{"id":6935,"date":"2023-03-22T11:07:59","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T15:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/?p=6935"},"modified":"2026-03-26T04:33:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T08:33:47","slug":"nx-timesaving-clicks-tricks-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-design\/nx-timesaving-clicks-tricks-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"NX | Timesaving Clicks and Tricks | Part Three"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Obtaining perspective and precision<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today, we have our third and final installment in our mini-series called Timesaving Clicks and Tricks!<\/a> For this entry, we continue to round up further tips to help users model more effectively \u2013 still keeping a focus on reducing mouse clicks and increasing design efficiency with NX\u2122 software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select a planar surface and use F8 to orient view to that face<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Orient View<\/em> in NX has 8 system defined views to choose from: Trimetric, Isometric, Top, Front, Right, Back, Bottom, Left. When rotating a model \u2013 if you want to quickly snap to the closest system view, press the F8 button on the keyboard. This works for all views apart from Trimetric and Isometric. For these views, press the Home or End keyboard buttons to snap to these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a particular planar face on a model you want to look at specifically, selecting it and then pressing the F8 button orients you to a view that is normal to that face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Level of zoom influences feature input values when dragging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Dragging is a handy way to dynamically modify geometry on screen. It is particularly useful when viewing a complex part with lots of geometry as it allows speedy zooming in and out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some users may not be aware that the extent to which you are zoomed in or out influences the feature input fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are zoomed out and use drag handles to modify size, values are coarser with numbers jumping up in greater increments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you zoom in, increments are finer. \u00a0The finer increments allow users to be at the center of control. You can also enter a precise value down to 0.1mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This feature provides significant flexibility. To provide an example, you might stay zoomed out as you drag from a value of 5.00 to 6.00, then zoom in to set a specific value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alt key + dynamic dragging of feature inputs gives very fine values<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you press the Alt key when you are dynamically dragging feature input values, you can achieve ultra-fine measurements. It does not matter whether you are zoomed in or out, you\u2019ll be able to see the different increments. Further, with the Alt key depressed you can drag the geometry line up and down. This gives users control to reach a specific millimeter tolerance for achieving very fine granularity.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Use Alt key to override snap<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The point snapping sensitivity cannot be changed, but you can temporarily switch the snap function off with the Alt key. This is useful if you want to drag one component over other components. Another example would be if you desired to get close to geometry when modeling but not snap to it. It is most helpful when working on a busy part or with ultra-fine values.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Utilize the \u2018All But Selected\u2019 command<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NX has a workflow that enables the easy simplification of a part to extract the internal volumes. In this instance, let\u2019s consider a valve block. After activating the Synchronous Delete command, pick all the internal faces of the valve block. When completed, select the \u2018All But Selected\u2019 option from the selection bar. This reverses the selection, and now picks and deletes all the external faces and previews the topology that will remain. On applying the command, you are left with just the internal volumes, particularly useful for downstream analysis and manufacturing processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continue your journey with NX<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We hope that you have gained some NX knowledge from this mini-series. If you are looking for more contact like this, scroll down and leave a comment below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Subsribe to NX Design Newsletter<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Find the rest of the series here<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Read more on the NX Design blog<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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