How do I mirror image a part in Design Spark Mechanical?

[ajlelectronics]

I have designed and printed a left hand heater knob. I now need a right hand but I can't find a way to copy and mirror image it. I have done a web search and it might as well be in a foreign language, the information therein. There is talk about a "mirror plane" but it suggests that the mirror image is created at the same time, so not really what I want to do.

I could export it in a different format if need be, but there must be a way of doing a common flip like that, surely?

 

[Screwdriver]

Is there some hidden feature which breaks the symmetry in that part? From the supplied screenshot, that item already is identical to its mirror image.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Is there some hidden feature which breaks the symmetry in that part? From the supplied screenshot, that item already is identical to its mirror image.

Yes it is asymmetric, but that view doesn't show it.

 

[Dr.Al]

Sorry, can't really help with that one. I know how to do it in Onshape, ZW3D, SolidEdge, NX, Fusion 360, FreeCAD and probably several others I've forgotten, but DesignSpark was one of the first ones I ruled out when was reviewing and comparing CAD applications and I didn't get very far with learning the ropes.

If it helps though, I could probably explain / show you how to do it in one of the above. I would guess that the method in DesignSpark is essentially the same; just the buttons might be a bit different. Alternatively, export a STEP file and I'll do it for you and send you a mirrored STEP file back!

 

[Agroshield]

This any good?

An Online Tool to Convert and Mirror an STL Object File for 3D Printing

 

[Ruffian]

A mirror cm image can easily be done in cura prior to 3d print.

If mirroring it still needs to know which axis to mirror on. So will need to confirm on the origin.

Easy enough in fusion or cura.

 

[Tangledfeet]

@ajlelectronics Send me the file and I'll have a go if you like? Should, he says, be as easy* as selecting a plane in which to mirror, mirror and then delete original.


* But I'm probably missing something blatantly obvious that makes it much harder...

 

[Screwdriver]

In Sketchup I just scale the item x -1 perpendicular to the required plane.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Sorry, can't really help with that one. I know how to do it in Onshape, ZW3D, SolidEdge, NX, Fusion 360, FreeCAD and probably several others I've forgotten, but DesignSpark was one of the first ones I ruled out when was reviewing and comparing CAD applications and I didn't get very far with learning the ropes.

If it helps though, I could probably explain / show you how to do it in one of the above. I would guess that the method in DesignSpark is essentially the same; just the buttons might be a bit different. Alternatively, export a STEP file and I'll do it for you and send you a mirrored STEP file back!

No STEP file output option in the free version. It would appear that it is quite a convoluted process...

The easiest way would be to copy the part you have and edit it.

Create a plane as shown in the image. Combine/Cut the solid using the Plane as the cutter.

Move the smaller part 180° to the mirrored position. Delete the Rounds and draw them again. Combine/Join the two solids.

The other way is to Save the model as an STL file open it in 3D Builder and mirror it there. Insert the STL back into DSM. Be aware that all of the curves will be faceted. Use the existing geometry to draw over the Mesh to create a new solid.

 

[ajlelectronics]

This any good?

An Online Tool to Convert and Mirror an STL Object File for 3D Printing

Thank you,
I did use that earlier and it is a good workaround, although I then can't edit it. Gets the job on the bed though.

 

[ajlelectronics]

A mirror cm image can easily be done in cura prior to 3d print.

If mirroring it still needs to know which axis to mirror on. So will need to confirm on the origin.

Easy enough in fusion or cura.

I didn't see a mirror option in Cura, probably wasn't looking hard enough. I will look again.

 

[ajlelectronics]

@ajlelectronics Send me the file and I'll have a go if you like? Should, he says, be as easy* as selecting a plane in which to mirror, mirror and then delete original.


* But I'm probably missing something blatantly obvious that makes it much harder...

Are you using DSM then?

 

[Tangledfeet]

Are you using DSM then?

No, Inventor - I should be able to import anything and export as something you could use.

