NX part and assembly format (Windows only)
 
 
 

NX is a solid modeling package based on the Parasolid kernel. The package contains many (mostly optional) modules, for example CAD, CAM, CAE, Sheet metal applications, knowledge bases, Quality control and Rapid prototyping. The file structure is binary.

The following table explains how common elements are called in both Alias and NX.

NX Alias
Segment Span (curve)
Point Point
Patch Span (surface)
Pole CV (Control vertices)
Sew Stitch
U/V Grid Patch Precision
Parameters History
Control polygon (display only) Hull
Silhouette curve Horizon curve
Blank Invisible
Reference Set Set
Category Category
Custom view Bookmark
Knot point Edit point

Supported NX geometry and data mapping

The following sections describe the mapping process used for geometry types and non-geometric data that can be transferred between Alias and NX.

Supported Alias geometry types

The following Alias geometry types can be exported to NX. Non-geometry entities such as Lights, Cameras, Textures, Windows, Animation are not supported by the translator. The numbers in the table entries refer to Notes for NX entities below.

Alias Entity NX Entity
Construction Plane Not supported.
Mesh Not supported at this time.
Conic Rational Curve
Arc RationalCurve
Circle RationalCurve
Line Line
Curve BCurve
Surface BSurface; (1), (2)
Trimmed Surface Face(1), (2)
Plane Bounded Plane(1)
Shader Colour Attribute(3)
Shell (Open) Sheet Body
Set Not supported
Group Group
Layer Layer(4)
Category Category
Shell (Closed) Solid Body

Notes for NX entities

  1. NX can not have free standing Surfaces so all surfaces are mapped to faces which must be attached to a sheet body.
  2. Surfaces having internal discontinuities will be split at those discontinuities.
  3. Mapped as a Display Attribute of the mapped surface or shell.
  4. Layer Name is not mapped

Supported NX Entity objects geometry types

The following NX geometry types can be imported to Alias. The letters and numbers in parentheses refer to Notes for Alias NX entity object entities below.

NX Entity Objects Alias Entity
WCS Not supported
BSurface Surface
Bounded Plane Curve
Cylindrical Surface Curve
Conical Surface Curve
Tabulated Cylinder Surface
Ruled Surface Surface
Blended Face Surface Surface
Surface of Revolution Surface
Offset Surface Surface
Sculptured Surface Surface
BCurve Curve
Line Line(Curve)
Arc Curve
Conic Curve
Point Point (Curve)(1)
Sheet Body Shell (Open)(2)
Assembly Groups/Instance(3)
Group Group
Layer Layer
Category Category
Reference Set Not supported
Part Attribute Not supported
Solid Body Shell (Closed)

Notes for Alias NX entity object entities

  1. An NX Point is converted to a degree 1 curve composed of two coincident points. On export to NX this construction is converted back to an NX point.
  2. If the Sheet body only points to one face then this is converted to a trimmed surface in Alias.
  3. This is a one way mapping, assemblies cannot be exported.