Siemens NX Release 2412

General enhancements: Selection Filter for Tools and Devices

The new Selection Filter for Tools and Devices feature allows you to select tools or devices directly from the graphics window. NX automatically highlights the corresponding objects in the Machine Tool View of the Operation Navigator. This enhancement streamlines your workflow by filtering out irrelevant assembly components, helping you focus on the essential elements. Hidden tools are now easy to select, and the synchronization between the graphics window and navigator saves you time and effort.

 

Milling: Inheriting automatic plane as clearance from MCS in Plunge Milling

In a Plunge Milling operation, set the Transfer Method to Automatic to inherit the clearance plane from the MCS Mill dialog. NX uses this safe distance to create the tool path’s start and end points, and ensures the lowest safe Z plane in between. The tool automatically stays clear of part, blank, or check geometries, such as clamps, without manual plane selection.

Turning: Advanced chip control with chip breaking

The new Chip Breaking options enhance chip control and lathe machining. The tool automatically retracts and re-engages after a defined distance, ensuring controlled chip breaking.

Chip Breaking is available for these turning operation types: 

• Finish Turn and Turn Prime
• Rough Turn, Turn Smooth, Back Turn and Turn Prime

This reduces the risk of long chips, extends tool life, minimizes machine downtime, and improves workpiece surface finish.

 

Hole Machining: Enhancements in automatic hole machining

In the Automatic Hole Machining dialog box, you can now define the rule library and the minimum and maximum diameter for the holes to be machined on the part or any face of the part. In the Rule Library group, you define whether operations are automatically created using the standard MillDrill library from the FBM configurator or a library containing machining sets. The Hole Filter group ensures that operations are only created for hole features within the specified minimum and maximum diameter range.

On-Machine Probing: Managing probing cycles

The new Machine Cycle Manager dialog box can be used to edit cycle descriptions and manage syntactically correct probing cycles. The user-friendly approach enables precise editing of probing cycles, simplifies the maintenance of pre-condition settings, and allows pre-assignment of parameter values.

Post Configurator: NC Optimizer for Postprocessing

The new NC Optimizer enables more efficient postprocessing by directly accessing information via MOM commands. Changes can be made directly to NC lines before output is generated. Additionally, MOM extension events help manage tool path type changes and motion markers in multi-axis machining. Available events include:

• MOM_tool_path_type_change: Indicates tool path type changes during postprocessing, particularly for multi-axis machines.
• MOM_machine_motion_marker: Marks the start and end of traverse motion in multi-plane operations, such as hole-making.

Post Hub: NX CAM Power Naming App

The new NX CAM Power Naming app makes renaming operations easier and faster.
Features:

• Quick and simple renaming of operations with just a few clicks.
• Customizable naming rules, such as sequential numbering, descriptive tags, or specific prefixes.
• Consistent application of naming rules to all or selected operations within the NX CAM setup.
• Easy sharing and reuse of custom templates.

NX Machine Tool Simulation: Integration of Virtual Numeric Control Kernel 4.7.7

The Virtual Numeric Control Kernel (VNCK) 4.7.7 is now fully integrated into NX Machine Tool Simulation, replacing version 4.7.4. This version enables users to perform simulations using Machine Code-Based Simulation, External Program Simulation, and Virtual Controller Program Simulation, ensuring realistic and precise machine behavior.

Immersive engineering integrated into NX 2412

With the release of NX 2412, Siemens Digital Industries Software makes the concept of immersive engineering available in its CAD environment. While NX has been compatible with VR design and VR headsets for many years, this was limited to viewing existing designs and making notes. Now, with the Sony XR HMD headset engineers can create, edit and manipulate geometries in an immersive environment ! This revolutionary approach enables designers and engineers to exploit virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to interact with their digital models more intuitively and effectively.

 

Integration of fluid and thermal simulation with Concepteur CFD

With NX 2412, Siemens reinforces the integration of fluid and thermal simulation directly into the design environment with the Concepteur CFD module. Based on FloEFD technology, this tool enables engineers to run fluidic analyses without leaving NX, thus reducing delays and errors.

The CFD Designer module offers an intuitive, automated approach to fluid and thermal analysis:

• NX-native module : no need to export models to other software, everything is done in the same environment.
• Automatic fluid volume detection : no more time-consuming model preparation.
• Minimal geometric simplification : maintain the accuracy of your designs without having to modify your models.
• Real-time visualization of results : immediately analyze the impact of flows and temperatures on your components.

 

Interpart Navigator: Master your assemblies

Visualize the relationships between parts in your large assemblies with an interactive diagram. Filter and analyze specific interpart links, view and easily modify WAVE relationships. This tool optimizes dependency management and ensures more robust modeling. Designers working with WAVE relationships benefit from significant improvements: 

• Display of WAVE links even outside the assembly, for a global view of dependencies. 
• Direct access to the source part, enabling WAVE links to be edited and modified in just a few clicks. 
• Better anticipation of the impact of modifications, reducing design errors and unnecessary iterations.

New Converters for an expanded compatibility

NX now supports RHINO (V8), 3DEXPERIENCE (.3dxml), and REVIT (2024) files. DXF imports are up to 90% faster, and a new visualization instance feature accelerates processing of large models. A significant time saver for data exchange !

Sketch tool enhancements: More control

The sketch navigator provides detailed visualization of curves, relationships, and dimensions. It distinguishes defined, fixed, or free objects and displays editable values. A new verification function alerts the user to inconsistencies via visual tags, ensuring more precise and reliable sketches.

 

Smart entity selection

Thanks to Machine Learning, NX automatically identifies and selects similar faces, edges, and components. Quickly apply global changes to multiple elements and improve efficiency. This innovation simplifies repetitive tasks and optimizes the management of complex geometries.

Copilot for NX X: AI at the service of engineering

Interact in natural language with the Copilot chatbot to automate tasks and quickly access best practices. It helps new users improve their skills and provides direct access to validation tools. Available exclusively on NX X in the cloud.

Images source: Siemens (2025), https://www.sw.siemens.com