Siemens NX beginner NXOpen course (Python)

Name: Siemens NX beginner NXOpen course (Python)
Rating: 4.7 (123 reviews)

Work smarter, not harder using NXOpen

Created byFrederik Vanhee

Last updated 10/2025

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What you'll learn

The basic skills to start using NXOpen with Python
Create NXOpen scripts/journals in NX by recording and modifying
A basic understanding of how NXOpen objects are structured in NX
The power of scripting/journaling in NX using NXOpen and Python

Course content

6 sections • 24 lectures • 3h 21m total length

Introduction0:16
Frederik, the scripting engineer, introduces the Siemens NX beginner NXOpen course (Python). He invites questions, offers help, and wishes you luck as you begin.
Python basic knowledge requirements3:35
Learn essential Python concepts for NXOpen, including imports, data types, string operations, lists, object-oriented dot notation, loops, conditionals, functions, and type hints, with setup in VSCode or PyCharm.
Installing python3:48
Explore installing Python to enable code completion and intellisense in NXOpen, using NX’s built-in Python version and sample journals like hello_world and print_nx_python_version.
Setting up using VSCode7:47
Install Visual Studio Code and the Python extension, set up Pylance and NX Python stub files to enable IntelliSense for the Hello World journal and the print and Python version.
Setting up using Pycharm5:38
Learn to install and set up PyCharm Community Edition for NXOpen, configure the Python interpreter with NXOpen paths, and enable code completion and intellisense to start coding journals.
Resources4:32
Discover NXOpen Python resources, set up Visual Studio Code with the Python extension, and access NXOpen Python references, documentation, and builder considerations for efficient scripting.

Record and replay a journal (change the color of a body)4:57
Learn how to record a Python journal and replay that same Python journal.
Inspect and remove unnecessary code12:12
Inspect the NXOpen journal in VS code, remove unnecessary imports and model manipulation, then re-record with no manipulation, adjust color values, and run to verify the result.
Change the color of all bodies8:49
Build a list of all bodies from WorkPart in NXOpen, iterate over it, and assign a new color. Eliminate FindObject to make the journal universal across parts.
Improve our code8:57
Refactor the code in functions and add a different color for each body in the part.
Apply a random color to all faces9:04
Color every face in a part with a random color using NXOpen Python. Retrieve faces with GetFaces and apply color via display modifications to all faces as DisplayableObject.

Move bodies to a specific layer6:59
Learn to move bodies to a specific layer in Siemens NX using NXOpen Python by defining a move_object_to_layer function, passing DisplayableObject bodies and an integer layer to MoveDisplayableObjects.
Move sketches and datums to a specific layer12:47
Move datums and sketches to a specific layer by filtering for datum planes and sketches in the NXOpen work part, then apply layer changes and test in NX.
List items on layers10:31
Learn to list all objects on a specific layer using NXOpen in Python, via the layer manager and the get all objects on layer function, printing types and journal identifiers.
Model history tree and features15:52
Explore the NXOpen model history tree by listing and inspecting features, their parents and children, including sketches, datum coordinate systems, planes, and extrudes, using journal identifiers and intellisense in Python.

Creating attributes8:03
Learn to create a string attribute named my attribute with value hello on solid bodies in nxopen using python, and manage attribute builders, commits, and tests.
Updating attributes4:34
Learn how to update attributes in NXOpen Python by using the attribute properties builder on the work part, editing the string attribute, and committing the update to apply changes.
Reading attributes9:49
Learn to read attributes in NXOpen with Python, using GetUserAttribute to fetch attribute values and compare builders with pure code for better performance.

Message box9:12
Create and display a message box in NXOpen Python to interact with users, using the UI to show information, warnings, errors, and questions, and handle the resulting responses.
User input17:40
Simple input and file selection
User selection9:02
Use the nx selection manager to pick a single object with selectTaggedObject, specifying message, title, and scope, and handle the response as a tagged object and a Point3d cursor.
User selection - change color11:13
Learn to select a solid body in NXOpen, cast it for color updates, and change its color with a reusable color_body function via pre-selection.

Interactive customization7:03
Create a custom toolbar in NXOpen, add a 'My Tools' tab, and configure a color command that runs nx_selection2.py with hover text. Explore grouping and system commands for interactive customization.
File customization9:20
Configure UGII_USER_DIR and Windows environment variables to load custom toolbars in NX at startup, then place scripts in UGII_USER_DIR/application and startup to create your own tools.

Requirements

To understand how NXOpen is used to automate NX tasks you must have a good working knowledge of NX
Working installation of NX
Familiar with (Python) basic programming features like conditions, looping, error, methods

Description

Winner of the 2025 Siemens Techcellence community champion award and the Community Catalyst Tutotial Titan award

Siemens NX has a powerfull feature called NXOpen. It is a set of API's which you can use create your own programs or journals as they are called.

In this course you will learn how you can use NXOpen to create your own programs. You don't need any NXOpen experience as we take it from the beginning, but even people with NXOpen experience will benefit from this course. We start by setting up the development environment using Visual Studio Code. I have chosen VS Code because it is free, it is popular so a lot of extensions and tutorials exist and (for people in a corporate environment) it can be installed without having admin privileges. But for the pythonists out there, I also show how to install and configure Pycharm.

During this course we will learn how to change the color of bodies and faces, move objects to layers and work with attributes. Through these basic programs you will get familiar with NXOpen and you will be able to apply these skills to create your own NXOpen journals.

At the end of the course there is an additional section on how to handle user interaction and we finish the course with a section on how to easily access and share you programs.

This course is in Python, the programming language for engineers, but even if you prefer another language you will be able to apply the code and concepts from this course.

Who this course is for:

NX users who want to smarter, not harder

Siemens NX beginner NXOpen course (Python)

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction and setup6 lectures • 26min

Record and modify5 lectures • 44min

Move items to layers4 lectures • 46min

Attributes3 lectures • 22min

User interaction4 lectures • 47min

Publish your code2 lectures • 16min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: