Mirroring Geometry

The Mirror Command lets you create up to three perpendicular mirror planes while visualizing the changes made in one version reflected in symmetric elements.

Using mirror planes is a good and efficient way to work on symmetric shapes. As you create and edit geometry and shapes (for example, add fillets, deform faces, or edit thickness), they are mirrored about the plane. Changes are visible even if underlying shapes are not entirely symmetric.

This task shows you how to:

 

See Also
Splitting Shapes

Create Mirror Planes

You can create up to three perpendicular mirror planes.

To create a mirror plane, the possibilities are as follows:
  • Click Mirror to create a mirror plane in the same plane as a face, select a face, and .
  • Right-click one of the arcs of the Robot, and select Create Mirror Plane.
  • To create a mirror plane between two faces, select two faces, and in the selection panel, clickMirror .

Create Symmetry

  1. Select the geometry you want to mirror.
  2. Click Create Symmetry.
    A mirror plane becomes visible. A copy of the geometry is displayed:

    Note: You can also use the picker located in the selection panel to select a plane or planar face.
  3. Optional: Drag the manipulators to adjust the mirror plane and control the orientation and location of the mirrored geometry.


  4. Click anywhere in the background to locate the copy.
    The mirror plane is also created.

Edit Mirror Plane Properties

You can edit mirror plane properties of symmetrical data stored in your session using either the selection bar or selection panel options.

  1. Select the border of the symmetry plane you want to edit.
  2. The selection bar lets you choose between the following options:
    OptionDescription
    Activate mirror plane Toogles between activating and deactivating the mirror plane.
    Show mirror plane Toggles between showing and hiding the mirror plane.
    Delete mirror plane Lets you delete the mirror plane.
  3. The selection panel lets you choose between the following options:
    OptionDescription
    Origin Point Displays the coordinates of the point of origin.
    Mirror Plane Normal Displays the coordinates of the normal mirror plane.
    Highlight both sides By default, this feature is unchecked. When unchecked, symmetrical elements associated with the mirror plane are not highlighted. When checked, symmetrical elements associated with mirror plane are highlighted.
    Activate mirror

    By default, this feature is checked. When checked, the symmetrical plane is active. When unchecked, the state symmetrical plane is deactivated. If this option is unchecked the Highlight both sides option is unavailable and the Hide mirror option is unchecked.
    Hide mirror

    By default, this feature is unchecked. When unchecked, the symmetrical plane is visible. When checked, the symmetrical plane is not visible.
    Mirror Delete

    By default, this feature is unchecked. This option deletes the symmetry mirror plane when checked.