NX® software delivers advanced automation, process simulationand integrated technology to improve productivity and ensurefirst-time quality in tooling development.

NX ToolingTransforming the design and manufactureof injection molds, dies and fixtures

www.siemens.com/plmSiemens PLM Software

The demand for speedTool design and manufactureis on the critical path for thedevelopment of many products.

The demand for muchshorter product deliverytimes, faster turnaround ondesign enhancements, lowersupplier costs and increasingglobal competition havedramatic impacts on thetoolmaking business.

The need for skillsThe complexity of tool designand manufacture traditionallyrequires highly skilled peopleapplying knowledge learned overyears of practice.These resourcesare difficult to obtain or replace.Companies can gain competitiveadvantage by effectively leveragingspecialized, best-practice knowledgein tooling development.

Improving qualityQuality of the end productdepends directly on high-qualitytooling.To achieve quality, tooldesigners and manufacturers mustintegrate their work with theproduct development effort. Bydynamically linking tooling designswith product designs, companiescan automatically propagate designchanges to production tooling,achieving first-time quality.

Reducing wasteTo achieve speed and costobjectives, tool designers andmanufacturers must eliminatewasted time, effort andresources – not only betweenproduct development and toolingdevelopment, but also throughoutthe tooling design, optimizationand manufacturing process.

Transforming the processNX from Siemens PLM Softwareis a next-generation solutionthat transforms the toolingdevelopment processwith advanced automation.Knowledge-driven applications fortooling design and manufacturingare fully integrated with theoverall product developmentprocess in a managed environmentthat improves productivity,accelerates the process,reduces waste and cost andimproves quality.

The NX Tooling advantage

A complete solutionWith NX, tool designers can share the same software environmentas product and part designers and NC programmers.Thisenables the overall process to be faster and more efficient.Changes can be implemented more easily and with fewer errors.Wasteful re-entry of data is eliminated and multiple users canshare the same 3D data.The tool designer, NC programmerand manufacturing engineer can begin work even before theproduct design is complete.

Highly automatedtool designNX offers a powerful set ofautomated applications formold and die design.

These applications enable theuser to complete the task ofmoving from part design tofinished tool design in far lesstime than with the use oftraditional CAD applications.

Maximizing productivityMold and die tool design in NXis driven by the knowledge ofexperienced designers built intothe functions.The applicationsguide the user through eachstep of the process, multiplyingthe capability and maximizingthe productivity of everytool designer.

Based on thepremier foundationThe NX applications forinjection mold, progressivedies and transfer dies are builton the comprehensive NXdesign software.This meansthat the very best in modeling,assembly modeling and draftingtechnology is providing thefoundation for these high-performance applications.

Delivering businessefficiencyNXTooling delivers a muchhigher level of businessefficiency, leading to reducedcost, increased activity andhigher margins. It helps achievethese results by developingeffective tool designs fasterand with fewer errorsand corrections.

Working with other systemsAt the core of NX is the SiemensParasolid® software modelingfoundation, an industry standardin 3D modeling technologydeveloped by Siemensw PLMSoftware and widely used inCAD/CAM and CAE applications.This foundation providesunmatched compatibility forworking with3D data.

In addition to reading Parasolidgeometry, NX can use awide range of data from otherCAD systems in their nativeformats and translate a varietyof other formats with dataconversion tools.

In fact,NX tool design applicationscan work with almost any type of3D input data. NX makes it easyto build 3D models from 2Ddrawing data.

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At each stage the power of NX adds value, making the task easier,the mold better and the job faster.

Based on the defined parting surface,NX creates mold cores and cavitiesautomatically using the part geometry.

NX automates parting surface definitionand maintains associativity of the partingsurface even when the part model changes.

Stepping through the processwith NX MoldWizard

NX MoldWizard applies ProcessWizard technology to optimizethe mold design process, delivering levels of productivity thatdramatically outperform traditional CAD software. Providing astructured workflow based on expert best practices, automationof mold-specific design tasks and libraries of standard moldcomponents, NX MoldWizard provides a step-by-step processthat promotes the most efficient workflow, while integratingcomplex elements of design technology into automated sequences.