 

[Screwdriver]

Can you scale the model in your application?

Scale it -100%

 

[Dr.Al]

No STEP file output option in the free version. It would appear that it is quite a convoluted process...

Wow, I'd forgotten that. I remembered that there were a few essential features that were missing from the free version (dimensioned drawings of models was one I'd remembered but I might have misremembered). I hadn't remembered STEP export was missing. That would be an absolute no-no for me: there's no way I'd even consider a CAD application without STEP export.

What are the export options? Can it do IGES?

The easiest way would be to copy the part you have and edit it.

Create a plane as shown in the image. Combine/Cut the solid using the Plane as the cutter.

Move the smaller part 180° to the mirrored position. Delete the Rounds and draw them again. Combine/Join the two solids.

The other way is to Save the model as an STL file open it in 3D Builder and mirror it there. Insert the STL back into DSM. Be aware that all of the curves will be faceted. Use the existing geometry to draw over the Mesh to create a new solid.

If you just want to mirror it, it seems like that plane is in the wrong orientation. I'd expect there to be a (possibly built-in, depending on how you drew the model) plane perpendicular to that one, slicing the upright bit in half, parallel to the long edge of the rectangular hole.

In most CAD applications, you'd select the object, pick the mirror command, choose whether the mirror is a copy or a move (i.e. whether to keep the original), then select that plane I described and that's it (give or take some moves if you want the two models visible without overlapping).

 

[bricol]

If it doesn't have to be on the same centreline, just use the flat side as the mirror plane and mirror it.

Every CAD system I've used so far is apain with mirrored parts. you cannot delete the original, as you lose the seed part for the mirrored part, so the mirrored part disappears too. Then when you land it in an aasembly, the seed part always finds a way to screw something up. Over many years, we've given up - just recreate as a mirror. Which quite often can be done by simply extruding the original sketch in the opposite direction and go from there.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Can you scale the model in your application?

Scale it -100%

I can't find any option to do that.

 

[ajlelectronics]

What are the export options? Can it do IGES?

You are expected to purchase "sofware modules" for 'advanced" design.

If you just want to mirror it, it seems like that plane is in the wrong orientation. I'd expect there to be a (possibly built-in, depending on how you drew the model) plane perpendicular to that one, slicing the upright bit in half, parallel to the long edge of the rectangular hole.

That information came from the DSM forum and their resident guru.

In most CAD applications, you'd select the object, pick the mirror command, choose whether the mirror is a copy or a move (i.e. whether to keep the original), then select that plane I described and that's it (give or take some moves if you want the two models visible without overlapping).

Reading the forum posts, there are a few queries like mine and it would appear that there is no dedicated function currently, but they are aware that there ought to be.

 

[ajlelectronics]

No, Inventor - I should be able to import anything and export as something you could use.

 

[Dr.Al]

If it doesn't have to be on the same centreline, just use the flat side as the mirror plane and mirror it.

Every CAD system I've used so far is apain with mirrored parts. you cannot delete the original, as you lose the seed part for the mirrored part, so the mirrored part disappears too. Then when you land it in an aasembly, the seed part always finds a way to screw something up. Over many years, we've given up - just recreate as a mirror. Which quite often can be done by simply extruding the original sketch in the opposite direction and go from there.

That sounds strange. In the CAD systems I've used, the deletion of the original part is an operation in the parametric history like any other.

If you want to change something, just go back in history before the delete, edit the op that you want to change and then fast-forward again. The mirrored part updates as expected.

You are expected to purchase "sofware modules" for 'advanced" design.

View attachment 376865

Advanced design my a*se. STEP export is a really basic function.

Does the DXF export produce a 3D DXF or just a 2D one? If 3D, then that might be an option.

That information came from the DSM forum and their resident guru.



Reading the forum posts, there are a few queries like mine and it would appear that there is no dedicated function currently, but they are aware that there ought to be.

Time for a new CAD application? Maybe get a trial of the "advanced" features & export all your models as STEP files!