The latest version of Siemens’ NX software (NX 11) offers Convergent Modeling, a new modeling paradigm that simplifies the ability to work with geometry consisting of a combination of facets, surfaces and solids, without the need for time-consuming data conversion.

Convergent Modeling will help you optimize part designs for 3D printing, speed up the overall design process and make reverse engineering a more common and efficient practice in product design.

In addition, NX 11 includes multiple enhancements throughout the integrated computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE) solution, such as next generation 3D CAE, powered by the newly announced Simcenter 3D software, and improved CAM productivity with tools like robotics machining and hybrid additive manufacturing to help improve productivity.

“We anticipate Convergent Modeling will remove the limitations associated with traditional CAD modeling when it comes to optimizing parts for 3D printing. NX11 simplifies the design process and supports the evolution of additive manufacturing to help companies realize a whole new level of creativity in product development,” said Joe Bohman, vice president, Product Engineering Software, Siemens PLM Software.

Traditional CAD technologies are built to support traditional manufacturing methods and have limitations when trying to optimize designs for additive manufacturing. Convergent Modeling removes these limitations by giving users the flexibility to rapidly create optimal shapes leveraging the materials and techniques made available through additive manufacturing.

Similarly, Convergent Modeling simplifies the process of working with scanned data. Users in various industries, including medical, auto and consumer goods, among others, are increasingly using scanned 3D data as part of the design process. This reverse engineering of existing designs has traditionally been an expensive and tedious process because the scanned data requires a time-consuming manual conversion of the faceted geometry into surface and solid form before it can be used for further modeling. Irregular shapes, in particular, require extensive rework so that they can be used for 3D printing, mold design, analysis, or other uses. The reverse engineering process can take days or weeks to complete. Convergent Modeling greatly reduces the need for this rework by bringing the scanned data in as facets that can be worked directly in NX 11, so there is no need to map surfaces, create solids, or do any other manual shape creation.

Convergent Modelling allows users to immediately begin using scanned data to create molds based on the shape, include it in an assembly, analyze it, or perform any other normal CAD operation. This, combined with the 3D Print function in NX11 enables users to 3D print designs directly from NX, simplifying the additive manufacturing process. This scan, edit and print workflow uses the Microsoft 3D print capabilities and supports the 3MF format to help ensure wide compatibility.

NX 11 also includes several other enhancements. Simcenter 3D now powers all simulation capabilities in NX for predicting product performance. Simcenter 3D, which is also available as a standalone application, provides NX users with a seamless experience as they move between design and simulation tasks. Fast and accurate solvers power structural, acoustics, flow, thermal, motion, and composites analysis, as well as optimization and multi-physics simulation.

Siemens PLM Software
www.siemens.com/plm