Mirrored parts and assemblies

[Bacvar]

I have a somewhat large (complete) assembly consisting of about 350 parts/sub-assemblies. The next assembly I’m about to start consists of all the same parts/sub-assemblies but they are all a mirror image of the first main assembly.

Does anyone have any hints on how to mirror all these parts/sub-assemblies in the safest manner? I’m aware of converting assemblies into 1 part and then mirror it, but this will not work well with this large assembly. There will be some changes needed to the final mirrored parts/sub-assemblies (lengths etc…) so I need to be able to modify the mirrored parts/subassemblies/main assembly if needed.

I hope this makes sense!
Thanks in advance!

 

[catiajim]

Have you tried using the Assembly Mirror option?

If that doesn't work, you could try putting together a little script. Start by recording a macro while you mirror the first part, then start tweaking it.

 

[Bacvar]

Do you mean Assembly "Symmetry"? I've tried a few things now, and most procedures have made my mirrored part into a "solid" which is useless to me, because my mirrored parts/assy's need to be available as there will be some modifications needed. Will this Assembly Mirror still leave the parts/assy's as sketches/pads etc...so I can modify them if needed?

Thanks;
Bacvar

 

[ferdo]

Hi Bacvar,

Lets say that you create the right side of a car and now you want to create the left side.

If some of your left side parts will suffer some small modifications, its better to create symetrical parts (not assembly) first (don't forget to link the parts, maybe you will make also some modifications in the original parts and you want to see also the modifications on the left side).

For each symetrical part its better to give another names (for example odd numbers).

This can be done with the help of a macro in order to create quicly those symetrical parts.

After that you can create the symetrical assembly with these parts.

This will take a little time but its the best way in my opinion.


Regards
Fernando

 

[Configurator]

The "safest" method, IMO, is to do part level symetry. That would be time consuming for large assemblies, though.

Lee

http://www.lmco.com

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[Bacvar]

Fernando,

So you're saying that I should use my original "left-hand" assembly and symmetry all the parts that need to be mirrored to make the "right-hand" part?
However, you say that I should still keep both models/parts linked for modifications? If I keep this link, what happens if I need to modify only one part for ex: the right-hand? Remember I have about 350 parts and I may have to change one "hand" and not the other

I'm not that familiar with macros, so I'm not sure I can go that way. You say it's quicker to create symmetrical parts? Is it hard to create this macro?

Thanks,
Bacvar

 

[ferdo]

Hi,

As you can see, Configurator has also the same opinion.

Yes,, this is what I'm trying to say. Its time consuming but its safer. And don't be so sure that you will never modify the 'left hand' parts.

You can modify exactly what you want in your right hand part working as usual in that specific part, without any problem.

Try to create your right hand part and record a macro first doing that. I think its not so difficult.



Regards
Fernando

 

[catiajim]

If there are a large number of parts that change, then the tedious method is probably the best. If, however, only a few of the parts are changing, use the Assembly Symmetry tool to create all of your parts. Then simply replace the parts that are changing with parts that have been manually symmetried.

No, the script shouldn't be hard. If you have any programming experience at all (I hadn't had any since Fortran back when Fortran 77 was new), and I remembered it pretty well. As I said, use the macro recorder to grab the actual transformation, then you can modify it by putting in a loop.

The hardest part for me was getting used to the Object/Method/Property structure that is used in VB (and all "modern" programming languages).

 

[Configurator]

If, however, only a few of the parts are changing, use the Assembly Symmetry tool to create all of your parts.

That is absolutely the easiest method. I tend to shy away from assembly features, though. I've had problems at upper levels when I had a lot of assembly features down in my sub assemblies.

Lee

http://www.lmco.com

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