NX Tutorial: How to Create Points in NX and Extract X, Y and Z Coordinates in an Excel Spreadsheet
Summary:
In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of creating points inside Siemens NX part files, assigning object names with index numbers, and extracting their X, Y and Z coordinates into an embedded Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This method applies to Siemens NX 12 and later versions, including the latest release, NX 2412 (December 2024).
Prerequisites:
NX versions – NX 12 – NX Present Release
Microsoft Office – Excel spreadsheet program installed
Steps:
Step 1: Creating Points in NX
1. Open your part file in NX
2. Navigate to the Curve tab → Base group and select the Point Operation tool.
4. To place the first point, click on the part face, edge, etc. or in the graphics display, and hit Apply.
5. Repeat the process to create two additional points in the part.
6. Once all points are created, select OK or Cancel to exit the Point feature dialog.
Step 2: Assigning Object Names and Indexing
1. On the TopBorderBar, set the Selection Filter to Point.
2. Select all created points (box-select or pick individually).
3. Right-click one of the selected points and choose Properties.
5. Navigate to the General tab.
6. Enter a base name (e.g., PT_) in the name field.
7. Enable the Add Index to Name checkbox.
9. Click OK to apply names.
8. The index starts at 1 and increments for each point.
Step 3: Extracting X, Y and Z Coordinates to an Excel spreadsheet
1. Go to Tools → Spreadsheet to open the Excel spreadsheet program.
5. Press Enter to populate the X, Y and Z coordinates.
2. Label the first row as follows:
Row 1, Column A: Point Name
Row 1, Column B: X
Row 1, Column C: Y
Row 1, Column D: Z
3. In Column A, Row 2 and down, list the point names (e.g., PT_1, PT_2, etc.).
4. Select B2 (first X-coordinate cell) and enter the formula:
=POINT(A2)
6. Preselect Cells B2, C2, and D2, then place the cursor over the bottom right corner of Cell D2. Once you see the + symbol, click MB1, hold and drag the cursor down to apply the formula to all points.
7. After editing the spreadsheet, select File → Close. Select OK to save the spreadsheet date (the data is embedded in the NX part).
Step 4: Adding More Points and Auto-Populating Data
1. Create a new point in NX.
2. Assign an object name (e.g., PT_4).
3. Open Tools> Spreadsheet again.
4. Add PT_4 to Column A.
5. Drag down formulas in Columns B, C, and D.
6. The new point’s coordinates auto-populate.
7. Save and close the spreadsheet.
Step 5: Displaying Object Names in NX
1. Go to Menu → Preferences → Visualization Preferences.
2. Select ViewCategory and open Decorations.
3. Enable Show Object Names.
4. Apply changes to display point names in the graphics view.
Conclusion:
Using this method, you can efficiently create, name, and extract point data inside Siemens NX. The embedded spreadsheet allows for quick access to coordinate data, facilitating further analysis and design modifications.
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For over twenty years, Michael has worked first hand with NX in the aerospace and consumer goods industries, building skills like geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, 3D renderings, and computer aided product design in NX.
For over twenty years, Michael has worked first hand with NX in the aerospace and consumer goods industries, building skills like geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, 3D renderings, and computer aided product design in NX.
