Is it possible to move a mirrored component?

[Simon205]

I have a mirrored (handed) component within an assembly, and I need to move both it and it's parent down a level to a sub-assy within the main assembly.

Is it possible to do this without breaking the link between them? Or possible to re-point the link if it's broken?

Thanks,


Simon

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

What methods have you tried so far?
What errors or messages did you receive?
Where and what is the element used for mirroring?

 

[ShaggyPE]

This is one of the reasons I don't create mirrored components in the context of an assembly. If the mirrored part was created directly from the parent part, there would be no concerns.

Like CBL is mentioning, what happens when you try it?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[Simon205]

Thanks for the replies.

I've tried:
-dragging & dropping the original part into the required sub-assembly
- dragging & dropping the mirrored part into the required sub-assembly

Both result in an error message saying the part can be moved, but it will break the 'mirrored component' feature, (thereby losing associativity, which I want to retain).

It's a pretty simple part, mirrored in the assembly, about the assembly 'right' plane.

Looking back at it, perhaps I should've created the mirrored part in a dumb assembly (which would never need to change it's name or structure) then just added the resulting mirrored part into the required assembly....hindsight....

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, Simon205:

You can not move an incontext mirrored part because it does not make any math sense. When you move the mirrored part, logically, the face (or plane) you used to create the mirrored part to need to be relocated in order to keep your design intent. You don't want to have a floating mirror plane (or face), do you?

Alternatively, you can create a derived mirrored part with mirror body. This will do exactly what you want. Mirroring a part in context of your assemby is not your design intent.

Good luck!

Alex

 

[ShaggyPE]

I have found the best way is to create the mirror part directly[u\] from your original part file. This removes the whole incontext situation.

The way this is done... from the original part file, select a plane or face that you want to mirror about. Go to insert>mirror part. This will create a new part file that is a mirror of the original. You have options to bring over planes and cosmetic threads etc.

That's it.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks