Mirroring sub-assemblies

I recently ran into a problem with this. I mirrored a sheetmetal
plate that goes on the right side of this design. I needed to create
the mirror-image part on the left. To this end, I mirrored the
complete right bracket assembly. This included PEM nuts, PEM studs
and rivets.

Somewhere during the design I discovered that changes to the original
sub-assembly were not propagating to the mirrored sub-assembly. I
would add a PEM nut or two and it wouldn't show-up on the left.
Generally speaking, changes to the part (not the sub-assembly) would
propagate. So, a new hole would show-up on the left but the mating
PEM hardware wouldn't.

Any ideas? There doesn't seem to be a way to force an update of the
mirrored component. I've resorted to deleting it and re-creating it
using the mirror command again. Not a huge problem because I've been
careful about not referencing anything off the auto-magically created
part. However, I have to re-mate it and the whole thing is an
invitation for making a mistake.

Thanks,

-Martin

 

If you or anyone else is

I certainly would be. Thanks,

-Martin

 

Keith, I'm going to copy down your procedure and give it a try thru a
couple of exercises. We make many LH/RH assemblies, mostly sheet metal
parts and hardware, and this could save some time. However at this
point I'm with Kenneth - we don't use the assembly mirror because it's
worked inconsistently (with our admittedly uncontrolled process.)

This forum is great for sharing and learing best practices. Thanks for
sharing yours. Thank you very much.

Sorry to hear about your arm. 25 years ago while doing lots of cycling
my knees began to ache. Rather than follow a recomendation to change
sports, I worked out a careful exercise program and was able to
overcome the pain and continue doing something I love doing. Last year
while hiking in the snow I re-injured both knees and haven't been
able, so far, to eliminate the pain of inflamation and some arthritus.
At 50+ years my wetware isn't responding very well. I hope to find a
best practise to overcome this.

I hope SW will someday retire many of the agravations and work arounds
we've all come to love and cherish.

peace, Diego

 

Mirrored parts isn't exactly working as it should either. For
instance, hole wizard infomation is not passed on to the mirrored
part. Another short coming is mirroring sheet metal parts. The
mirrored part is no longer a sheet metal part. Must use insert bend
to convert it to a sheet metal part.

SW needs to fix these fundamental mirror problems at both the assembly
and part level.

 

Mirrored parts isn't exactly working as it should either. For

isn't the flat identical for both?

 

Not if one side is polished + paper...

 

isn't the flat identical for both?

yes, i suppose so.

it just depends on which side of the fence you're on.
we don't fabricate in house.
our vendors would have no trouble mirroring the flat from parent.

 

You can still manually unbend it.

John H

 

Once you insert sheet metal bends the mirrored part does unfold; then
you can add other features including all the sheet metal functions,
that would make this part not just mirrored but unique. Another reason
the flats might not be the same is if you were laser marking opposite
sides, which we do a lot of, for weld locations and fit up.

Diego