Symmetry¶

This geometrical operation allows to perform a symmetrical copy of your mesh or some of its elements.

To create a symmetrical copy:

From the Modification menu choose Transformation -> Symmetry item or click “Symmetry” button in the toolbar.

“Symmetry button”
One of the following dialogs will appear:

It is possible to mirror a mesh or some of its elements through:

“a point”

“an axis”

a plane (defined by a point and a normal to the plane)”
In the dialog:
- specify the elements for the symmetry operation:
  Select the whole mesh, submesh or group activating this checkbox; or
  
  choose mesh elements with the mouse in the 3D Viewer. It is possible to select a whole area with a mouse frame; or
  
  input the element IDs directly in ID Elements field. The selected elements will be highlighted in the viewer; or
  
  apply Filters. Set Filter button allows to apply a Filter Dialog to the selection of elements.
- depending on the nature of the mirror object:
  if the mesh is mirrored through a point, specify the coordinates of the point, either directly or by picking a mesh node;
  
  if the mesh is mirrored through an axis:
  
  specify the coordinates of the start Point of the axis, either directly or by picking a mesh node;
  
  specify the components of axis Vector, either directly or by picking a mesh node, in which case Vector is defined as a shift between the Point and the node;
  
  if the mesh is mirrored through a plane:
  
  specify the cooordinates of the Point lying on the plane, either directly or by picking a mesh node;
  
  specify the components of plane Normal, either directly or by picking a mesh node, in which case Normal is defined as a shift between the Point and the node.
  
  specify the conditions of symmetry operation:
  
  activate Move elements radio button to change the location of the selected elements within the current mesh;
  
  activate Copy elements radio button to duplicate the selected elements at the new location within the current mesh;
  
  activate Create as new mesh radio button to create a new element in a new mesh; the new mesh appears in the Object Browser with the default name MeshName_mirrored (it is possible to change this name in the adjacent box);
  
  activate Copy groups check-box to put new mesh entities into new groups if source entities belong to some groups. New groups are named by pattern “<old group name>_mirrored”.
- activate Preview check-box to show the result of transformation in the viewer;
- click Apply or Apply and Close button to confirm the operation.