Category Archives: NX Software

Questions & information about Siemens NX software

Elite 8 ways to Beat the Shot Clock with NX

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NX 8.5 has many tools to help you reduce mouse clicks/movements and find tools faster so you can really impress your boss and your clients.  Grab a gatorade and get ready to get your game on!

  1. Fast Break-
    • Use the Shortcut Toolbar – Don’t waste valuable seconds searching and clicking through menus! Select an object when no dialog box is open, a toolbar at the cursor location displays commands that are appropriate for the selected object.
  2. Give and Go-
    • With the ‘NX Reuse Library’ there’s no need to recreate standard geometry for each new design.  Store reusable shapes for later use.
  3. Use Your Center-
    • Use the Middle-Click mouse button to quickly click through menus. When a button on a menu is highlighted in green, a middle mouse button click will act as a shortcut to that button, which will help you maneuver through menus faster.
  4. Get the Assist-
    • ‘Roles’ tailor the UI by hiding tools you are unlikely to use to carry out your specific day to day tasks. You can use the customization tools to organize menus and toolbars to suit your needs, and then save your settings as your personal role. This is especially efficient when more than one person is using the same NX application since each person can have their own unique roles.
  5. Capitalize with a 3-Point Play-
    • 3DConnexion-3D Mouse increases your productivity by an average of 21%*, and reduces the amount of mouse movement and clicks by 50%*! You’re running out the shot clock if you’re not using this slam-dunk accessory (unnecessary puns). The 3D mouse allows you to orbit, pan, and zoom smoothly through models in ways that are unmatched by a standard keyboard and mouse.
  6. Use the Playbook-
    • NX’s intuitive Command Finder helps you locate a command or tool without searching through all the icons and menus to find it. Click Help- Command Finder or click F4, then type in the command you want to use.  In Command Finder you can click on the command that pops up in its search to go directly to it, or hover over the command and NX will show you where it is located in your tool bars and menus.
  7. Pass to the Hot Hand-
    • Right Click Wheel is your go to shooter.  If you hold down mouse button 3, 8 different tools hover around your mouse. You can specify which tools you want in preferences. Hold down your right click and have your command at your fingertips or simply hold down mouse button 3 and flick your mouse in the direction of that command.
  8. The Buzzer Beater-
    • Templates allow you to save a sketch or a part as a model template instead of starting with a blank template when beginning a new model.  You will save time by not recreating the same part, or importing the part multiple times.

     

Click here to find out more about a Siemens PLM Software solution for your company!

Get your team in shape!! VMH offers a wide variety of NX Training Courses!

 

 

 

 

 

JT files accepted as first ISO standard for lightweight 3D visualization

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JT files, developed by Siemens area a 3D data format used for product visualization, collaboration, and CAD data design.  JT files are lightweight (1-10% the size of a normal CAD file) and best used to load a large number of components in an assembly.  Being such a small file size, JT can be opened and viewed on tablets and smart phones leading to viewing 3D product information in real-time throughout the entire process of the product’s lifecycle, including on mobile devices.  In December 2012, the JT file format became the first ISO standard for lightweight 3D visualization and product information.

The JT viewer XpresReview from Siemens for FREE for the ability to open and view 2D drawings and 3D models including .dwg and .jt file formats. Along with being a free software, here is a list of more great features:

  • Navigate 2D drawings and 3D models
  • Ability to check dimensions
  • Imports any Product & Manufacturing Information (PMI) that was made on the drawing
  • Create sections to view the interior of the 3D model

For more information, and to download visit the Siemens product page.

What’s New in NX 8.5?

