c



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AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software

application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It was developed and sold by Autodesk,
Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to
run on personal computers, notably the IBM PC. At that time, most other CAD programs
ran on mainframe computers or mini-computers which were connected to a
graphics computer terminal for each user.

Early releases of AutoCAD used primitive entities ² lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and
text ² to construct more complex objects. Since the mid-1990s, AutoCAD has
supported custom objects through its C++ Application Programming Interface (API).
Modern AutoCAD includes a full set of basic solid modeling and 3D tools. With the
release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling, which meant better navigation
when working in 3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The mental
ray engine was included in rendering, it was now possible to do quality renderings.
AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling.

AutoCAD supports a number of APIs for customization and automation. These

include Auto LISP, Visual LISP, VBA, .NET and ObjectARX. ObjectARX is a C++ class
library, which was also the base for products extending AutoCAD functionality to
specific fields, to create products such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical,
AutoCAD Civil 3D, or third-party AutoCAD-based applications.

Currently, AutoCAD only runs under Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is

available in 32-bit and in native 64-bit versions. Versions for UNIX and Mac OS were
released in the 1980s and 1990s, but these were later dropped. AutoCAD can run on
an emulator or compatibility like VMware Workstation or Wine, albeit subject to various
performance issues that can often arise when working with 3D objects or large
drawings.
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are available for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish,
Japanese, Korean, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Czech, Polish,
Hungarian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, and
Vietnamese. The extent of localization varies from full translation of the product to
documentation only. The AutoCAD command set is localized as a part of the software
localization.

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AutoCAD was derived from a program called Interact, which was written in a proprietary
language (SPL) and ran on the Marinchip Systems 9900 computer (Marinchip was
owned by Autodesk co-founders John Walker and Dan Drake.)

When Marinchip Software Partners (later to be renamed Autodesk) was formed, they
decided to re-code Interact in C and PL/1 -- C, because it seemed to be the biggest
upcoming language, and PL/1. In the end, the PL/1 version was unsuccessful. The C
version was, at the time, one of the most complex program in that language to date.
Autodesk even had to work with the compiler developer (Lattice) to fix certain limitations
to get AutoCAD to run.

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AutoCAD LT is a lower cost version of AutoCAD with reduced capabilities first released
in November 1993. AutoCAD LT, priced at $495, became the first product in the
company's history priced below $1000 to bear the name 'AutoCAD'. In addition to being
sold directly by Autodesk, it can also be purchased at computer stores, unlike the full
version of AutoCAD which must be purchased from official Autodesk dealers. Autodesk
developed AutoCAD LT so that they would have an entry-level CAD package to
compete in the lower price level.

  

AutoCAD is licensed at a significant discount over commercial retail pricing to qualifying

students and teachers, with both a 14 month and perpetual license available. The
student version of AutoCAD is functionally identical to the full commercial version, with
one exception: DWG files created or edited by a student version have an internal bit-flag
set (the "educational flag"). When such a DWG file is printed by any version of AutoCAD
(commercial or student), the output will include a plot stamp / banner on all four sides.
Objects created in the Student Version cannot be used for commercial use. These
Student Version objects will 'infect' a commercial version DWG file if imported.

The Autodesk student community provides registered students with free access to
different Autodesk applications.

 

Autodesk has also developed a few vertical programs, for discipline-specific

enhancements. AutoCAD Architecture (formerly Architectural Desktop), for example,
permits architectural designers to draw 3D objects such as walls, doors and windows,
with more intelligent data associated with them, rather than simple objects such as lines
and circles. The data can be programmed to represent specific architectural products
sold in the construction industry, or extracted into a data file for pricing, materials
estimation, and other values related to the objects represented. Additional tools allow
designers to generate standard 2D drawings, such as elevations and sections, from a
3D architectural model. Similarly, Civil Design, Civil Design 3D, and Civil Design
Professional allow data-specific objects to be used, allowing standard civil engineering
calculations to be made and represented easily. AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Civil 3D,
AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD P&ID, AutoCAD
Plant 3D and AutoCAD Structural Detailing are other examples of industry-specific CAD
applications built on the AutoCAD platform.

¢ 

AutoCAD's native file format, DWG, and to a lesser extent, its interchange file
format, DXF, have become de facto standards for CAD data interoperability. AutoCAD
in recent years has included support for DWF, a format developed and promoted by
Autodesk for publishing CAD data. In 2006, Autodesk estimated the number of active
DWG files to be in excess of one billion.

In the past, Autodesk has estimated the total number of DWG files in existence to be
more than three billion.

  !

