Converting mirrored part to original part

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am currently have to design multiple sheet metal parts into an assembly and then nest them for laser cutting. 

Some projects have over 30 individual parts and most of them have to be mirrored. I initially used mirror feature to achieve the symmetry but this created new parts that are derived fro the original part. After looking online I found out that the parts could be mirrored but using the reuse feature, this created did the job and also reused the part instead of creating a new part file.

After playing with the feature a little more, I realised that not all parts can be reused if mirror of the part is to be achieved. This would be true for the part shown in drawing 1, but all my parts are sheet metal and its mirrored part would be the same as shown in drawing 2 and 3.

I just need to know if there is a way to mirror the part without creating a new part. If not then just create a new part and then replace the new mirrored part with the original part. 

[SBix26]

I'd suggest that you ignore the Mirror Components tool and simply constrain two copies of the same part, possibly using the Symmetry constraint.  Mirror Components is really much better suited to situations that need at least some of the components to be different between left & right hands.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2019.3 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[Cadmanto]

I agree with Sam.  I only use the mirror when I absolutely have to.  For parts that are too difficult to create a left and right version.  If the attachments you provided are the actual parts, it is easier to just make copies and tweak a few dimensions.

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[SBix26]

Following on to Scott's message, if I actually do need mirrored parts, truly a left hand/right hand situation, I still don't use the Mirror Components tool.  I create a master part with the LH & RH versions as separate solids and derive them in to their own separate parts. 

Much easier to create a LH from a RH within the same part.  But the biggest advantage is that moment in most design projects when it turns out they're not perfectly mirror images... simply add common features before the mirror feature, features that are specific to one or the other after the mirror.

Easiest of all, though, is to use master modeling for the whole assembly, or subassembly; mirrored parts are modeled as above, but in context of other parts, and don't need any constraining in the assembly.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2019.3 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

I agree with Sam too. Note that if the part has another plane of transverse symmetry in the assembly, and this plane intersects the plane of initial symmetry on an axis (being able to be for example the X axis, Y axis or Z axis), you can use this axis to a circular pattern, of two instances in 180º to model the rest of the assembly, and you will not have to place symmetry relations if there are many symmetrical parts. On the other hand if you need to reuse a complex symmetric part and do not want to have two files, you can model an ipart like the one I describe in the attached file.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! This may have something to do with the existing constraints to the source part. If I were you, I would suppress the constraints before you mirror reuse.

Many thanks!