topic Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part in Inventor Forum

Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 09:25:27 GMT

I am trying to mirror a part in my assembly. The original part can be the same as the mirror part, just turn it 180 degrees. Unfortunately the only thing I can do with the mirror function in Inventor is to create a new part/file with the suffix "_MIR" or adding it (same file), but for some reason the part is then flipped upside down and not constrained. See pictures below.

Orignal part -----> Mirrored new part with "_MIR" as suffix

Orignal part 2 ------> Mirrored part, no new file, but upside down, not constraint

In my previous job I worked with SolidWorks and there it works like I describe and is the mirror function a feature in my assembly. Is this not possible in Inventor? Why would I want to create a new part when it is effectively the same as the original or should I again constrain everything? What's the whole point of the mirror function in that case? It's definitively not behaving like a pattern in my opinion.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

JDMather — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 12:19:33 GMT

You do not want or need a new part.

This is simply another instance of the same part (exactly the same as in SolidWorks).

You simply need a mirror constraint.

Attach simplified assembly here for demonstration.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 12:44:20 GMT

I don't quite understand what you mean, so please use attached example to show me.

I can't seem to post with an attachment right now. An issue on the forum? I will post asap.

But now I think about your reply, I don't hope it means what I think. Do you mean to place another instance of the part in the assembly and then use the mirror constraint to place the second instance at an equidistance to the mirror plane?

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

JDMather — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 12:56:22 GMT

Same as SolidWorks.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 13:06:29 GMT

Same as SolidWorks? In SolidWorks you create a mirror feature. Like this (till 41 seconds is what I am looking for) or like this video. Nothing with constraints/mates, adding of instances or creating a left/right-hand version. Is this available in Inventor?

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

johnsonshiue — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 21:40:17 GMT

Hi! Either way should work. You can simply place another instance of the part without creating a new part. Or, use Mirror Component command -> select the source part -> select the mirror plane -> make sure you change the option to "Reuse" (plus sign) as opposed to default "Create New."

Many thanks!

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

TheCADWhisperer — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 06:37:04 GMT

It is my opinion that you don’t fully understand what is happening in the videos you referenced vs the component in the image that you Attached.

Attach your assembly here and I’ll demonstrate the correct technique in BOTH SolidWorks and in Inventor.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 07:03:28 GMT

I can't seem to upload an attachment. It won't post. Is there another way to share my assembly?

Edit:

Please use this link: https://transfernow.net/ddl/MirrorPartAssy

You can mirror on the YZ Plane for this example.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

johnsonshiue — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 22:06:09 GMT

Hi! We are encountering some flaky behaviors on the forum site. Please zip the files and attach it. It should work now.

Many thanks!

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 06:49:38 GMT

Ok, another try.

Sorry, still does not work.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 06:36:17 GMT

We still can't upload attachments? It is still not working here.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

Marcin.Szklarek — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:19:05 GMT

HI!

Was it resolved I also observe odd behaviour with mirror parts in assembly. I do not want to create new part, just reuse the part and miror RELATIONSHIPS. Then when I relocate the part the mirrored on relocates as well.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:49:19 GMT

No, I did not find a satisfying solution for this. The only way is just to add the item again in the assembly and constrain it. The mirror function in Inventor is not as intuitive as in SolidWorks.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

Marcin.Szklarek — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 11:54:43 GMT

I find the same problem as I also use Solidworks from time to time. JDMather suggested mirror constraints but it is not the same as with one feature-mirror part you could get multiple constraints applied.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

JDMather — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:56:35 GMT

@Marcin.Szklarek

It would be best to start a new discussion thread (link back to this one), and Attach actual Inventor (and SolidWorks if possible) files.

I use both programs on a daily basis and do not understand the difficulty - I must be missing something obvious.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

johnsonshiue — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 22:07:50 GMT

Hi Gert,

I tried a simple case like you have shown in the image. I think I know the behavior. Indeed, Reuse Mirror Component workflows have room for improvement. The ability to detect reusability is limited.

A simple L-shape part (with equal length) can be mirrored and reused. But, if there is a flange added to the bottom (still reusable), reuse just fails. As you can see, the more features are added, the less likely the part can be reused.

I don't have a good solution at the moment unfortunately.

Many thanks!

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

Marcin.Szklarek — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:37:16 GMT

Hi. It is not the same by far. It is a whole lot different.

Please check screen cast bellow. What SW does is copy the movement of the original part as moved relocated etc. ,it is easier for designer to operate like that. Inv just adds another instance. You have to attach constraints to the part before mirror feature. If you attach constraints after Mirror feature it is not mirrored then on to the other one.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

gert-leonvanlier — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:35:08 GMT

@johnsonshiue: that's exctly what it is.

@Marcin.Szklarek: Indeed, it's not the same.

There is a lot of room for improvement in thtis case for Inventor.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 09:05:31 GMT

Hi, did you get a proper solution to this problem?

I am having the same problem now.

If I mirror the parts, the new files will have different part numbers. Since I have hundreds of parts to be mirrored, it's not a feasible solution to change the parts numbers of the mirrored parts manually.

I also tried the Reuse Mirror component. And, exactly as you said, the parts turned upside down. Got messier....

I've tried so many different methods. None of them seem to work.

Re: Mirror a part without creating a new part

Marcin.Szklarek — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:17:50 GMT

It has been explained just change th toggle when making mirror parts to reuse. Try also mirror relationship.