„

  

  

 


AutoCAD 1982,
1 DWG R1.0 file format introduced.
Version 1.0 December

AutoCAD
2 1983, April DWG R1.2 file format introduced.
Version 1.2

AutoCAD 1983,
3
Version 1.3 August

AutoCAD 1983,
4 DWG R1.4 file format introduced.
Version 1.4 October

5 DWG R2.05 file format introduced.

AutoCAD 1984,
Version 2.0 October

AutoCAD
6 1985, May DWG R2.1 file format introduced.
Version 2.1

AutoCAD
7 1986, June DWG R2.5 file format introduced.
Version 2.5

AutoCAD DWG R2.6 file format introduced. Last version to run

8 1987, April
Version 2.6 without a math co-processor.

AutoCAD 1987,
9 DWG R9 file format introduced.
Release 9 September

AutoCAD 1988,
10 DWG R10 file format introduced.
Release 10 October

AutoCAD 1990,
11 DWG R11 file format introduced.
Release 11 October

AutoCAD DWG R11/R12 file format introduced. Last release

12 1992, June
Release 12 for Apple Macintosh.

AutoCAD 1994, DWG R13 file format introduced. Last release for
13
Release 13 November Unix, MS-DOS and Windows 3.11.

AutoCAD 1997,
14 DWG R14 file format introduced.
Release 14 February

AutoCAD 1999,
15.0 DWG 2000 file format introduced.
2000 March

15.1 2000, July

AutoCAD
2000i

AutoCAD
15.2 2001, June
2002

AutoCAD 2003,
16.0 DWG 2004 file format introduced.
2004 March

AutoCAD 2004,
16.1
2005 March

AutoCAD 2005,
16.2
2006 March

AutoCAD 2006,
17.0 DWG 2007 file format introduced.
2007 March

AutoCAD 2007, Annotative Objects introduced. First release for the x86-
17.1
2008 March 64 versions of Windows XP and Vista.

AutoCAD 2008, Revisions to the user interface including the option of a

17.2
2009 March Microsoft Office 2007-like tabbed ribbon.

DWG 2010 file format introduced. Parametrics introduced.

AutoCAD 2009, Mesh 3D solid modeling introduced. Both 32-bit and 64-bit
18.0
2010 March 24 versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 are
compatible with and supported under Microsoft Windows 7.

AutoCAD 2010, Surface Modeling, Surface Analysis and Object

18.1
2011 March 25 Transparency introduced.

AutoCAD 2011,
18.2 Mac Edition
2012 March

 c
"
 

AutoCAD¶s success has been attributed to its famous 



² the flexibility
that the end user has to customize the program by using source code files in plain text
(ASCII) format ² and programming languages (such as Auto LISP,
VB.NET and C#).

As a result, AutoCAD is an extremely flexible drafting program, applicable to all

fields. AutoCAD¶s support for languages other than English, including those
using other alphabets, is unparalleled, making AutoCAD highly popular abroad.
As a result, AutoCAD is used in all disciplines and in more than 150 countries.
Through a high level of technical innovation and expertise, Autodesk has created
a program with advanced features and capabilities, including 3D surface and solid
modeling and visualization, access to external databases, intelligent dimensioning,
importing and exporting of other file formats, internets support and much more.

The major disciplines that use AutoCAD are:

ï Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)
ï Mechanical
ï Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ï Surveying and Civil Engineering
ï Facilities Management
ï Electrical/electronic
ï Multimedia
However, AutoCAD has many other lesser-known uses, such as pattern making in the
garment industry, sign making, and so on. In this book, I provide examples from several
fields. The world of AutoCAD is very broad, and you can learn from seeing the many
approaches that AutoCAD makes possible.


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AutoCAD LT¶s advantages are its lower cost and its compatibility with AutoCAD. The
programming code that is used to create AutoCAD LT is a subset of the code used in
AutoCAD. Here are the major differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT:

1. AutoCAD includes features that enable CAD managers to hold drawings to

certain standards,
such as for layer names and text styles. AutoCAD LT doesn¶t contain these
features.
2. AutoCAD LT is not as customizable as AutoCAD, which is both programmable
and fully customizable.
It also doesn¶t include the Action Recorder.
3. AutoCAD LT includes minimal options for 3D; AutoCAD includes a full-featured
3D capability.
 4. AutoCAD LT has fewer presentation features than AutoCAD, which includes
gradient fills and 3D
rendering.
5. AutoCAD LT is deployable on a network but does not have AutoCAD¶s network
license management feature that includes reporting and flexible licensing.
6. AutoCAD LT does not offer the database connectivity feature, but you can use
tables to connect to data in a Microsoft Office Excel file; AutoCAD offers the
flexibility to connect to other types of databases, create labels from the data, and
so on.
7. AutoCAD LT does not include AutoCAD¶s quick-dimensioning feature, which
allows you to quickly insert a number of dimensions, one after the other.
8. AutoCAD LT does not come with Express Tools, a set of additional routines that
ship with AutoCAD.
9. AutoCAD LT does not include parametric constraints, which allow you to
constrain the relationships among objects but you can use the parametric
constraints that are in a drawing that was created with AutoCAD.
10. AutoCAD LT does not include the sheet set feature, which was introduced in
AutoCAD 2005.
11. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT have a few other minor differences, as well. Some of
these differences are only in the user interface, so you can accomplish the same
task but the procedure is slightly different.