MoldWizard is built on NX, the industry’s most powerful productdevelopment system. As a result, the tools for working with partgeometry, creating parting surfaces and enabling automatic updatesare among the most robust available. Less capable systems mayhandle basic parts and molds, but MoldWizard can tackle themost demanding tasks.

Mold design begins with the product model.With NX, the mold designer can import 3D partdata from other systems, open many native formatCAD files or select parts designed in NX.

Automated mold design with NX Mold Wizard

NX includes tools for evaluating part designsfor moldability. With these analysis aids,mold designers can assess and validate partmodels and compare differences when thepart design changes.

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NX accelerates mold manufacturingby documenting the mold designwith automated drawing and bill ofmaterials creation.

NX provides a catalog of standardcooling components that is flexibleand customizable.

Libraries of standard mold bases andcomponents accelerate modeling of thecomplete mold assembly, includinglifters and risers.

NX mold design: key features

Some key capabilities in NX MoldWizard

• Full NX part design capability for “one-stop” customers

• Comprehensive data import, with translators or nativeformat read to bring in third-party design files

• Manufacturability checking for molded parts

• Advanced parting tools driven by the power of NX

• Automatic core and cavity insert creation

• Model swap for automatic updates, compare new versions

• Shrinkage calculation and adjustment

• Mold base and standard part catalogs

• Ejector pin post, sliders and lifters

• Cooling layout, tubes and fittings

• Automatic bill of material (BOM) creation

• Automatic drawing creation where required

PROVEN RESULT S

“Siemens’ NX is one of the most established and reliable3D CAD/CAM solutions available today. It helps us makechanges faster and reduce errors.”

Shen Zhi GangAssistant Engineering ManagerOmni Mold

NX MoldWizard includesa structured series ofcommands for all tasks inthe mold design process.

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Molded part validation

Can the part be molded?The sooner a design is checked for manufacturability the soonerproblems can be fixed. NX design validation tools enable the userto analyze the part and automatically obtain information about draftangles, undercut areas and sharp corners – elements that wouldmake the part impossible or difficult to mold.

NX can also provide the designer with an easy visual check ofcore and cavity sides that doesn’t require any special analysis orknowledge of mold design. By catching problems early, designerscan avoid the wasted time and effort that occurs when the toolingdepartment or supplier discovers that a part can’t be moldedas designed.

Molded part validation

•Wall thickness check

• Draft angle display

• Plastic feature check (corner radius, feature distance, etc.)

• Find manufacturing features

• Colored region-based parting line definition

NX validates molded parts by checking wall thickness. Results are displayedin easily interpreted color-coded areas on the part model.

NX ensures part and tooling design quality by evaluating draft angles,undercuts and crossover faces that affect moldability.

Toward Six SigmaUsing NX MoldWizard,TheTech Group not only achieveda 20 to 25 percent gain in productivity but also achieveda 50 to 75 percent gain in quality.

The company believes that NX MoldWizard’s contributionto automation, accuracy and consistency will help themachieve Six Sigma goals.

P ROVEN RESULTS

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Mold design to manufacture

Design and machine the mold in NXNot only does NX offer MoldWizard to design the completemold assembly, NX also offers an excellent NC programming solutionto set up the machining of mold faces and mold structurecomponents.

Feature data added to the model by MoldWizard can be readdirectly by NX Machining.This makes the process of transferringinformation to the NC programmer much faster and more accurate.

When part and tool revisions occur, it’s easy to see the areaschanged and to update toolpaths. Because NX includes both designand manufacturing capabilities, the NX programmer can beginbefore the mold design is completed.

High-speed machining in NXNX Machining offers excellent NC toolpath generation for moldand die manufacture. Key capabilities are provided for high-speedmachining or hard milling, applying special toolpaths and optimumcutting parameters.These allow users to maximize the productivityof their high-performance machine tools.

Automated feature-based programming is ideal for mold base machining.Feature-based hole-making automatically recognizes holes in mold plates,sorts them by size and type and creates optimized toolpaths thatminimize tool changes and cycle time.

Mold design

Mold machining> All in NX

> Value added in mold design,multiplied in manufacture

NX offers advancedtoolpath technologies formold and die machining,including automaticallyinvoked trochoidaltoolpaths that effectivelyreduce tool loading.