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The customers requested multiple enhancements for NX 8.5 and Siemens delivered.  NX 8.5 is full of new capabilities, many of which were suggested by everyday NX users.  All the new solutions in NX 8.5 will accelerate your solution time and make your work more efficient, whether it be speeding up your NC programming and machining times, getting more accurate flow models, or getting a more precise CAD model of a difficult to create geometry.  Some general enhancements, in all parts of NX include easy to snap and move dialog boxes, customizable shortcut toolbars, and rotation enhancements which makes it much easier to rotate your object around the screen. Below are a few of the numerous enhancements for NX CAD, CAM, and CAE.  For even more enhancements, and more details, click here. ftp://ftp.summit.no/public/Produkter/Siemens-PLM-NX-Whats-New-in-8-5-fs_tcm1023-190424.pdf

Enhancements to CAD

  • New commands to create springs and threads that give fully parametric helical shapes.
  • Create unions between solid bodies and choose which region you want to remove or keep, by using 30% fewer commands and 25% fewer features.
  • Mirror PMI as well as the new “Center Mark” feature, letting you create center lines in 3D annotation.
  • In sheet metal design create dimples before or after bends, or put bends across existing features.
  • Pattern feature is now included in sheet metal.
  • New, more realistic visualization tools

Enhancements to CAM

  • New turbomachinery milling improves machining efficiency for multibladed parts such as turbines.
  • Contact point control in flank milling produces a better surface finish.
  • New Manufacturing Resource Library manages preferred tool assemblies and custom libraries.
  • PMI enhancements used downstream in CAM will also reduce manufacturing time

Enhancements to CAE

  • Faster finite element model updates
  • NX Shape Optimization helps engineers suggest detailed improvements to minimize stress on parts of a body or maximize natural frequencies without changing the design constraints.
  • Geometry optimization in NX Thermal and NX Flow gives you an optimal solution by changing certain parameters of the object, for example NX will change the flow rate to reduce the temperature of a heat sink, update the model and make the new results.

 

NX CAE 8.5 – A Glimpse in FE Model In-Context Feature

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We are fast approaching the release date of NX CAE 8.5.  As the launch approaches there are a few features that will surely make the roll out more exciting!  One of the great new features that has received a lot of positive beta-testing response is the application of a FE Model In-Context feature.

This new capability allows users to perform operations on a finite element component model, while continuing to simultaneously view and reference the overall finite element assembly.

This feature stemmed from the need of engineers to create their systems with the end-user in mind.  For example, if you are creating an audio receiver then it would be best to know what speaker the receiver will be paired with.  Likewise, if you a creating an engine and transmission, the need to be designed in conjunction to create the maximum amount of performance and synergy.

NX CAE 8.5 – FE Model in-Context

International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2012

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On September 10-15 one of the largest events in manufacturing is being held in Chicago, IL. The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is being held at the McCormick Place to give attendees the opportunity to see some of the most cutting-edge technology that almost 2,000 companies have to offer.

VMH International will be partnering with Mazak Corp. to showcase our products and to provide advice and help for any of the attendees having questions.

VMH International is an PLM software re-seller that specializes in CAD/CAM and other engineering and visualization software, including products from Siemens, Cortona, Volumill, Luxion, and several others. We also provide consulting for companies as well as training in a top-of-the-line training room that can even be made mobile to bring on site.

For more information on IMTS 2012 and to register, follow this link: http://www.imts.com/show/reg.html

If you’ll be at the IMTS show and would like to schedule an appointment with us, you can do so here: www.vmhinternational.com/imts2012.html

Look for us in the Mazak booth: http://www.mapyourshow.com/shows/index.cfm?exhid=00000021&booth=8300&show_id=IMTS12&userid=

We hope to see you there!

NX CMM Training Day

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Today’s Free NX CMM Training Day at VMH International was a great success! Jerry Lewis, from Siemens PLM Solutions was at the new VMH Training Facility in the corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri to present on NX CMM training. Many VMH customers, including a Boeing Supplier of the Year, attended the event on July 24th.

Focuses of the event included authoring NX PMI for downstream reuse, including creating PMI, viewing PMI in JT viewers, and how PMI can be reused throughout the entire manufacturing process. The other main focus of the event was NX CMM Inspection Programming including the ease of use, accuracy, variation analysis, and Dimensional Product Validation.

Click here for more information on training from VMH International, either in VMH International’s training center or on your company’s site.

July 24th: NX CMM Training Day – Free!

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Please join VMH in a free 1 day training class for NX CMM. The training class will be held in the new VMH Training Facility in the corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Jerry Lewis, Siemens PLM Solutions, will be presenting the NX CMM training.

