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How to mirror all the configurations at the same time

Question asked by Dara Kong on Aug 3, 2020
Latest reply on Aug 11, 2020 by Dara Kong

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I have a part with multiple configurations (different dimensions and feature suppression). This part cannot be mirrored without the opposite-hand option.

When I mirror that part in an assembly, SolidWorks only mirror the current configuration, which is not what I want.

I want to have all the configs being mirrored in one mirror feature. This is because I need to be able to change the configuration of the mirrored component after mirroring it. In other words, I need to configure the mirrored part in my assembly.

Any idea of how to do that? Is there an option I can't find?

Thanks!

Dara Kong Aug 11, 2020 4:02 PM

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Ok, I just gave up, and used the option "Create new files" instead of "Create new derived configuration in existing files".

This is mirroring every config, so I'm able to configure my mirrored component in my assembly.

I wanted not to create new files to keep my project cleaner and organised. For that, I used the option "Place files in one folder":

I consider this solution as a workaround, but I hope that this will help people who have the same problem...

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Glenn Schroeder Aug 3, 2020 11:58 AM
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Let me preface this by saying I've never tried it, so I can't say for sure it will work, but if no one else has a better suggestion it's worth a try. Instead of mirroring the Part as part of the Mirror Components function in the Assembly, do it at the Part level. In the Part file, pre-select a plane and then go to Insert > Mirror Part... (if you don't pre-select a plane the option will be grayed out).

I assume this will mirror all configurations, but I'm not sure. And as I'm typing this it occurred to me that with this method you won't be able to use the Mirror function in your Assembly, but would need to insert and mate the mirrored Part, so maybe it won't work for you anyway.
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Dara Kong Aug 3, 2020 12:23 PM
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I think it could work if I make sure the advanced option "Suppress new features and mates" is unchecked in all my configs.
But in anyway, as you said, I would need to mate my mirrored component, and this would no longer be a mirror...

Thank you anyway for your answer!
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Dara Kong Aug 3, 2020 12:29 PM
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Why does SolidWorks doesn't have an assembly feature that just mirror a component at the assembly level instead of creating a new file or adding a configuration. This would be clean, neat, simple, and much more easier to manage...

I think it would be a great idea for future updates!
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- Dario Karalic @ Dara Kong on Aug 4, 2020 2:31 AM
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  Dara Kong wrote:
  
  Why does SolidWorks doesn't have an assembly feature that just mirror a component at the assembly level instead of creating a new file or adding a configuration. This would be clean, neat, simple, and much more easier to manage...
  
  I think it would be a great idea for future updates!
  I am not sure what am i missing but i can mirror component at the assembly level without creating new file or configuration.
  If i have multiple configurations on that part i can change them independently on both parts.
  
  This is one part only (with preserved configurations)
  I am sorry if i misunderstood something , english is not my native language.
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  - Glenn Schroeder @ Dario Karalic on Aug 4, 2020 8:04 AM
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    Dario Karalic wrote:
    
    Dara Kong wrote:
    
    Why does SolidWorks doesn't have an assembly feature that just mirror a component at the assembly level instead of creating a new file or adding a configuration. This would be clean, neat, simple, and much more easier to manage...
    
    I think it would be a great idea for future updates!
    I am not sure what am i missing but i can mirror component at the assembly level without creating new file or configuration.
    If i have multiple configurations on that part i can change them independently on both parts.
    
    This is one part only (with preserved configurations)
    I am sorry if i misunderstood something , english is not my native language.
    
    You mirrored the Part, but it's still the same, un-altered Part. Dara Kong is referring to using the option shown below to create a mirror image of the original Part, not just adding another copy of the same Part to the Assembly.
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    - Dario Karalic @ Glenn Schroeder on Aug 4, 2020 8:25 AM
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      Glenn Schroeder wrote:
      
      Dario Karalic wrote:
      
      Dara Kong wrote:
      
      Why does SolidWorks doesn't have an assembly feature that just mirror a component at the assembly level instead of creating a new file or adding a configuration. This would be clean, neat, simple, and much more easier to manage...
      
      I think it would be a great idea for future updates!
      I am not sure what am i missing but i can mirror component at the assembly level without creating new file or configuration.
      If i have multiple configurations on that part i can change them independently on both parts.
      
      This is one part only (with preserved configurations)
      I am sorry if i misunderstood something , english is not my native language.
      
      You mirrored the Part, but it's still the same, un-altered Part. Dara Kong is referring to using the option shown below to create a mirror image of the original Part, not just adding another copy of the same Part to the Assembly.
      
      Glenn thanks for explaining .
      I can create opposite hand version of the original part (now i have two different parts in my assembly). Both parts have multiple configurations , and on both parts i can change configurations independently .
      
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      - Dara Kong @ Dario Karalic on Aug 4, 2020 9:37 AM
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        What do you mean by: "I can change configurations independently"?
        
        When you choose to save the mirrored part as a configuration, only a derived configuration of the current config is added to the existing part.
        
        Yes I can add derived configs for all my other configurations and configure the mirror feature to be unsuppressed in these new derived configs, but it's just inefficient. I want to be able to mirror every config at the same time (with all the derived configurations added automatically).
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        Dario Karalic @ Dara Kong on Aug 4, 2020 12:36 PM
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        I apologise in advance if i still dont understand your problem,just trying to help
        
        For example:
        I have Part1 with 3 configurations. In assembly i make opposite hand version (with option to make new part enabled).
        Now i have Part1 and Part1Mirror (two different parts) in assembly . Each one have 3 cofigurations which i can change separatly for each part)
        
        Is this what are you trying to achieve?
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        Dara Kong @ Dario Karalic on Aug 4, 2020 1:17 PM
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        Not quite!
        
        In fact, I don't want to create a new part. Let me show you exactly what I mean with a step by step process (to make sure we're on the same page) :
        
        After choosing the plane and the component to mirror, hit next to go in the advanced options
        Here, the next button is grayed out (can't click it), so choose the opposite-hand version :
        Now the next button becomes clickable, so click on it
        Here you have two main options : you can either create a new file having the same configurations than the mirrored component, or you can create a new derived configuration in the existing component (the component I want to mirror). This second option is the one I want, so click on it
        
        This will create a derived config of the current configuration of the component to mirror (without creating a new file). This is working perfectly fine, but only the current configuration is being mirrored. After creating my mirror, I can't change the config of my mirrored component since the only config that has a derived mirrored version is the configuration that was selected when creating the mirror.
        
        And if you remember my question, I need all my configs to be mirrored at the same time which is not what is happening right now.
        
        With two different parts you have all the configs being mirrored (since it's copying the file I believe), but the unmirrored configs aren't linked to the mirrored configs, so when I change a dimension on the unmirrored part, the change doesn't update in the mirrored part. This is why I need to choose the other option.
        
        I hope my problem is much clearer now!
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        Dario Karalic @ Dara Kong on Aug 4, 2020 2:12 PM
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        Ok now i understand. I am sorry for taking so long with this.
        I hope you will find some solution
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Dara Kong Aug 11, 2020 4:02 PM
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Ok, I just gave up, and used the option "Create new files" instead of "Create new derived configuration in existing files".

This is mirroring every config, so I'm able to configure my mirrored component in my assembly.

I wanted not to create new files to keep my project cleaner and organised. For that, I used the option "Place files in one folder":

I consider this solution as a workaround, but I hope that this will help people who have the same problem...
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How to mirror all the configurations at the same time

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