Siemens updates NX platforms with AI copilot & mixed reality tools

Siemens Digital Industries Software has released updates to its NX and NX X platforms, introducing features such as AI-driven assistance, immersive mixed reality design, and integrated simulation tools for fluid and thermal analysis.

The new Design Copilot NX utilises an artificial intelligence-powered natural language interface, offering both new and experienced users accelerated access to learning materials, technical documentation, and best practices. Leveraging Siemens' content resources, the copilot allows users to pose queries in everyday language, streamlining the learning process across a range of tasks.

Bob Haubrock, Senior Vice President at Siemens Digital Industries Software, commented on the company's approach:

"Our work to bring together our product engineering solutions under the Designcenter brand is moving at an incredible pace. The latest updates to NX reaffirm that our commitment to not only introducing new AI-driven copilot capabilities and Characteristics led MBD for downstream quality and manufacturing, but to also explore new areas for innovation in our long established and industry leading product engineering toolset."

The release also delivers immersive design and collaboration capabilities through mixed reality, developed in partnership with Sony. With expanded functionality in NX Immersive Designer and the new NX Immersive Collaborator, users can create, review, and edit 3D designs in both virtual and augmented reality environments. The collaboration tool enables multiple stakeholders - including partners and colleagues - to work together in the same virtual space directly from the NX interface, removing traditional preparation barriers and providing a suite of review and annotation tools.

According to Siemens, "Design Copilot NX provides an AI-based natural language interface to enable users to accelerate their learning – whether new to the software or experienced users looking to extend their knowledge and explore new capabilities. Siemens delivers groundbreaking immersive engineering capabilities, in partnership with Sony and its industry leading mixed reality headset."

Another notable addition is the NX Inspector, which expands model-based design capabilities by adding model-based characteristics for quality control and manufacturing processes. Grounded in the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium's guidelines, this feature allows for the inclusion of Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) that supports seamless integration with Teamcenter and Teamcenter Quality for inspection and metrology process automation.

Siemens described, "NX Inspector adds model-based characteristics to extend the use of Model-based Design (MBD) to define downstream quality and manufacturing processes, based on the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium's Model-Based Characteristics standard."

For early manufacturability analysis, the new Design for Manufacture (DFM) Advisor offers automation by evaluating part geometry and identifying potential challenges in areas such as drilling, milling, assembly, and moulding. Feedback is delivered instantly within the software interface, and users can generate visual reports for collaborative review and workflow integration via Teamcenter.

Siemens reports, "Design for Manufacture (DFM) Advisor automates early manufacturability assessments by analysing part geometry and identifying potential challenges across multiple manufacturing processes." The NX Mold Wizard module, part of the DFM suite, now adds standard parts that automatically update with configuration changes and introduces enhanced cooling channel simulation to optimise both cycle times and finished part quality.

In simulation features, Siemens has added NX CFD Designer, which incorporates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermal analysis directly within the NX CAD workspace. Based on Simcenter FLOEFD technology, this tool is designed for accessibility regardless of users' prior experience with CFD, providing automated workflows for complex processes like volume detection and mesh generation. This enables rapid evaluation of different design scenarios and 'what-if' studies without leaving the CAD environment. The Performance Predictor extension also enables mechanical stress analysis across full assemblies.

The company highlighted, "NX CFD Designer software, a new CAD integrated design simulation tool, enabling designers to access fluid flow and thermal simulation capabilities directly within the NX CAD workspace for the first time. NX CFD Designer also enables designers to quickly evaluate a range of operating scenarios, what-if studies and geometry variations and compare the results."

Industry analysis supports Siemens' ongoing development. Francisco Dell'era, Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan, provided this assessment:

"Through our comprehensive Frost Radar analysis of the mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) tools within the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) industry for 2025, Frost & Sullivan has identified Siemens' NX software as the clear innovation leader. The Siemens MCAD solutions consistently demonstrate groundbreaking advancements, setting new benchmarks for the entire market. Their unwavering commitment to product innovation, coupled with a deep understanding of manufacturers' evolving needs, positions Siemens as the premier partner for companies seeking to harness the full power of MCAD technology to drive their business forward."

The NX and NX X platforms form part of Siemens' Designcenter suite and are included in the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, which integrates cloud-based product lifecycle management with advanced design and engineering tools.