This series of software profiles will focus on CAD software applications meant to be used by engineering organizations for discrete manufacturers. In each post, an overview of the software's capabilities will be provided and details on which industries use them most frequently.
Vitals
CAD Application(s): NX
Software Provider: Siemens PLM
Capabilities and Partners
NX is a longstanding combined desktop CAD and CAE software application with mature capabilities.
From a modeling perspective, you'll find a well developed set of parametric feature-based functionality you would expect from any CAD application that's been around for a while. But the most interestingly, tools from Siemens PLM's Synchronous Technology has been integrated into NX in unique ways. It powers direct modeling modifications by backing them into the feature-based history of the model (more details in ST in NX: It's Not About Direct Modeling). But furthermore, they have integrated Synchronous Technology into numerous NX 2D environments, improving on how sketcher and drafting tools handle 2D design, drawing and layouts today (more details in 2D Synchronous Technology in NX: Overlooked Technology of the Year?)
NX is also an unusual offering, when compare to other CAD software applications, given its depth of simulation functionality. Siemens PLM, then UGS, acquired SDRC, which provided many simulation capabilities, many years ago. Those simulation capabilities were fully integrated into NX long ago. The result is a CAD software application that offers just as much simulation depth as more specialized simulation toolsets. The range of physics is broad, offering a real multi-physics platform. Additionally, Teamcenter, Siemens PLM's PLM system, manages NX files both from a design and simulation perspective.
Back in 2010, Siemens PLM launched a broad HD-PLM strategy to provide PLM information mapped into 3D visual reports. Part of this approach included visual reporting within NX, aptly named HD3D. The idea is to make such information accessible and easily consumable right within NX, so users don't have to leave the desktop environment (read more in What is the Impact of Siemens PLM's HD Strategy on Decision Support?).
NX additionally offers extensive CAM, Model-Based Enterprise, an area recently improved, and many more capabilities.
Industries and User Base
NX is employed in a broad swath of industries, including aerospace and defense, industrial equipment and heavy machinery, automotive and others. NX is primarily used by larger companies. Siemens PLM's other CAD offering, Solid Edge, is primarily used by smaller companies. The NX user base hold an annual conference, named PLM World, along with customers using other Siemens PLM products like Teamcenter.
Looking Forward
In late 2012, Siemens PLM acquired LMS, a simulation and test focused software and hardware provider that carries important implications for NX (read more in The 360° View: Siemens PLM to Acquire LMS International). The synergies between NX's 3D multi-physics simulation capabilities and LMS's 1D simulation and 3D test functionality are practically irrefutable. No announcements have been made yet about merging the two sets of desktop applications, but it makes nothing but sense. Once that is realized in terms of released software, watch out: the offering will have no peer in terms of both simulation and test. It will be unique in the market.
In an industry that is abuzz about the cloud, Siemens PLM has made no public move in that direction with NX, nor even on-premise virtualization. While such cloud offerings have a nominal value proposition, there has been no mass market movement towards these solutions. Time will tell if Siemens PLM is a slow follower or pragmatic provider in that regard.
Last but not least, Siemens PLM, when appropriate, has made moves to acquire technologies that are a good fit. I wouldn't put it past them to make more such moves, especially with smaller startups, to inject innovation into NX and the rest of their product line.