NX Customization 1

[amitpaul713]

Hi Everyone,

I am very interested in NX customization. Please help me how to get started with it, like what I should know as programming and stuff. I have no to very less information about this automation field.

Brief about me: I am a Medical Device Design Engineer with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering. I am experienced in Siemens NX and Solidworks.

Note:I have no programming skills and I am ready to dedicate my time to learn it.



Regards,
Amit Paul

 

[Rob_N]

On your documentation install disk theres an option to install the API docs
lots of samples here

https://solutions.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/result.php?sort=desc&p=1&q=nxopen

Siemens has a community forum dedicated to it.

http://community.plm.automation.sie...stomization/bd-p/NX-Programming-Customization

Cowski runs nxjournaling.com lots of great info there.

I want to learn, but working 12 hour shifts, i don't have the time. unfortunately

 

[cowski]

Have a look at thread561-352231

In the time since that thread, NX has added Python as a supported language (NX 10 and above); otherwise, I think the info is all still valid.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[petulf]

There is also a new guide for nxopen included in the NX 11 API documentation which is quite good and long overdue.

 

[cowski]

That reminds me...
There is also good information in the SNAP documentation which applies to using the NXOpen API generally. Especially the chapter on assemblies (prototype objects vs. occurrences); you'll find the same info in the C documentation, but I think it is more clear & concise in the SNAP docs.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[amitpaul713]

Appreciate all the replies. Many Thanks.

I have a very little experience in Visual Basic, is that fine to start with? or Do I start learning C++? What I am trying to say is which language should I have a good hold on to get started with NX automation. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Amit Paul

 

[cowski]

I think VB is a good language to start with unless you are already familiar with another language such as C. In that case, I'd suggest that you stick with what you know.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[amitpaul713]

Great! Thanks

Regards,
Amit Paul

 

[Ehaviv]

I think/estimate that on the internet theire are more stuf in Visual Basic

 

[BubbaK]

If you have no programming experience at all, I'd recommend that you use Visual Basic.

If you have a little C or C++ experience, I'd recommend C#.

I do not recommend C++ unless you are a full-time professional programmer.

As you say, VB is the most commonly-used language for NX customization. The SNAP Getting Started guide has a chapter that explains the basics of Visual Basic.

 

[JohnRBaker]

And if you're a real novice when it comes to programming, then I would start with 'SNAP'.



John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[Rob_N]

SNAP requires additional licensing just like GRIP before it did, Hence why I don't have either capability.

Yes, the company I work for and have worked for , for over 19 years can be penny-wise and dollar foolish... But I get paid by the hour.

 

[JohnRBaker]

That's not totally accurate. So as to allow people to get a feel for the value-added by having an easy to use (for non-programmers) NX customization environment anyone can start to use the basic capabilities of SNAP as well as learn about how it works by using something called 'Mini-SNAP' which does NOT require the purchase of any special license from Siemens PLM.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[cowski]

SNAP isn't a language unto itself as GRIP was; it works with a programming language such as VB. In essence, it works as an intermediary layer between NXOpen and the programmer to make the programmer's life easier. For example, an NXOpen function may return an array of 3 values to represent a 3D point location; the programmer could create a "Point" object from this information whereas SNAP would directly return a Point object to the programmer.

While "mini-SNAP" is free, it is really just there to give you a taste of what SNAP can do; to do something really interesting you will have to buy a SNAP license. So technically the statement above may not be "totally accurate", but I'd say it is "mostly accurate".

www.nxjournaling.com