{"id":6497,"date":"2023-01-20T12:28:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T17:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/?p=6497"},"modified":"2026-03-26T04:35:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:35:43","slug":"draw-shape-nx-tips-and-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/draw-shape-nx-tips-and-tricks\/","title":{"rendered":"Draw Shape | NX Tips and Tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction to Draw Shape&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To continue in our series dedicated to sharing Tips and Tricks from the Siemens\u2019 NX\u2122 software December 2022 release, we are here to highlight Draw Shape functionality. The new features seen in Draw Shape take advanced shape design to the next level. The name functions just like it may sound \u2013 take your free-hand drawn ideas and make them a reality.&nbsp; To learn more about the new capabilities for shaping your models efficiently, continue to read below!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#009999\"><em>Draw Shape Definition:&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<em>NX Draw shape is a new add-on module in this release which allows freehand drawing of wireframe shapes on bodies. This expands NX\u2019s capabilities and allows users to visually convey and communicate key aspects of designs prior to moving into 3D.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quickly create free hand-drawn curves by matching or snapping to existing ones&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The key part of this functionality is being able to quickly generate new elements to a pre-existing sketch. The amount of detail that can be expected should be sufficient considering the quick access of free hand-drawn curves and lines added to the model. By being able to match or snap to existing curves, you are able to add complex detail within minutes. This quick free hand approach is similar to jotting down ideas and notes on paper but can turn them into reality.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Refine your design&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fillet&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While this quick hitting approach of hand drawn design may sound too good to be true, in a way, it is. The highlighted features below can quickly turn your sketch into a reality.&nbsp;The outcome of the hand drawn design will need a bit of cleanup to refine the design and make appropriate connections between shapes, while trimming geometry that is not needed. Once your shapes are set, use the <em>fillet command <\/em>to fillet between two or three curves to bridge the gap between them. You can then specify the value for the fillet needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"440\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape1.png\" alt=\"This image shows how to edit the fillet of a shape.\" class=\"wp-image-6498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape1.png 440w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape1-300x135.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#009999\"><em>Top Tip: Remember to go back and trim or untrim for the appropriate design of your part.<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offset&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next thing that you can do to customize your hand drawn part is to <em>offset the part<\/em> in accordance with your design concept. The purpose of an offset is to extrude material creating a lip on your part. It is important to have your dimensions on hand to know exactly how much you are looking to offset a certain shape within your design. Once you are happy with the distance of your offset, use the extrude functionality to give your shape some 3D character.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mirror&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another great time saving feature is the ability to mirror a copy of your finalized sketch across a line or axis. The<em> mirror command <\/em>works for both mirroring lines and curves of a design, but it can also mirror an extrude. Finding the midpoints of your design is crucial to creating&nbsp;a balanced and centered final design when using the mirror command.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background-color:#009999\"><em>Fast Fact: If you&nbsp;need to modify a sketch that is part of a mirror, the counterpart of the mirror will stay symmetric through the changes.<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"339\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape2.png\" alt=\"This image shows that when the mirror command is used, it keeps connected geometry symmetric. \" class=\"wp-image-6499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape2.png 339w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/draw_shape2-278x300.png 278w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Curve command allows users to include external curves and existing edges to the Draw Shape sketch&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The final tip that we will cover today involves the use of the Project Curve command to project curves, edges, or points that are external to the sketch. This allows you to project a curve associatively or non-associatively onto a sketch. Using the Project Curve command can also create constraints between projected curves and non-projected curves. These non-projected curves can always be moved based on the design, but projected curves are always fixed. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Continuing to stay up to date on new functionality within NX can better your experience and improve your design workflow. In this instance, the speed and functionality of Draw Shape leads to faster visual representations of designs ideas before moving into the 3D realm. In this <em>Tips and Tricks<\/em> series, we will continue to dive into more specific features that can lead to success within NX.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Continue your journey with NX<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Draw Shape | NX Tips and Tricks | YouTube Video<\/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 | Draw Shape\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EhSVx_dEIlM?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\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\/watch?v=j1cA7xWtJjw&amp;list=PL1m1vu8_quoDVJfmPp3FL9700HGM_LK9P\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Take a look at the full Tips and Tricks Playlist on YouTube \u25b6\ufe0f<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center is-image-fill has-background\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(0,255,185) 0%,rgb(0,230,230) 98%)\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:2em;padding-right:2em;padding-bottom:2em;padding-left:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p style=\"font-size:36px;line-height:1.2\"><strong>Take me to the NX Design blog<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-1024x587.png);background-position:50% 50%\"><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\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-1024x587.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7757 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-1024x587.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-768x440.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-1536x881.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-2048x1174.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/sie-product_2-group-Product_group_Deep_Blue-RGB-900x516.png 900w\" 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-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Take me to the NX Design Community \ud83d\udcf1<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction to Draw Shape&nbsp; To continue in our series dedicated to sharing Tips and Tricks from the Siemens\u2019 NX\u2122 software&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85609,"featured_media":6508,"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],"tags":[3,6604,501,533,4],"industry":[],"product":[304],"coauthors":[676],"class_list":["post-6497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-learning-resources","category-news","tag-cad","tag-draw-shape","tag-nx","tag-nxmakesitreal","tag-product-design","product-nx"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/Main-Page.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497","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\/85609"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6497"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8096,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497\/revisions\/8096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6497"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=6497"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=6497"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}