Siemens NX to Flux

Bring your Siemens NX project to Flux and continue it here. Flux edits the imported parts and assemblies, designs new parts around them, and adds electronics and firmware in the same project.

Import your NX models into Flux as .x_t files

Export the .x_t file from NX with the steps below. Then attach it to a message in the Chat panel and ask Flux to import it. Flux creates a new part in your library for each file.

Import this .x_t file of the gearbox housing as a part.

Import these .x_t parts of the robot arm and add them to my library.

To export from NX and import in the UI:

In NX, open the part or the assembly (.prt).
Select File → Export → Parasolid.
Select the bodies to export, or select all bodies in the assembly.
Set the output file name, then click OK. NX saves a .x_t file.

Then, in Flux:

Select Flux menu → Import → Mechanical → 3D part or assembly….
In the Import Parts dialog, click Choose files and select the .x_t or .x_b file. You can also click Choose folder, or drop the files or a ZIP file on the dialog.
Select the parts to import, then click the Import button. The button shows the number of selected parts, for example Import 3 parts.
Flux creates a new part in your library for each file. Drag the part from the Part Library into your project.

Export STEP files from NX

You can also export a STEP file and add it to a Flux project as an asset.

In NX, open the part or the assembly (.prt).
Select File → Export → STEP.
In the export dialog, select the AP214 or AP242 STEP format.
In Export From, select Displayed Part to export the full part or assembly.
Set the output file name, then click OK. NX saves all of the parts and their positions in one STEP file.

Import the STEP file into Flux

Attach the STEP file to a message in the Chat panel and tell Flux what to do with it.

Here is the STEP file of the enclosure. Add it to the project and show it in the 3D view.

Here is the STEP assembly of the gearbox. Measure the distance between the two shaft axes.

Here is the STEP file of the enclosure. Design a PCB that fits inside it.

To do it in the UI:

Open your Flux project, or create a new project.
In the Inspector, open Assets, click Manage Assets, then click Add Item.
Upload the .step file (or the .stp file). In Assets, Flux accepts .step, .stp, .stpz, .iges, .igs, and .brep files.
Open the View panel and use the 3D view to see the model. For an assembly, Flux keeps each part in its original position, with its color and repeated instances.

You can also attach the STEP file to a message in the Chat panel and tell Flux what to do with it.

To add a component with its 3D model to your part library, select Flux menu → Import → Part… and upload the symbol and footprint files with the matching .step or .stp model. See Mechanical Design.

What you can do with your design in Flux

Flux is an AI hardware engineer. After the import, your NX model is part of a Flux project. Ask Flux to work on it. Flux works on the mechanical parts, the electronics, the firmware, and the manufacturing in the same project.

Turn the imported model into a complete device

Use the imported Siemens NX part or assembly as the fit reference for a PCB. Then add firmware for the board and a wire harness for off-board sensors or actuators where the assembly needs one.

Ask Flux to design a PCB that fits the imported NX enclosure or mechanism. Include its mounting points, connectors, and clearances.
Ask Flux to design firmware for the microcontroller and peripherals on the new board.
If the assembly has off-board sensors or actuators, ask Flux to design a wire harness between them and the board.

Using the imported NX assembly as the fit reference, design a PCB that fits inside it and aligns with its mounting points and connector openings.

Create firmware for the microcontroller on the new board. Use the imported NX model to list the sensors and actuators.

For the imported NX assembly, design a wire harness between the PCB and the off-board sensors and actuators.

Edit the imported model

Tell Flux what to change. Flux measures the imported model and converts its parts into editable CAD code. It saves each edit as a new model and keeps your original file unchanged in the project. In an assembly, Flux changes the part you name and keeps the other parts where they are.

Make the imported gearbox cover 4 mm thicker and keep the bolt pattern.

Add a 20 mm cable gland hole to the left wall of the housing.

Change the four M5 holes on the flange to M6 clearance holes.

Design new parts and mechanisms

Ask Flux for custom parts that fit your imported model: brackets, mounts, housings, hinges, and mechanisms. Flux builds them around the real 3D models of your parts and boards. It uses screws, standoffs, and other hardware from the Flux part library.

