How to mirror (or "linear pattern" once) a subset of elements in a sketch

w_s856

Some context for the question

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/d7aebcbf751ea63aa06fa480/w/d496255ea19f9425bb0ebe6c/e/1fe3d10623afa6ca25027db7?renderMode=0&uiState=675ae11589db9f7b409fcb66

This shelf will be renovated and I need to attach to it the contraption above. I am not sure yet how wide it will be (= how much it will go to the right and left of the holes) but it does not matter: it will be symmetric to middle between the holes.

As part of the whole object, I created a bolt that goes into this hole (and an associated nut which is not correct yet but I will work on it later, especially now that I have very good input from @Konst_Sh and @jelte_steur814 - thank you).

Now: there are two holes and I would like to replicate this bolt: mirror it, or "linear pattern" once. I vaguely imagine that mirroring makes more sense.

My problem: the bolt is made of plenty of small pieces (sketches, extrudes, sweeps, …) and Onshape does not readily suggest to me how to take the whole set and mirror it (I thought that putting everything in a folder could do the trick). My question: should I:

• create the second bolt from scratch (I am sure this is not the right way, I am adding just for completeness)
• mirror some elements (I am not even sure where - they are all in different sketches) and "the rest will follow"
• "mirror" the whole set of steps: sketch, extrude, sketch, … (I do not know how)
• make the bolt a separate part, and mirror it (this is the one I have as a workaround, aesthetically I would say that this doesn't seem right because the bolt is not a "part", but I can perfectly live with this)
• approach the whole thing differently and restart from scratch (which is perfectly fine - I am learning)

jelte_steur814

firstly: assuming you do NOT want one right- and one left handed thread, make sure you do not mirror, but pattern!

The most lightweight option for you in this case is to use a linear face pattern. and select all the faces of the 'bolt'.

since the new bolt will be placed on the same face as the old one, it'll work. face patterns are rather sensitive to that.

in other cases where that wouldn't work:

actually, if you don't 'add' the bolt cylinder, but let it be a new part, add the thread to it and use a linear part pattern would be completely feasible and good option. it can create ugly situations that require delete faces afterwards with the thread sticking out the back here:

a feature pattern would require you to select all the features creating the bolt: thread extrude, sweep and chamfer. don't hit 'reapply feature' to avoid the thread sticking out and it will work. but this is the heaviest way of executing this pattern and not advised in this case.

w_s856

@jelte_steur814 Thank you very much for your answer. I discovered that there is a dropdown with the nature of the pattern (by default "face") — I will experiment with all of this.

Ah la la, I clicked on my own comment as an "Answer" - how do I click this off…. OK I do not know how. Anyway: I would like the world to know that my thank you comment is NOT part of the "Best Answers" 🫥

jelte_steur814

firstly: assuming you do NOT want one right- and one left handed thread, make sure you do not mirror, but pattern!

The most lightweight option for you in this case is to use a linear face pattern. and select all the faces of the 'bolt'.

since the new bolt will be placed on the same face as the old one, it'll work. face patterns are rather sensitive to that.

in other cases where that wouldn't work:

actually, if you don't 'add' the bolt cylinder, but let it be a new part, add the thread to it and use a linear part pattern would be completely feasible and good option. it can create ugly situations that require delete faces afterwards with the thread sticking out the back here:

a feature pattern would require you to select all the features creating the bolt: thread extrude, sweep and chamfer. don't hit 'reapply feature' to avoid the thread sticking out and it will work. but this is the heaviest way of executing this pattern and not advised in this case.

w_s856

@jelte_steur814 Thank you very much for your answer. I discovered that there is a dropdown with the nature of the pattern (by default "face") — I will experiment with all of this.

Ah la la, I clicked on my own comment as an "Answer" - how do I click this off…. OK I do not know how. Anyway: I would like the world to know that my thank you comment is NOT part of the "Best Answers" 🫥