{"id":10414,"date":"2024-09-30T16:46:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T20:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/?p=10414"},"modified":"2026-03-26T04:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:39:19","slug":"nx-tips-and-tricks-x-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/nx-tips-and-tricks-x-form\/","title":{"rendered":"NX | Tips and Tricks | X-Form"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In our latest NX\u2122 software Tips and Tricks video, we explore how to use the X-Form command to edit surfaces or spline curves by dynamically manipulating pole locations. This tool excels in advanced shape design, enabling quick and efficient creation of complex surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out the video below or scroll down to learn more about X-Form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NX | Tips and Tricks | X-Form\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hzm3HeQsAIA?list=PL1m1vu8_quoDVJfmPp3FL9700HGM_LK9P\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is X-Form?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>X-Form is a tool within NX that dynamically produces advanced surface designs. By adjusting poles and parameters, we can directly manipulate our model\u2019s surface to reflect design changes. This tool is especially useful for non-uniform surfaces, allowing us to make targeted changes to one section of the model at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-1024x626.png\" alt=\"Shoe sole created using X-Form\" class=\"wp-image-10439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-1024x626.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-768x470.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-1536x939.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-2048x1253.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/shoe-sole-image-900x550.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can still maintain symmetry in your designs with NX. The software allows you to edit a curve or surface so that it becomes symmetric about a specified symmetry plane, ensuring that all edits are symmetric. This feature supports complex surface design for parts and models that need uniformity. Let\u2019s dive into how X-Form can help you bring these changes to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pole selection and parameterization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The first step in using X-Form is to select the face where you want to make changes. Once you choose the face, you can set up the parameters that will define your new design. When determining these parameters, focus on two main components: Degrees and Patches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adjusting the degree changes the number of poles available for editing. The number of patches directly affects how finely you can control the edges of your surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can control both the number of degrees and the number of patches for the U and V directions. These directions are arbitrary coordinate systems assigned when you select the face for design. This flexibility is especially useful when you need to refine and polish your model more along one direction than the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After selecting the degrees and patches, you can begin to push and pull your poles and polylines as you start making changes to the surface of your model.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-1024x616.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10441\" style=\"width:338px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-1024x616.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-768x462.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-1536x925.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches-900x542.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/degrees-and-patches.png 1955w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The degrees option in X-Form controls the number of poles on your surface.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-1024x602.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10443\" style=\"width:326px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-1024x602.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-768x451.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-1536x903.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches-900x529.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/patches.png 1940w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Patches control the fine tuning towards the edge of your surfaces, but may come at the cost of unwanted inflection points.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planarizing your poles and views<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another component for optimizing your experience with X-Form is the ability to planarize your poles. You have various planarize options to suit your needs, but a new feature in the June 2024 release allows you to planarize your polylines so they align with your current view. This feature projects a selected row onto a plane that passes through the two poles with the largest distance in the view, oriented perpendicularly to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other available options include At Plane, At Pole and Best Fit Plane. Each of these alternatives is valuable for different scenarios, so it\u2019s worth exploring them to find what best fits your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can Deviation Gauge help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>One powerful tool that can be used in sync with X-Form is the Deviation Gauge tool. This command is used to display deviation data between target objects and one or more reference objects. Results of the analysis can be displayed as visual labels, markers, needles and color maps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a great tool to help during the reverse engineering of complex surfaces. Rather than eyeballing distances until we have a surface that looks similar, we can instead set up a color map scale to indicate when our surface aligns with our target reference body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-395x222.png 395w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge-900x506.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/deviation-gauge.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Continue your journey with NX<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch the Molded Part Designer Tips and Tricks video here \u25b6\ufe0f<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch the Performance Predictor Tips and Tricks video here \u25b6\ufe0f<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NX | Tips &amp; Tricks | Molded Part Designer\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GvaNuUCJbiE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NX | Tips and Tricks | Performance Predictor\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vn726XzpEi8?list=PL1m1vu8_quoDVJfmPp3FL9700HGM_LK9P\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL1m1vu8_quoDVJfmPp3FL9700HGM_LK9P\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Take a look at the full Tips &amp; Tricks playlist on YouTube \u25b6\ufe0f<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(0,255,185) 0%,rgb(0,230,230) 100%)\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Take me to the NX design blog \ud83d\udcda<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"587\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog-1024x587.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8926 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog-1024x587.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog-768x441.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog-900x516.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/12\/designblog.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/community.sw.siemens.com\/s\/topic\/0TO4O000000MihTWAS\/nx-cad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visit the NX design community \ud83d\udcf1<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our latest NX\u2122 software Tips and Tricks video, we explore how to use the X-Form command to edit surfaces&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99378,"featured_media":10495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[166,162,1,163,167],"tags":[3,501,499,533],"industry":[],"product":[],"coauthors":[6694],"class_list":["post-10414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-learning-resources","category-news","category-product-updates","category-video","tag-cad","tag-nx","tag-nx-cad","tag-nxmakesitreal"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/Blog_Header_TipsTricks_X-Form.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99378"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10414"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10494,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10414\/revisions\/10494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10414"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=10414"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=10414"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}