Comparing Types of Mirror Components

When you mirror an assembly component, you specify whether to create an opposite-hand version of the component or just a copy (a mirrored instance).

  • If you have selected multiple components, you can create copies of some and opposite-hand versions of others.
  • When you mirror a subassembly, you can specify to copy some of its components and create opposite-hand versions for others.

Mirrored Instances of Assembly Components

In assemblies, when you mirror a component, you can add the mirror as another instance of the component, positioned symmetrically about a plane.

Creating a mirrored instance is most useful for symmetrical components.

Before mirror
After mirror

You can specify the following options for mirror type: center of bounding box, center of mass, or component origin.

When you create the mirrored component as a copy of the seed component rather than an opposite-hand version, you can select a component for the mirrored instance. For the X mirrored, Y mirrored orientation of the mirrored instance, the software creates three virtual axes in the same directions as the component’s axes. The origin is at the center of the bounding box, the center of mass, or the component origin.

For the other orientations, the software flips the mirrored instance about the plane. The flip occurs in the x direction, the y direction, or both the x and y directions.

  • In all orientations, the centers of the seed component and the mirrored instance are equidistant from the mirror plane.
  • For a fully symmetric component (symmetry in all three axes), all four orientations are true mirrors.
  • For a partially symmetric component (symmetry in one or two axes), one of the orientations might be a true mirror. The remaining orientations are flipped.
  • For nonsymmetric components, none of the orientations are a true mirror; all are flipped orientations. For a true mirror, create an opposite-hand version.

Opposite-Hand Versions of Assembly Components

In assemblies, when you mirror a component, you can create an opposite-hand version of it, positioned symmetrically about a plane.

Creating an opposite-hand version results in a true mirror of asymmetrical components.

Before mirror
After mirror
When you mirror a component, the following items apply only if you create an opposite-hand version of the component.
  • 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.