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Progressive die design

NX Progressive DieWizard maximizes productivity throughintelligent automation of industry-specific processes. Beginning withthe receipt of the customer’s sheet metal design, NX ProgressiveDieWizard guides the user through all of the stages required toconstruct a progressive die, streamlining complex processes andautomating tedious tasks for remarkable time savings.

Progressive DieWizard functions for blank creation, blank layout,scrap design and strip layout support a range of progressive diedesigns including multiple sheet metal parts, multiple rows, multiplestrip layouts and custom strip layouts.

NX automatically unfolds 3D part models based onstraight break features to create a formable blank.

NX Progressive DieWizard includestools for nesting part blanks on sheetstock to minimize scrap.

Die designers can quickly developa skeleton strip with automatedtools that re-bend the blankmodels to simulate the formingoperation at each die station.NX Progressive DieWizardalso calculates force centerand process force.

Phase 1: Process design

Progressive design in NX begins with a 3D part model.You can import CADmodels from other systems, create a part model in NX, or select an NX model.NX automatically recognizes sheet metal features in imported models.

NX Progressive DieWizard capturesexpert best practices and is highlycustomizable to your own preferred andproven methods.

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Phase 2: Die base design

The die structure, stations and inserts are developeddirectly from the strip model, using preconfigured die bases,advanced die base design tools and more than 10 kindsof standard inset groups to accelerate the process.

NX provides a built-in standard part library that includesmost suppliers’ catalogs. Customizable die base libraries,standard part libraries and insert group libraries expeditethe die structure design and ensure the entire process ishandled effectively.

Once the model of the die is complete, it takes very littleadditional time to generate as many drawings as neededto help shop floor personnel understand what they aregoing to build. Highly accurate and detailed drawings arefully associative to the die design. NX Progressive DieWizard also maintains associativity with the part designthrough the entire die design process, carefully controllingpart design changes through all die components.

“Our purpose was to speed up die design without sacrificingquality. NX Progressive DieWizard gave us that plus theability to be innovative with our die designs and readilyaddress today’s more complex die requirements.”

MartyWiegelPresidentWiegel Tool Works

PROVEN RESULT S

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Progressive die design – key features

PROVEN RESULT S

Key capabilities in NX Progressive DieWizard

• Die design project initialization

• Automated sheet metal feature recognition

• Blank shape generator, includes formed shapes

• Blank layout

• Scrap design

• Strip layout and 3D operation simulation

• Force center calculation

• Die base design

• Die preference setting

• Punch/die insert design

• Standard part library

• Relief design

• Pocket creation

• BOM output

• Assembly drawing creation

• View manager

NX Machining for die insert and structure machiningNX offers robust milling programming with high-speed machiningfunctions – ideal for fine finish on detailed dies in hard materials.

Easy-to-use planar and cavity milling as well as automated holemaking are productive tools forNX programming on die structures.

“To truly automate the design of progressive dies, you needtwo things: an intelligent wizard and highly advancedmodeling technology. NX is the only software that hasboth elements.The competition doesn’t even come close.”

Michael Molina IIPresidentProgressive DesignTechnologies

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Jig and fixture design

NX offers the most powerful capabilities in geometric and largeassembly modeling, making it ideal for all types of fixture design.

Easy, fast updatesFull associativity between the product model and the fixturecan ensure fast, accurate updates.When the fixture design isdynamically associated with the part or product model, thefixture model can be updated automatically if the design changes.

SimulationEasy-to-use kinematic software can be employed to display andcheck mechanism motion. NX also offers a wide range of toolsfor stress analysis to help optimize structural performance.

Complex configurationsUsing Teamcenter® software extensions to the NX ManagedDevelopment Environment, tool designers can define, store andre-use an unlimited number of alternative fixture configurations.

Automatic part positioningThe NX assembly mating conditions allow new or updated partof the same type to be positioned in the fixture automatically.

Multiple arrangementsNX can display multiple arrangements of fixtures that havedifferent conditions, for example, opened or closed positions.

NX models of sand casting moldsand associated equipment forautomotive engine components.

Welding fixture complete with clamps and welding gunsfor an automotive assembly.

Image courtesy ofJ.S. McNamara Inc.

Fixturing designed in NX for a complex part ready for toolpaths to be generated in NX Machining.