Design a sensor bracket that clamps to the 30 mm tube in this assembly. Use two M4 screws.

Design a cam and a follower that lift the arm 12 mm over 90° of rotation.

Build assemblies and complete products

Ask Flux to build multi-part assemblies and complete products, from a handheld device to a robot arm. Flux places the parts by face, edge, or axis constraints, and places the board and its components in the assembly.

Build a two-axis gimbal from the imported base. Add the motor mounts and align the axes.

Place the control board in the imported enclosure and route the connectors to the rear wall.

Check fit, strength, heat, and mass

Ask Flux to check the fit and the clearances between parts and to find interference. For a part under load, ask Flux to analyze the stress and the deflection. For a part that gets hot, ask Flux to analyze the heat conduction through the part. Flux also calculates the mass, the center of mass, and the inertia. Flux reports the results with numbers and images. See Simulation.

Analyze the stress and the deflection of the imported arm in 7075 aluminum with 200 N at the end.

Check the interference between the moving arm and the frame over the full range of motion.

Analyze the heat conduction from the motor mount into the frame at 15 W.

Simulate air flow, liquid flow, and cooling

Ask Flux to simulate the air flow and the temperature inside an enclosure with vents, fans, or heatsinks. Flux also simulates liquid cooling and the pressure drop in channels, and the drag around a product.

Simulate the liquid cooling through the cold plate at 1 L/min and report the pressure drop and the outlet temperature.

Design the electronics, firmware, and cables

Flux designs the electronics inside your product in the same project. Ask Flux for the requirements, the parts, the schematic, and the PCB layout and routing. Ask Flux to write and test the firmware for the microcontroller. Ask Flux for the wire harnesses between the boards and the other devices, with a quote from a harness manufacturer.

Design the motor driver board for the gimbal that fits on the imported base.

Write firmware that reads the IMU and drives the two gimbal motors.

Design the wire harness between the controller and the two motors.

Render your design

Ask Flux for a still render, a turntable video, or an exploded-view animation of your models. You can also ask for a product video of your device.

Make a still render of the gimbal assembly in brushed aluminum.

Make an exploded-view animation of the gearbox.

Ask Flux to export the 3D model of the project.

Export the 3D model of the project as a STEP file.

Export the 3D model as an STL file for 3D printing.

To export in the UI:

Select Flux menu → Export → Mechanical → PCB 3D model to export STL, STEP, STEP compressed, GLB, COLLADA, BREP, VRML, or XAO files. Open the STEP file in NX to continue the work there.

Ask Flux for 3D-printing quotes from vendors such as Craftcloud, JLCPCB 3D printing, and PCBWay 3D printing, and for laser-cut and sheet-metal quotes from SendCutSend and OSH Cut. Ask Flux to order the 3D-printed parts from Craftcloud. For the board, ask Flux for PCB quotes and orders. See Export and manufacturing.

Get 3D-printing quotes for the sensor bracket in nylon.

Get a sheet-metal quote for the cover from SendCutSend.

Order 2 brackets from Craftcloud.

NX concepts in Flux

In NX	In Flux
Part Navigator and feature history	Flux saves each edit as editable CAD code that your engineers can open and change.
Assembly Navigator	The models in the Flux project and their positions in the 3D view.
Reuse Library	The Flux part library, with screws, standoffs, and other mechanical hardware.
NX structural and thermal analysis	Ask Flux for the stress, the deflection, and the heat conduction of a part.
NX flow analysis	Ask Flux to simulate the air flow, the liquid flow, and the cooling.
NX Ray Traced Studio	Ask Flux for a render, a turntable video, or an exploded-view animation.
NX electrical and PCB design	Flux designs the schematic and the PCB in the same project as the mechanical parts.
Mates and constraints	Ask Flux to align the parts by face, edge, or axis constraints.
Measure tool	In the 3D view, press M to start Measure Distance.
Section view	In the 3D view, expand Analysis and turn on Cross Section.
Display styles	In the View panel, open Display and choose X-Ray, Solid, Realistic, or Blueprint from Materials.
Mass properties	Ask Flux for the mass, the center of mass, and the inertia.

Last updated on

Was this page helpful?