DesignSpark Mechanical Online Help

Moving symmetrically

Use the Symmetric MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. option in the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. tool to move objects relative to each other about a plane as if they are mirrored objects but without the need to create a mirror association between the objects.

You can use this option with an automatically determined virtual mirror plane based on the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. handle location or you can use the fulcrum tool guide to establish a fixed mirror plane.

With a fulcrum-selected mirror plane, geometry which is the same on both sides of the plane is found and moved automatically when moving geometry on one side of the plane. The center of each selected object determines which side of the plane the geometry lies on.

Faces, edges, vertices, section curves, and sketch curves can be moved symmetrically. Curves that partially overlap the symmetry plane can be moved. The symmetric move option is not available for moving objects which have an established mirror association

To move objects symmetrically about a virtual mirror plane

1. Select two or more objects.

2. Click the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. tool.
3. Click  Symmetric MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. in the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools..

4. Click one of the translation arrows and drag. As you drag, a ghost mirror plane appears at the center of the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. handle, perpendicular to the direction you are dragging. Movements are mirrored about this plane. A ghost move handle is displayed on the other side of the virtual mirror plane to indicate the mirrored translation or rotation. Selected objects are moved symmetrically about the indicated plane.

   To reset the virtual mirror plane, change selection or toggle the Symmetric MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. option.

Examples

Moving two solids symmetrically about a virtual mirror.

 

 

Moving two curves.

To move objects symmetrically with a fulcrum-selected mirror plane

1. Create a plane or planar face.

2. Select one or more objects.

3. Click the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. tool.

4. Click  Symmetric MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. in the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools..

5. Click the  FulcrumHinge; pivot point. When using the Move tool, you can select an object and use the Fulcrum tool guide to move other objects around it. tool guide.

6. Click the plane or planar face to specify the symmetry plane.

   Objects on the other side of the fulcrum plane with matching geometry are automatically detected and moved symmetrically about the plane.

7. Drag a rotation or translation arrow on the move handle to modify the geometry symmetrically about the fulcrum-selected mirror plane.

Examples

Pivoting an edge modifies the matching geometry on the other side of the fulcrum-selected mirror plane.

 

 

Moving faces that are symmetric to each other but lie partially on either side of the mirror plane. The center of each of the objects’ bounding boxes is on either side of the plane, so the symmetric move tool can detect the symmetric geometry and the angled faces can be moved