NXOpen Programming for CAD Automation Using C# Programming

Name: NXOpen Programming for CAD Automation Using C# Programming
Rating: 4.2 (30 reviews)

Created byKrrishnakant Patil

Last updated 9/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Mechanical Design Engineers
Mechanical CAD Engineers
NX CAD Designers
Mechanical Engineers

Course content

4 sections • 28 lectures • 20h 48m total length

Instructions0:19
Day 1: Introduction58:42
Explore NX Open, the API library that enables automating NX CAD tasks with C# by creating parts, drawings, reading data, and building custom interfaces, while understanding two-way communication with NX.
NXOpen Documentation7:11
Learn to access the official NX Open API help and Ufunc documentation via the Siemens login and Accelerator Academy, then navigate C++, .NET, and Open C references.
NXOpen Documentation Link0:01
Assignment : Download API Reference Guide
Day 2 Introduction to Journal Editor and Journal Examples48:21
Explore the NX Open journal editor in CAD automation with C# by writing simple journal programs to create lines and arcs, and to fetch curve lengths from a model.
Day 2 examples0:03
Assignment : Create Square
Mindset shift ritual0:06
Installing Visual Studio8:26
Install Visual Studio Community Edition for free and set up .NET desktop development to work with C# and Visual Basic .NET, focusing on installing necessary components.
Installation of Older Version Visual Studio2:03
Install an older Visual Studio version, like 2013, to save disk space and improve performance on limited PCs. Choose dotnet desktop development components only, which include Visual Basic and C#.
Creating Project in Visual Studio12:30
Create a new Visual Studio 2022 C# class library project that outputs a dll. Add nx open references from installation folder, including nx open dll and nx open ui dll.
Day 3 Journal Examples and API Reference Guide43:55
Master NX Open journal programming with C# through day three, including a tree drawn from lines and reading model attributes. Navigate the API reference to learn line and arc creation.
Record Journal
Day 4 Data Types - C# and NX Open52:19
Day 4 covers data types in C# and NX Open, teaching variable and constant declarations and types like int, double, string, boolean, and char, plus NX Open objects and constructors.
Find Variables
Day 5 C# Basic Topics52:00
Explore essential C# basics, including the main entry point, memory allocation, strings and concatenation, arrays and default values, and arithmetic and comparison operators for control flow.
Calculating Composite Area

Day 6 NX Objects, Inheritance1:06:23
Navigate NX objects and inheritance by exploring namespaces, classes, and the API reference guide, and apply object, tagged object, displayable, and smart object hierarchies to create points and curves.
Get all objects on layer
Day 7 Create Ellipse, Expression49:57
Explore expression collection and unit collection in NXOpen, create expressions with and without units, and create an ellipse using the NX API while understanding namespaces, class hierarchy, and API navigation.
Create ellipse
Day 8 Associative Arc Builder58:55
Explore NX Open associative arc builder to create associative lines and arcs using the builder API, and understand feature versus feature collection in CAD automation with C#.
AssociativeArcBuilder
Day 9 Coding in Visual Studio48:11
Master NXOpen CAD automation with C# by building associative line and journal workflows, cleaning up code, and validating results with Visual Studio debugging and DLL execution.
CreateDatumAxisBuilder
Day 10 Extrude Builder Revolve Builder54:51
Learn extrude and revolve builders in NXOpen with C#, mastering a six-step workflow, parameter setup, and reverse engineering to create and modify CAD objects across parts, assemblies, and drawings.
Revolve Builder

Day 11 Assemblies - Get Position1:07:35
Explore NXOpen assemblies by retrieving a component's position in 3d space and orientation using the get position API, iterating through components with for each, and using top-level component access.
Assignment 11: Assemblies: Debug and create flowchart
Day 12 Assemblies, Recursion59:00
Explore how to traverse multi-level assemblies in NXOpen using recursion, the GetChildren API, and for each loops to access every component in an assembly.
Assignment 12: Simplify GetPosition example
Day 13 Assemblies - AddComponent, Prototype53:45
Explore adding components in NXOpen assemblies with the component assembly API, including root component, reference set, base point, matrix orientation, layer, and load status.
Assignment 13: Change reference set
Day 14 Assemblies - Arrangements, Features57:01
Discover how to work with assemblies in NXOpen by traversing root components, accessing prototypes, and reporting features and datum coordinates, then explore arrangements and active arrangement in a component assembly.
Day 15 Displayable, Tagged, NX Objects1:03:57
Discover how NX Open exposes displayable, tagged, and NX objects across parts, assemblies, and drawings, and use for-each loops to filter and identify unique objects.

Day 16 DrawingSheetBuilder CreateBaseViewBuilder53:11
Learn to create drawing sheets and base views in NXOpen using C# with drawing sheet builder and base view builder, exploring drawings, drafting and annotations APIs.
Day 17 Radial Dimension Builder1:03:47
Learn to build radial dimensions in NX Open by using a radial dimension builder, selecting a drawing view and drafting curves, and applying five defined steps.
Day 18 ArcLengthDimension, Drafting Note1:02:32
Explore arc length dimension creation and drafting notes in NX Open, comparing drafting note builder with simple drafting aid, and reporting drawing sheet objects via displayable objects.
Day 19: Coding Best Practices35:10
Learn practical coding best practices in NXOpen with code refactoring, clean code principles, and robust error handling to enhance maintainability and user experience.
Day 20: Exceptions, Error Handling47:59
Explore error handling in NXOpen C# programming by validating inputs, preventing exceptions, and using try-catch to gracefully manage NXOpen errors with meaningful messages.

Requirements

Mechanical Engineers with access to NX CAD software

Description

This comprehensive course provides a deep dive into NXOpen, the powerful API for Siemens NX, using the C# programming language. Designed for engineers, designers, and programmers, this course bridges the gap between manual CAD operations and automated, script-driven workflows. You will start with the fundamentals of the NXOpen API, understanding its object model, class structures, and how it interacts with the Siemens NX environment. The curriculum covers key topics such as creating and modifying geometry, automating drawing creation, managing part files, and extracting design data. You will learn to write scripts that can perform repetitive tasks in seconds, such as batch processing hundreds of files, generating reports, or creating complex, parametric models from a set of inputs. The course emphasizes practical, hands-on application, with real-world examples and exercises that simulate common engineering challenges. By the end of this course, you will have the skills to significantly enhance your productivity, reduce manual errors, and develop custom applications that streamline your design and manufacturing processes. No prior experience with NXOpen is required, but a basic understanding of C# and CAD principles is recommended. This knowledge will empower you to become a more efficient and valuable asset in any engineering or product development team.

Who this course is for:

Mechanical Engineers interested in CAD Automation

NXOpen Programming for CAD Automation Using C# Programming

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Week 1: Introduction13 lectures • 4hr 46min

Week 25 lectures • 4hr 38min

Week 35 lectures • 5hr 1min

Week 45 lectures • 4hr 23min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: