Mirror feature in Solidworks - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

The Mirror feature in SolidWorks helps you create a copy of a part or feature on the opposite side of a plane or face. This saves time by avoiding repetitive work and ensures perfect symmetry in your design.

When you design a part that is symmetrical and want to duplicate features on the other side.

When you want to create a balanced design without manually drawing both sides.

When you need to save time by copying complex features instead of recreating them.

When you want to maintain exact alignment and size for mirrored features.

When you want to quickly update both sides by editing the original feature only.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Features tab on the CommandManager

The Features toolbar is active and ready for feature creation

Step 2: Click

- Mirror feature button in the Features toolbar

The Mirror PropertyManager opens on the left side of the screen

Step 3: Select

- Mirror face/plane box in the Mirror PropertyManager

You can pick the plane or face to mirror about

💡 Choose a plane or flat face that divides your model symmetrically

Step 4: Select

- Features to mirror box in the Mirror PropertyManager

You can pick the features or bodies you want to mirror

💡 Select all features you want duplicated on the opposite side

Step 5: Click

- OK button in the Mirror PropertyManager

The mirrored features appear on the opposite side of the selected plane or face

Before vs After

Before

Model has a single cut and boss feature on the right side only

After

Model shows the same cut and boss feature mirrored exactly on the left side

Settings Reference

Mirror face/plane

📍 Mirror PropertyManager

Defines the plane or face to mirror features about

Default: None

Features to mirror

📍 Mirror PropertyManager

Selects which features or bodies will be mirrored

Default: None

Merge solids

📍 Mirror PropertyManager

Determines if mirrored bodies merge with original solid or stay separate

Default: Checked

Common Mistakes

Selecting a non-symmetrical plane or face for mirroring

The mirrored features will not align properly, causing design errors

Always choose a plane or face that divides the model symmetrically

Not selecting all features to mirror

Some features will be missing on the mirrored side, breaking symmetry

Carefully select all features or bodies you want duplicated

Forgetting to check 'Merge solids' when needed

Mirrored bodies remain separate, causing assembly or manufacturing issues

Check 'Merge solids' to combine mirrored features into one solid if required

Summary

The Mirror feature duplicates parts or features symmetrically about a plane or face.

It saves time and ensures perfect symmetry in your design.

Choose the correct mirror plane and select all features to mirror for best results.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of the Mirror feature in SolidWorks?

easy

A. To scale a part uniformly

B. To create a symmetrical copy of a part or feature

C. To rotate a part around an axis

D. To delete unwanted features

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Mirror feature function

   The Mirror feature is used to create a copy of a part or feature that is symmetrical about a plane or face.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the Mirror feature purpose

   Only To create a symmetrical copy of a part or feature describes creating a symmetrical copy, which matches the Mirror feature's purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To create a symmetrical copy of a part or feature -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Mirror feature = symmetrical copy [OK]

Hint: Mirror copies symmetrically about a plane or face [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Mirror with Rotate or Scale
• Thinking Mirror deletes features
• Assuming Mirror changes size

2. Which of the following is the correct first step when creating a Mirror feature in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Select the mirror plane or face

B. Select the feature to mirror

C. Create a new sketch

D. Save the file

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the mirror reference

   To create a Mirror feature, you must first select the plane or face about which the feature will be mirrored.

2. Step 2: Confirm the correct order of selection

   After selecting the mirror plane or face, you then select the feature to mirror. So the first step is selecting the mirror plane or face.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the mirror plane or face -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   First step = select mirror plane [OK]

Hint: Always pick mirror plane before features [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting features before mirror plane
• Starting with a new sketch unnecessarily
• Saving before creating the mirror

3. Given a part with a single extruded boss feature on the right side, what will happen if you apply a Mirror feature about the center plane of the part?

medium

A. A symmetrical extruded boss will appear on the left side

B. The original feature will be deleted

C. The part will be scaled down by half

D. Nothing will change

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Mirror feature effect on a single feature

   Mirroring about the center plane creates a symmetrical copy on the opposite side of the plane.

2. Step 2: Apply this to the extruded boss on the right side

   The extruded boss on the right will be copied symmetrically to the left side, creating a matching feature.

3. Final Answer:

   A symmetrical extruded boss will appear on the left side -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Mirror about center plane = symmetrical copy opposite side [OK]

Hint: Mirror duplicates features symmetrically [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Mirror deletes original features
• Assuming Mirror scales the part
• Believing Mirror does nothing without multiple features

4. You tried to create a Mirror feature but received an error saying "No valid entities selected to mirror." What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You selected the wrong file format

B. You selected multiple mirror planes

C. You forgot to save the part before mirroring

D. You did not select any features or bodies to mirror

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the error message

   The error "No valid entities selected to mirror" means the software did not detect any features or bodies chosen for mirroring.

2. Step 2: Identify the common cause

   This usually happens when the user selects the mirror plane but forgets to select the features or bodies to mirror.

3. Final Answer:

   You did not select any features or bodies to mirror -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Error means no features selected [OK]

Hint: Always select features after mirror plane [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring the need to select features
• Confusing error with file or save issues
• Selecting multiple mirror planes incorrectly

5. You have a complex part with multiple features on one side. You want to mirror all these features about a mid-plane but exclude one small feature. What is the best approach?

hard

A. Use the Mirror feature on the small feature only

B. Mirror the entire part and then delete the small feature on the mirrored side

C. Select all features except the small one before applying the Mirror feature

D. Create a new sketch excluding the small feature and mirror that sketch

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand selective mirroring

   The Mirror feature allows selecting specific features to mirror, so you can exclude unwanted ones by not selecting them.

2. Step 2: Compare options for excluding a feature

   Select all features except the small one before applying the Mirror feature directly excludes the small feature by not selecting it, which is efficient and clean. Mirror the entire part and then delete the small feature on the mirrored side wastes effort deleting after mirroring. Create a new sketch excluding the small feature and mirror that sketch is complex and unnecessary. Use the Mirror feature on the small feature only mirrors only the small feature, which is opposite of the goal.

3. Final Answer:

   Select all features except the small one before applying the Mirror feature -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Exclude by selection before mirroring [OK]

Hint: Pick only features you want mirrored [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mirroring everything then deleting
• Trying to mirror sketches instead of features
• Mirroring only the unwanted feature