topic Mirrored Block without including Text in Inventor Forum

Mirrored Block without including Text

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:54:10 GMT

Good Morning all,

I am a Gage Designer using Autodesk Inventor 2016 and have a (seemingly) easy question.

Is there any way to mirror a Block (for a R/L Hand Gage) without including the Text?

I usually perform the mirror, then extrude the text away and re-create the text sketch and emboss to match the original. This method does work, but with the advanced Gages it takes up a lot of time.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

JDMather — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:00:36 GMT

Are you doing as multi-body

saving multiple files

mirror in assembly

derived components?

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:05:53 GMT

I'm mirroring the Block in an assembly and the new File name ends up being xxxx_MIR.

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

JDMather — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:16:47 GMT

I would either

1.- continue doing it the way you are, or ...

2.- do as multi-body in one part and mirror the body before the text features, add the text features (this can be done before or after the "push") and then push out the individual parts.

3.- or Derive Component from a master without the text the left and right parts and then add the text. (Smaller file sizes than #2.)

2 & 3 involve one extra "master" file, but I consider the most robust techniques.

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:32:46 GMT

Ok,

It is as I figured, there may actually not be a quicker way than the way I have been doing it.

That would be a handy setting in the Mirror tool for upcoming versions, being able to pick and choose which features to mirror and which to leave be.

Thanks!

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

JDMather — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:53:55 GMT

I am assuming the geometry is complex.

One thing that could speed things up is to create an zero distance offset surface (of the faces where the text is located) before the text feature. Then when doing the mirrored component (either from the assembly or from Derived Component) use the surface to Split or Sculpt away the text from the mirrored part before adding the replacement text. This technique should make it relatively painless.

If the text also follows contour then do second offset surface that you can extrude between or Sculpt or Split.

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

SBix26 — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 22:55:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

That would be a handy setting in the Mirror tool for upcoming versions, being able to pick and choose which features to mirror and which to leave be.

Thanks!

I routinely use the multi-body master file concept to create (mostly) mirrored parts, for exactly the benefits that you mention above. Features above the Mirror feature are mirrored, those below are not. If I need to add a chamfer to both parts? Slide the End-of-Part marker above the mirror, create the feature, slide the EOP back to the bottom-- voilà! Need to create text on the right hand only? Do it below the mirror.

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2016 R3 SP1 Update 1
Vault Basic 2016 SP1
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:11:30 GMT

Thanks for the response!

I was messing with the Mirror tool in the part itself and see now how it doesn't mirror the text, but it also doesn't make another ipt. file for the mirror OR even create a new block, it just mirrors and makes two blocks as one.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

mcgyvr — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:20:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the response!

I was messing with the Mirror tool in the part itself and see now how it doesn't mirror the text, but it also doesn't make another ipt. file for the mirror OR even create a new block, it just mirrors and makes two blocks as one.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Thanks in advance!

With multi-solid modeling you do everything in one file then when all done use the "make part" or "make components" function (from the manage tab.. layout section) to create the individual part files.

Re: Mirrored Block without including Text

SBix26 — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:42:07 GMT

When you mirror the left hand to the right hand, use the Mirror solid button, then click the New solid button. This gives you two separate solid bodies, from which you can push out the two separate parts as @mcgyvr described.

Sam B

Inventor Professional 2016 R3 SP1 Update 1
Vault Basic 2016 SP1
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit, SP1