© Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Top Questions of I-deas users Learning NX Mark Lawry Siemens PLM Software Mark Lawry Siemens PLM Software

Page 2 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software I-deas Functionality in NX  I-deas Role Toolbar buttons are organized into lists similar to the I-deas icon stacks.

Page 3 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software I-deas Functionality in NX  Selection Intent, Stop at Intersection, Follow Fillet  Extrude with multiple draft angle sets  Edge Blend options  Sketch on Path  Variational Sweep  Assembly constraints  Assembly arrangements  Hide and Show similar to Display Filter  I-deas terms in Command Finder  Select from any assembly component (NX 6)  Assembly Relations Browser (NX 6)

Page 4 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Differences between I-deas and NX  PRT files  Model files  Workbench  Gateway application  Part history  Sketch constraints  Reference curves  Boolean operations  Object visibility  Top-down assembly design  Assembly constraints

Page 5 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 1- What is a “part” file? NX files use an extension PRT and are sometimes called “part” files.  They can contain:  Assembly components  Part geometry  Drawings  This is equivalent to merging I-deas ASM, PRT, and DWG library item types into one consistent file type.  This provides advantages for top-down assembly modeling and other modeling techniques.

Page 6 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 1- What is a “part” file? How do I change the units of the part file?  Select default units when you create the file.  Enter numbers followed by units in entry boxes. (mm, cm, km, in., ft, mi, etc.)  When creating expressions, choose a units type, then a unit.  Use the units conversion utility to convert the units of all geometry, drawings, dimensions, parameters, and expressions in the file.

Page 7 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 2- Where is my model file? There is no model file. NX session:  Your can have multiple open files, similar to other Windows applications. The Window menu shows open files.  Only one file is displayed at a time.  The displayed file can be a part or assembly.

Page 8 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 2- Where is my model file? Where is Manage Bins? There aren’t any bins.  Open files directly from Teamcenter.  Use Teamcenter folders to organize current projects.  Use the Window menu to select a file to display from among open files.

Page 9 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 2- Where is my model file? How do I open a file for reference? Default behavior in Teamcenter Integration for NX :  If multiple users have the same file open, the first user to modify the file locks it. Control file access using:  Personal and Group ownership – Define who has access to modify a file.  Baseline versions – Create a frozen “snapshot” of versions for different purposes.  Status – Define a status value to baseline versions to identify them. Typical status values: Shared, In Review, Released. NX Revision rules define the status of parts to open.

Page 10 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 3- Why can’t I edit a feature? You must switch from the Gateway application to the Modeling application. You can view history, but not modify it in the Gateway application

Page 11 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 4- What is the difference between Edit and Edit with Rollback? These are similar to the I-deas options Quick Wireframe and Wireframe. Edit Edit with Rollback

Page 12 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 5- Why are there still 2 free DOF in my sketch?  The first sketch line is not an inferred ground as in I-deas.  To fully constrain a sketch, you must fully constrain it to an external reference.

Page 13 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 5- Why are there still 2 free DOF in my sketch? Can NX work in polar coordinates? (Simulation users ask this.)  Preferences  Grid and Workplane

Page 14 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 6- How do I create reference curves? The term “reference curves” is different in I-deas and NX.  Reference curves in I-deas are a way to convert a sketch to a feature to use in multiple features.  Reference curves in NX are construction lines in a sketch. To use a sketch in multiple features in NX, keep the sketch external to the feature. Convert sketch curves to reference curves to identify them as construction lines that will not participate in an Extrude or other feature.

Page 15 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 7- What does it mean to keep the Boolean feature separate from the Extrude feature? In I-deas, you perform Boolean operations on two parts to create a “bushy” history tree. In NX, you perform Boolean operations on multiple solid bodies in the same file to use the equivalent modeling technique. 1.Use the Extrude command with the Boolean option None to create a separate solid body in the same file. 2.Use other commands on the resulting solid body. 3.Use the Unite, Subtract, or Intersect command to combine the bodies.

Page 16 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 7- What does it mean to keep the Boolean feature separate from the Extrude feature?

Page 17 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 8- Where is the Display Filter? The Hide and Show command on the Utility toolbar is similar to the I-deas Display Filter.  Layers can also be used to control visibility.  Reference sets can be used to control part geometry displayed in assemblies.

Page 18 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 9- How can I work with multiple parts at the same time? NX does not have a “workbench” concept. The I-deas workbench provided:  A “clipboard” to move geometry between parts  A context to design mating parts non-associatively (Yellow non-associative sketch curves created using Focus) To replace these functions in NX:  Use Copy and Paste  Work in an assembly context

Page 19 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 9- How can I work with multiple parts at the same time? Designing parts in an assembly context In NX 6, there are two additions to the Selection bar  Selection Scope  Select from the Work part or the entire assembly  Create Interpart Link  Turn off to work non-associatively similar to “yellow point” Focus in I-deas.  Turn on to create associative links.

Page 20 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 9- How can I work with multiple parts at the same time? Support Plate Base Extrude using Until Extended, select face from the Support Plate. Create sketch points aligned to the circle centers on the Base. Use the Hole command to create the holes.

Page 21 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Question 10- Do I have to ground the first assembly component? Assembly Mating Conditions (pre-NX 5) were directional, and the first component in a from/to chain was assumed grounded. NX assembly constraints are similar to I-deas assembly constraints. Either component can move. It is a good practice to use a Fix constraint to ground components that should not move.

Page 22 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Conclusion I-deas users are finding that learning NX is not difficult, once they learn the major differences. An I-deas to NX Transition class is available. Use the I-deas to NX Transition material in NX Help

Page 23 © Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved Siemens PLM Software Mark Lawry Siemens PLM Software Learning Media Development Mark Lawry Siemens PLM Software Learning Media Development