring Method for Individual Parts

Regardless of the mirroring method selected, you can change the method for each part individually. For example, you can define that all catalog parts would be only positionally mirrored, or choose to geometrically mirror every part.

Pick the mirrored part whose mirroring method is to be changed; a label containing a dropdown list of mirroring options is attached to the picked part. Select the appropriate option.

For example:

In this example, the mirrored "Slide" part is picked. This is the mirrored part whose mirroring method is to be changed.	The label containing a dropdown list of mirroring options is displayed:

The following options are available:

Copy Mirror

Geometrically mirror the selected component about the plane, in the same way as the Copy Mirror All Components option above.

Rotate <axis>

Positionally mirror the selected component about the plane according to an axis of an additionally selected symmetry plane. These parts are copied as rotated/transformed instances. The result is a part that is an instance of the original part; see the Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts, below.
In this case, select the required symmetry plane:XZ (default), YZ or XY. The UCS of the instance part is a copy of the original UCS according to the symmetry plane selected. The instance is then placed according to the new rotated UCS.
Examples of the UCS orientations:Examples of the UCS orientations:

Example results of changing the orientation:Example results of changing the orientation:

Optional Step 1

The Cut Manager is displayed if the With Cut option is selected in step 3; select the parts to be cut. This step is used to manually control which parts are to be cut.

Click OKOK or ApplyApply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Assembly and Feature Trees are updated, see Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts below.

Tree Structure of Mirrored Parts

When the function is executed, the Assembly and Feature Trees are updated, according to the mirroring method selected.

Assembly Tree display
Feature Tree display

Assembly Tree

The Assembly Tree before the Assembly Mirror operation:

The Assembly Tree after the Assembly Mirror operation according to the mirroring method selected:

Copy Mirror All Components

Position Mirror Symmetrical Catalog Parts

Position Mirror Symmetrical Parts

The result is a new component for each part mirrored (a new mirror and import feature is created in the Feature Tree of the mirrored assembly or part respectively).

In this example, all the mirrored parts are new components.

All catalog components are positionally mirrored; the result is an instance part of the original part.

All non-catalog components are geometrically mirrored; the result is a new component for each part mirrored.

In this example, the Slide_Mirror part is a new component, all the other mirrored parts are instances or the original part.

All symmetrical components are positionally mirrored; the result is an instance part of the original part.

All non-symmetrical components are geometrically mirrored; the result is a new component for each part mirrored.

In this example, all the mirrored parts are instances or the original part.

Feature Tree

The Feature Tree of the assembly after the Assembly Mirror operation:

An Assembly Mirror feature is added under a Copy Operations leaf.

The Feature Tree of the geometrically mirrored part after the Assembly Mirror operation:

The geometrically mirrored feature is shown as an imported feature.	If the mirrored part has more than 300 faces, the mirrored feature is shown as a disassociated () imported feature.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.