SOLIDWORKS: Dynamic Mirror Entity

Perhaps one of the most under utilized sketching tools within all of SOLIDWORKS is Dynamic Mirror Entity. This tool allows the user to mirror a sketch about a line while the user is creating their sketch. Depending on design intent this tool can save an immense amount of time.

Dynamic Mirror Entities used to be more limited in the past as user was only allowed to use this tool with a center-line as the mirror line. However, in SOLIDWORKS 2018 and beyond, this tool can be used with center-lines as well as regular lines, linear model edges, linear edges in drawings, and even planes.

The inserted red arrow shows the entity that the sketch is being mirrored about.

Center-line

Regular Line

Model Edge

Edge in Drawing

Plane

Dynamic Mirror Entity works by automating the mirror entities tool while you are sketching. When this tool is activated, SOLIDWORKS will automatically create a symmetric relation between the original sketch, the copied sketch, and the line that the sketch is being mirrored over. This is a much different workflow than the mirror entities tool which is used after the sketch is created. The ability to visualize how the current sketch will appear when mirrored is what makes this tool so powerful.

This tool does not automatically appear in the sketch tab of the command manager but can be found under Tools>Sketch Tools> Dynamic Mirror. And, as usual, it can be dragged and dropped onto the command manager.

When activated, the only selection that must be made is the line/edge that the sketch is to be mirrored about just like mirror entity. To finish dynamic mirroring simply select the Dynamic Mirror Entities button again.

So next time you’re creating a symmetrical sketch within SOLIDWORKS try out the Dynamic Mirror Entity tool and see how much time it can save you!

Beau Hansen
Support Engineer
Computer Aided Technology, LLC