NX (Unigraphics)

NX (Software)

NX7 image of an automobile NX 7
Developer(s)	Siemens PLM Software
Initial release	1973
Stable release	NX 8 / October 17, 2011; 34 days ago (2011-10-17)
Development status	active
Operating system	Windows XP or later (x86/x64), Unix-like, Mac OS
Available in	multi-language
Type	CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM
License	proprietary
Website	www.plm.automation.siemens.com

NX, also known as NX Unigraphics or usually just U-G, is an advanced CAD/CAM/CAE software package developed by Siemens PLM Software.^[1]

It is used, among other tasks, for:

• Design (parametric and direct solid/surface modelling)
• Engineering analysis (static, dynamic, electro-magnetic, thermal, using the Finite Element Method, and fluid using the finite volume method).
• Manufacturing finished design by using included machining modules.

NX is a direct competitor to Creo Elements/Pro, CATIA, SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor.

History

1969: UNIAPT was released by a software company then called United Computing, UNIAPT was one of the world's first end-user CAM products.^[2]

1973: The company purchased the Automated Drafting and Machining (ADAM) software code from MGS in 1973. The code became a foundation for a product called UNI-GRAPHICS, later sold commercially as Unigraphics in 1975.^[3]

1976 McDonnell Douglas Aircraft buys Unigraphics.^[4]

1981: Unigraphics was released, marking the group's first true 3D modeling hardware and software offering.^[5]

1991: During a period of financial difficulties McDonnell Douglas sells Unigraphics to EDS which at that time is owned by General Motors.^[6] Unigraphics becomes GM's corporate CAD system.

1992: Over 21,000 seats of Unigraphics are being used worldwide.^[7]

1996: Unigraphics V11.0 is released. Added Industrial Design and Modeling enhancements including Bridge Surface, Curvature Analysis for Curve and Surfaces, Face Blends, Variable Offset Surface, etc. In the area of Assembly Modeling the new capabilities included Component Filters, Faceted Representations, Clearance Analysis between multiple Components, etc. Also this release included a fully integrated Spreadsheet linked to Feature-Based Modeling.^[8]

2002 First release of the new "Next Generation" version of Unigraphics and I-deas, called NX. This will eventually bring the functionality and capabilities of both Unigraphics and I-DEAS together into a single consolidated product.^[9]

2007 Introduction of Synchronous Technology in NX 5.^{[10] [11]}

A complete history exists on the Unigraphics Virtual Museum.^[12]

Key Functions

• Design (Computer aided design)^[13]
  • Parametric Solid modeling (feature based and direct modeling^[14])
  • Freeform surface modelling, Class A surfaces).
  • Reverse engineering^[15]
  • Styling and Computer-aided industrial design
  • Engineering drawing (Drafting)
  • Product and manufacturing information (PMI)
  • Reporting and Analytics,^[16] Verification and validation^[17]
  • Knowledge Reuse including Knowledge-based engineering
  • Sheet metal design
  • Assembly modelling^[18] and Digital mockup
  • Routing for Electrical wiring and Mechanical Piping
• Simulation (Computer-aided engineering)
  • Stress analysis / Finite element method (FEA)
  • Kinematics
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Thermal analysis
• Manufacturing (Computer-aided manufacturing) ^[19]
  • Numerical control (NC) programming

Supported operating systems and platforms

NX runs on ^[20] Microsoft Windows, Mac OS,^[21] and Linux.

Architecture

NX uses Parasolid for its Geometric modeling kernel and D-Cubed as Associative engine for sketcher and assembly constraints as well as using JT (visualization format)^[22] for lightweight data and Multi-CAD.

See also

• I-DEAS
• NX Nastran

References

1. ^ "NX main page". Siemens. http://siemens.com/nx. 
2. ^ "Unigraphics in the 60's". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_60s.htm. 
3. ^ "Unigraphics in the 70's". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_70s.htm. 
4. ^ "Unigraphics in the 70's". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_70s.htm. 
5. ^ "Unigraphics in the 80's". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_80s.htm. 
6. ^ Zipper, Stuart (1991-11-11). "See GM, IBM in CAD/CAM fight; after Unigraphics deal". Electronic News. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n1886_v37/ai_11499788/. 
7. ^ Bozdoc, Martian. "1992-1993". The History of CAD, CAD chronology. iMB. http://mbinfo.mbdesign.net/CAD1992-93.htm. 
8. ^ "Unigraphics in the 90's". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_90s.htm. 
9. ^ "Unigraphics today". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum/the_00s.htm. 
10. ^ Yares, Evan (2008-05-21). "Synchronous Technology and Design Freedom". http://www.evanyares.com/?p=129. 
11. ^ "Synchronous Technology". Siemens PLM Software. http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/plm/definition/synchronous_technology.shtml. 
12. ^ "The Unigraphics Virtual Museum". The Unigraphics Virtual Museum. PLM World. http://www.plmworld.org/museum. 
13. ^ "NX modeling page". Siemens PLM Software. http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/nx/design/mechanical/index.shtml. 
14. ^ England, Derek (2009). "Rapid Design Through Synchronous Modeling". Collaboration & Interoperability. Siemens PLM Software. http://www.3dcic.com/2009-proceedings-audio/rapid-design-through-synchronous-modeling. 
15. ^ Parrella, Tod. "Reverse Engineering". PLM World 2007. UGS Corp.. https://plmworld.org/home/presentations/abstracts/2007_presentations/nx/NXDI2-Parrella.pdf. 
16. ^ Wong, Kenneth. "HD3D". Desktop Engineering. http://www.deskeng.com/virtual_desktop/?p=2363. 
17. ^ Anderson, Taylor (May 3, 2009). "Automating the Design Validation Process with NX Check-Mate". Desktop Engineering. http://www.deskeng.com/articles/aaapyy.htm. 
18. ^ Carrington, Jim. "NX 6 Assembly Modeling Update". PLMWorld 2008. http://www-cad.fnal.gov/PLMWorld2008/Design%20-%20NX/nx%25206%2520assembly%2520modeling%2520update%2520cd.pdf. 
19. ^ Clarke, Charles. "Develpopments in the CAM software market". tct. http://www.tctmagazine.com/library/224/CAMSoftwareReview.pdf. 
20. ^ "Officially Supported platforms page". Siemens PLM Software. http://support.ugs.com/online_library/certification/index.php?page=2&p=p&v1=11&status=ics. 
21. ^ Dean, Al. "Siemens NX on OS X is a-go-go". MACDESIGN. http://mac.develop3d.com/2009/06/siemens-nx-on-os-x-is-go-go.html. 
22. ^ Carrington, Jim. "Working with Multi-CAD Data in NX using JT". PLMWorld 2008. Siemens PLM Software. http://www-cad.fnal.gov/PLMWorld2008/Design%20-%20NX/nx%2520multicad%2520jt%2520cd.pdf. 

Image Gallery

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  NX7 HD3D image of an automobile

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  Cad crank

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• Media related to NX (Unigraphics) screenshots at Wikimedia Commons
• Category:Screenshots of NX (Unigraphics)

External links

• Official website
• NX on YouTube
• Siemens PLM blog