Large aerospace fixtures combine complexproduct shapes with large assemblies andhuman access considerations.

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Automotive sheet metal stamping

Siemens delivers a comprehensive solution for automotive dies –from sheet metal design, through stamping process design andoptimization, die face design, die structure design to a complete setof NC programming tools for die manufacturing.

NX, in combination with Tecnomatix® software and Teamcenterapplications, addresses the complete die design, engineering andmanufacturing workflow to improve process efficiency and partquality for automotive stamping.

NX Die Engineering provides tools to determine the dieoperation across a complete press line.

NX can produce a representation of the sheet metal forthe draw, trim and flange elements of the die process.

NX can interface to a number of analysis applicationsto check formability.

Tecnomatix Stamping application allows thedesigner to simulate the intended operation of thepress-line, individual press elements and inter-presshandling equipment.

Die face development

Formability analysis

Initial press line simulation

Image from Dynaform,courtesy ETA Software

Die operation lineup

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NX Machining provides first-class capability in die facemachining with the latest techniques in high-speed machining.

NX Die Design provides a range of capabilities for the detaildesign of the die structure.

Highly productive milling applications in NX Machining enablefast NC programming for die structure components.

Teamcenter Manufacturing provides powerfulprocess planning, data management, configurationcontrol as well as flexible reporting.

Completed die design

Die machining

Process planning shop floor documents Die structure design

Detailed analysisand optimizationby full press line

simulation

> From designto manufacture –

the complete process

Casting pattern machining

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Tool design within the NX Managed Development Environment

The NX Managed Development Environment provides tooldesigners with the ability to access the right data at the right timefor the right job. Single parts to complete assemblies can be loadedinto NX, shared in real time with other users and kept under fullrevision control.This saves time looking for data, reduces errorscaused by using the wrong data and makes it easier and fasterto share data.

The tool designer can access part designs, store tool and fixturedesigns in the NX Managed Development Environment.Withcomprehensive part and tooling data management, tool designerscan quickly access part designs and store and re-use tool andfixture designs. A complete library of design and process knowledgepromotes standardization through design re-use and reduces waste,errors and unnecessary re-work.

Extensions to the managed development environment can offercomprehensive libraries for standard parts and subassemblies withpowerful classification and search functions.

The NX Managed Development Environment is built onTeamcentertechnology and is fully compatible withTeamcenter Engineeringand Manufacturing.

Product designer

Tool designer

NC programmer

Manufacturing engineer

Throughout its broad product application suite,NX leverages key attributes that help companiesachieve business objectives of waste reduction, qualityimprovement, shorter cycle times and greater productinnovation.These unique attributes directly supportbusiness process initiatives aimed at transformingproduct development:

Managed development environmentNX solutions include fully integrated, synchronizedmanagement of all product data and processknowledge to transform product developmentwith a structured collaborative environment.

Unified product development solutionSeamless integration of NX applications rapidlypropagates changes of product and processinformation, replacing point solutions with a unifieddevelopment system, from concept to manufacturing.

Knowledge-driven automationWith NX, companies can apply product and processknowledge across all elements of product developmentto automate processes and maximize re-use.

Simulation, validation and optimizationComprehensive simulation and validation tools in NXautomatically check performance and manufacturabilityat every step of the development process forclosed-loop, continuous, repeatable validation.

System-based modelingNX structured conceptual models standardizedesign practices and allow rapid creation of variants,transforming development from component-baseddesign to a systems engineering approach.

The NX advantage

© 2007. Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved. Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG. Teamcenter, NX, Solid Edge,Tecnomatix,Parasolid, Femap, I-deas, JT, UGSVelocity Series, Geolus and the Signs of Innovation trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other logos, trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks used herein are the property of their respective holders.

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About Siemens PLM SoftwareSiemens PLM Software, a division ofSiemens Automation and Drives (A&D),is a leading global provider of productlifecycle management (PLM) softwareand services with 4.3 million licensedseats and 47,000 customers worldwide.Headquartered in Plano,Texas, SiemensPLM Software’s open enterprise solutionsenable a world where organizations andtheir partners collaborate through GlobalInnovation Networks to deliver world-classproducts and services. For more informationon Siemens PLM Software products andservices, visit www.siemens.com/plm.

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