You can add components by mirroring existing part or subassembly components. The new components can be a copy or an opposite-hand version of the seed components.
The differences between creating a copy and creating an opposite-hand version include the following:
| Copy |
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Opposite-Hand Version |
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| A new instance of the seed component is added to the assembly. No new documents or configurations are created. |
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A new document or new configuration is created. |
| The geometry of the copied component is identical to the seed component. Only the orientation of the component is different. |
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The geometry of the new component is mirrored; thus it is different from the seed component. |
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Example of Mirrored Components
In this assembly, the subassembly (jaw and support) has been mirrored. An opposite-hand version has been created for the support so that the jaw sits on the correct side. A copy has been created for the jaw since the geometry did not need to change.
More about Mirror Components
When you mirror components (creating either copies or opposite-hand versions), the following items apply.
- A MirrorComponent
feature is added to the FeatureManager design tree. The feature holds the mirrored components in position relative to the seed components with respect to the mirror plane. No other mates are needed to constrain the mirrored components.
- You can add mates or move a mirrored component if that movement does not violate the mated status of the seed component.
- When you mirror Toolbox parts, you can create only copies. You cannot create opposite-hand versions.
Opposite-Hand Versions
The following items apply only when you create an opposite-hand version.
- You can save the opposite-hand version in a new file or as a derived configuration in the seed component file.
- If you make changes to the seed component, the changes propagate to the opposite-hand component.
- Custom properties are automatically copied to the new file or configuration.
- If the seed component is a subassembly and you save its opposite-hand version as a new file, the mates of the seed subassembly are recreated in the new subassembly. You are informed if any mates cannot be recreated.
- If you save a mirrored component as a derived configuration in the seed component file, a new feature is created in the file. The feature does not have an external reference to the assembly. The feature is automatically suppressed in the seed (parent) configuration and unsuppressed in the new (derived) configuration.