michaelpaul
New member
Okay, I've had this come up a few times lately and for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to do it. I'm not sure if I'm just stupid (always a possibility) or if I'm just missing something.
At any rate, some of you know I am a former SW user and have been back on Pro for about 2 months now. I've recently been modeling some parts that had both mirrored features and patterned features.
My issue is: Once I've created my mirror or selected my features to pattern, how can I go back later and add additional features to the mirror or patterned group? You know, you've come up with some rough design elements and mirrored 2 or 3 features together. Then, after a few days and many more features, you decide you'd like to add an additional feature to be mirrored (or you'd like to add a feature to the pattern). You insert the new feature before the mirror but how do you add it to the "mirror" feature? In SW, you simply edited the feature and you could add or remove any features you wanted to the mirror or pattern. in Edit Definition, all I can find is an option to change the mirror plane but nothing that actually allows you to include or exclude features. I know that if you mirror the entire part, any features you insert above the mirror will then be mirrored but that only works if you're part is symmetric and not all parts are.
The same holds true with the pattern as far as I know. the only solution I've come up with is not very elegant but is to simply mirror the additional feature as an entirely seperate feature or pattern the new feature as a reference pattern. these solutions while adequate, simply clutter up the model and then create additional children that can fail if a reference is blown up.
So, any suggestions on what I'm missing? it seems like such an obvious thing but nobody I work with (lots of Pro experience) has a solution for me.
While I'm at it, what's the difference between the Edit - Mirror and the Feature OPerations - Copy - Mirror commands? the latter creates a group which can then be ungrouped but is one better than the other and when?
Thanks for the input
I'm trying to keep an open mind but I sure to miss SW for many things that Pro just doesn't seem to do as obviously or as easily.................I'll give it more time though.
Michael
Edited by: michaelpaul
At any rate, some of you know I am a former SW user and have been back on Pro for about 2 months now. I've recently been modeling some parts that had both mirrored features and patterned features.
My issue is: Once I've created my mirror or selected my features to pattern, how can I go back later and add additional features to the mirror or patterned group? You know, you've come up with some rough design elements and mirrored 2 or 3 features together. Then, after a few days and many more features, you decide you'd like to add an additional feature to be mirrored (or you'd like to add a feature to the pattern). You insert the new feature before the mirror but how do you add it to the "mirror" feature? In SW, you simply edited the feature and you could add or remove any features you wanted to the mirror or pattern. in Edit Definition, all I can find is an option to change the mirror plane but nothing that actually allows you to include or exclude features. I know that if you mirror the entire part, any features you insert above the mirror will then be mirrored but that only works if you're part is symmetric and not all parts are.
The same holds true with the pattern as far as I know. the only solution I've come up with is not very elegant but is to simply mirror the additional feature as an entirely seperate feature or pattern the new feature as a reference pattern. these solutions while adequate, simply clutter up the model and then create additional children that can fail if a reference is blown up.
So, any suggestions on what I'm missing? it seems like such an obvious thing but nobody I work with (lots of Pro experience) has a solution for me.
While I'm at it, what's the difference between the Edit - Mirror and the Feature OPerations - Copy - Mirror commands? the latter creates a group which can then be ungrouped but is one better than the other and when?
Thanks for the input
I'm trying to keep an open mind but I sure to miss SW for many things that Pro just doesn't seem to do as obviously or as easily.................I'll give it more time though.
Michael
Edited by: michaelpaul
