Choice of datum plane when mirroring part or assembly

[haåman]

When you've altered the coordinate system, say that you've got the z-coordinate facing downward, a mirrored part assembled with Default Constraint in an assembly is placed in regard to the top plane. Hence, the mirrored part is located in the air above the assembly and not in the assembly itself.

The product idea is to let the user choose which plane to mirror the part in when using the command mirror part/mirror assembly.

[dgschaefer]

Good idea, I voted up.  There is an alternate way to accomplish this, however.

1. Create a temporary assembly and assemble your parent object by default.
2. Select "Create" from the Model tab, Component area.
3. In the dialog select "part" and "mirror"
4. Select "Mirror geometry only" and "Geometry dependent"
5. Unselect "Placement Dependant".  This prevents a parent child relationship between the new part and the assy.
6. Select your parent part
7. For the "Planar reference" (mirror plane), select a plane in the parent part, NOT an assembly plane.  This is important so you do not create a parent child relationship to the assembly
8. Select OK.  The part is created.
9. Open the part and save it.  Do not save the assy.
10. Close the part & assy and erase from session.

[haåman]

Thank you Doug, I'll try this