To Mirror Assembly Components

You can mirror the entire assembly or a subset of components.

What's New: 2024.1, 2026, 2027.2

A note on parameters and results when using the Mirror command: When mirroring a part in an assembly, some parameters might not be populated in the mirrored part. In addition, the Export Parameter checkbox in the Parameter dialog box might not retain the same status as the original part. For example, when mirroring an assembly created with the Frame Generator, one or more parameters and/or Export Parameter settings might not carry over into the mirrored part. If the parameter values are needed, you'll need to manually create the values in the mirrored part.

Weldment documents do not support the creation of mirrored patterns.

Constraints

It is not possible to create a constraint between the target and the mirror plane. The source component can be moved by assembly constraints, and pattern will update the position of the target component.

Design Views

It is now possible to create and update Design Views in assembly documents, including renaming, reordering, and deleting. The Design View can be switched only in the source document.

Positional Representations

It is now possible to create and update Positional Representations, including renaming, reordering, and deleting. Positional representations can be changed only on the source side, and updates will update the positional representation on the target. Flexible sub-assemblies cannot be mirrored at all using Create Mirror Pattern. Existing sub-assemblies cannot be changed to flexible after creating an associative mirror.

Suppress

Suppress is available for individual nested associative mirror features. Mirroring of suppressed source or target instances will result in the suppressed instance having a 'Reused' state. When a source instance of an associative mirror becomes suppressed, it still allows all three states (Mirror, Reuse, Exclude) in Edit mode. Unresolved instances cannot be used as a source for an associative mirror. Both source and target instances of an associative mirror can be suppressed.

iProperties and Styles

The iProperties and styles will be synchronized to the target component from the source component after mirroring the component pattern. The default part number value will be created in the target document and will not be synchronized with the source document. The styles, including sheet metal style, are synchronized to the target document as well. Note that instance properties won't be synchronized to the target document.

1. On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Pattern panel Mirror .

2. In the Mirror Components: Status dialog box, under Components, select components to mirror in the graphics window or the assembly browser. Selected components are listed in the dialog box browser.

3. Under Mirror Plane, select a work plane or planar face, or an origin plane (YZ Plane, XZ Plane, or XY Plane).

4. Select or clear Create Mirror Pattern:

   • When selected, the command creates an associative mirror pattern. Mirrored components are placed in a Mirror browser node, and geometry and position stay associated with the source components.
   • When cleared, the command creates a legacy mirror with no associativity between the source and target documents.

5. When Create Mirror Pattern is cleared, set options at the bottom of the dialog box:

   • Select Mirror Relationships to apply constraints and joints between existing components to the mirrored components. Deselect to prevent constraints and joints from being applied.

   • Select Link Sheet Metal Styles to link the source sheet metal style to the mirrored component. This option is available only for sheet metal parts.

   • Select Ground New Components to automatically ground new mirrored components.

     Note: Mirror Relationships, Link Sheet Metal Styles, and Ground New Components are not available when Create Mirror Pattern is selected. Sheet metal styles are synchronized to the target document by default for mirror patterns.

6. In the Mirror, Reuse, and Exclude area, set the status for selected components. Use the controls under the active status column to apply that status to the selection, or click a status icon for an individual component in the browser tree. Additional controls are shown or hidden based on the active status.

   Mirror

   Creates a mirrored component and saves it in a new file.

   Reuse

   Adds a component instance in the current or a new assembly file.

   Exclude

   Excludes a subassembly or part from the mirror operation.

7. For reused components:

   • Components marked bold are not suitable for reusing. If appropriate, change the Reuse status to Mirror or Exclude.

     Note: A component must be symmetric according to its current symmetric plane to be suitable for reuse. Asymmetric reused components can be positioned incorrectly in the resulting model.
     Tip: Click the Copy button to copy a list of marked components to the clipboard.

   • To change the symmetric plane for a reused component, right-click the component, and select an alternate plane.

8. Click >>, and then:

   • If appropriate, clear the Reuse Standard Content and Factory Parts check box to enable the mirrored state for library components. By default, library parts are reused in the mirrored assembly file.
   • In Preview Components, select check boxes to customize the preview displayed in the graphics window.

9. Click Next to open the Mirror Components: File Names dialog box.

10. Review the copied files and change as needed:

    • Click in a New Name field to edit the file name. Right-click a New Name field, and choose Find to search in listed file names, or choose Replace to find and replace a string.
    • Right-click the File Location field to change the location from Source Path to Workspace, or User Path. If you select User Path, click the File Location field again, and set the path. In general, keep the default location so the file can be located when you reopen the assembly.

11. On the Naming Scheme box:

    • Select the Prefix check box, and then enter a prefix, if appropriate.
    • Select the Increment check box to add an index to all files. Files that already have an index are increased by one.
    • Accept the default suffix (_MIR) or enter a different suffix. Clear the check box to remove the suffix.

12. Click Apply to update the file names. If needed, click Revert to return to the original values.

13. In the Component Destination box, choose one:

    • Click Insert in Assembly to place components in the current assembly or a new assembly file.
    • Click Open in New Window to open a new assembly file, leaving the edit assembly unchanged.

14. Click Return to Selection to change status or select new components. Otherwise, click OK to accept and close the dialog box.