This training will focus on:

Dimensional Management Process

  • Variation Analysis
  • NX CMM Inspection Programming
  • DPV – Dimensional Product Validation

Authoring NX PMI for Downstream Reuse

  • NX Checkmate
  • Drawing or No Drawing with NX PMI?

Date: July 24, 2012
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Lunch is included with this free event

Location: VMH Training Facility
635 Trade Center Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005

To sign up and register for this training, please contact Jenny Wren at 636-534.8466 or via email at jenny.wren@vmhinternational.com

The newly designed VMH Training Facility features a classroom style setup with top of the line Lenovo ThinkPad computers; along with stand-alone screens for easy viewing and project understanding. Each students seat also features a 3DConnexions SpaceMouse Pro for the easy manipulation of the models.

3Dconnexion Space Mouse Speeds Up 3D Projects

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New to the VMH International training room is 3Dconnexion’s SpaceMouse Pro. This SpaceMouse Pro is included in each of the 8 work stations, which are portable to any customer site. Easier to use and more efficient than a traditional keyboard and mouse, the SpaceMouse Pro enables you to intuitively move your model, assembly, or scene around in 3D space.

Not only does it make movement more intuitive and easy to do in 3D space, but the SpaceMouse Pro also has several built in features that make it an invaluable tool on projects.

- QuickView Keys: These keys on the right side of the mouse make available 12 different views at the touch of a button. You can also disable certain axes using the rotation toggle key to use the pan-and-zoom features.

- Intelligent Function Keys: These 4 keys at the top of the mouse are fully programmable as to whatever commands you want. The SpaceMouse Pro is even advanced enough to recognize your environment and to switch the commands assigned to the keys depending on the program you’re in without you having to do anything. You can turn on an on-screen display that shows the commands assigned to each of these keys as a reminder as well.

- Keyboard Modifiers: These keys on the left side of the mouse give you easy access to the Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Esc functions, saving you time from roaming across the keyboard.

- Virtual NumPad: To streamline your CAD or CAM processes even more, the SpaceMouse Pro has an on-screen Virtual NumPad to enter numbers into your program in tandem with your standard mouse instead of using your keyboard.

- Inverted Controls: Some people prefer inverted controls while others prefer standard controls when working in 3D space. With the SpaceMouse Pro you can switch easily between the two depending on your preference. All you have to do is quickly change the setting.

Within a short period of time of using the 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro, it will become second nature when working on your CAD, CAM, or design projects. With its 3D technology, you can take a model of a plane and fly it through your application. Or with a very detailed machine part, you can go to any view you desire with the click of a button and the touch of the mouse in a matter of seconds. Engineers, designers, and many others can attest to how streamlined and efficient the SpaceMouse Pro makes their work.

For more information visit our 3Dconnexion mouse products page.

Siemens Learning Advantage

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If you or anyone in your company are looking for self-paced learning of NX or other Siemens products, Siemens Learning Advantage is the way to go. Through the Learning Advantage website, you are given step by step instructions in text, as well as with videos, to learn all the tools and capabilities of NX.

If you are not able to get instructor-led training from our learning classroom or in an onsite visit, you can use Learning Advantage, which has a number of great features including:

  • Hands-on activities for application of new skills in interactive sessions
  • Self-paced library supporting a large range of Siemens Software products
  • Online learning management system for tracking training progress
  • Membership plans for individual, corporate and enterprise level training needs

Whether it is for someone completely new to a Siemens product or someone who has used the product for years, the self-paced Learning Advantage tools are a great resource to anyone using Siemens software. Visit the Siemens Learning Advantage webpage for more information.

NX: Modeling to Manufacturing

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Unlike most other 3D modeling, design, and manufacturing software, which usually come separately, NX includes all of these aspects in a single package. For example, a person using SolidWorks or Inventor for modeling would then have to transfer his or her files over to Mastercam or similar software for the manufacturing process. But, if the person were using NX, he or she would be able to go straight from modeling to manufacturing right in the same NX software. Check out the NX modeling tutorial below:

In addition to modeling and manufacturing, NX enables you to run simulation and analysis on your files as well as create drafts from your models. This combination of tools into one piece of software makes NX an invaluable program when reducing time to market to increase profit.

View our Siemens NX PLM Software page for more information.