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The LINE command draws straight line segments. To draw a line, choose Home tab l
Draw panel l Line. At the Specify first point: prompt, specify any point. Continue to
specify points until you¶re finished. Press Enter to end the command. You can also right-
click and choose Enter from the shortcut menu. The LINE command assumes that you
will continue to use it over and over. For this reason, the command continues to prompt
you until you press Enter.

(
(


 

Start a new drawing by using the acad.dwt or acadlt.dwt template.
Save the drawing in your AutoCAD Bible folder as ab06-01.dwg.
 Choose Home tab l Draw panel l Line to start the LINE command. At the Specify
first point: prompt, choose any point in the center of your drawing.
ËClick the Ortho Mode button on the status bar.
Move the cursor to the right in the 0-degree direction and type Ë
 .
Type 
Ë . (Instead of typing the < symbol, you can press the Tab button to
move to the Dynamic Input angle tooltip.)

Move the cursor to the right in the 0-degree direction and type Ë  .
Assume that this was a mistake. Type  .
The Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: prompt reappears. With the cursor still in the
0-degree direction, type Ë
 .
Type  to close the figure. This ends the LINE command.
Start the LINE command again.
At the Specify first point: prompt, press Enter. The line starts at the previous
endpoint.
Type 

 and press Enter to end the LINE command.

 
 



The RECTANG command draws rectangles. Rectangles are used in all disciplines. The
RECTANG command has a number of options that specify how the rectangle appears
and how you define the rectangle¶s dimensions. To draw a rectangle, choose Home tab l
Draw panel l Rectangle. The first prompt is as follows:
Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/
Width]:
Select one of the options. If you don¶t want to use any of the options, just specify one
corner of the rectangle, using any method of specifying a coordinate.

 
   


The POLYGON command enables you to draw multisided, closed figures with equal side
lengths. You can draw polygons that have from 3 to 1,024 sides. To draw a polygon,
choose Home tab l Draw panel (expanded) l Polygon.









 „!"„ „#



„#


#



 Right-click and choose the Edge option. Specify the two endpoints of any
edge of the polygon to complete the polygon.



$

 After specifying the center, right-click and choose Inscribed in
Circle. Then specify the radiusfrom the center to a vertex (point). This defines the
polygon with reference to an imaginary circle whose circumference touches all the
vertices of the polygon.




$$ 
 After specifying the center, right-click and choose
Circumscribed about Circle. Then specify the radius from the center to the midpoint of a
side. This defines the polygon with reference to an imaginary circle whose circumference
touches all the midpoints of the polygon¶s sides. If you type a number for the radius, then
the bottom edge of the polygon is horizontal.

However, if you pick a point for the radius with your mouse, you can specify the
orientation of the polygon. As you rotate the mouse cursor around the center, you see the
polygon rotate.

Ë 




Circles are common objects in drawings. In mechanical drawings, they often represent
holes or wheels. In architectural drawings, they may be used for doorknobs,
trash baskets, or trees. In electrical and piping schematics, they are used
for various kinds of symbols.




 #



The CIRCLE command provides six ways to draw a circle. To draw a circle,
choose Home tab l Draw panel l Circle, and follow the prompts. You can just
click the Circle button and follow the options on the command line, or access
the options by clicking the button¶s down arrow. Table 7.1 describes how to use
these options. You can access the options directly by clicking the down arrow
next to the Circle button on the ribbon.
 A figure using all the mentioned command

  


Often you cannot see the entire drawing on your screen. You therefore need a way to see
the parts of your drawing that are not currently visible. To pan means to move the display
without changing the magnification. The word `
refers to the expression
of panning a camera across a scene or view. You pan to view a different part of your
drawing.



 

The PAN command moves the display in the direction and distance that you indicate
without changing the magnification. Y  panning moves the drawing as you move
the cursor. To pan the drawing, click the Pan button on the status bar. The cursor changes
to a hand. Place the cursor anywhere in your drawing, and then click and drag in the
direction that you want the objects to go. You can also click and hold down the mouse
wheel and move your mouse. You see the same panning cursor, the hand, as you do when
you pan by clicking the Pan button. You can pan transparently, while you¶re in
the middle of another command.



 

%„„& 

The ZOOM command enables you to zoom in and out of your drawing, like the zoom
lens of a camera. When you zoom in, everything is magnified so that you can see it more
easily, but you see less of the entire drawing. When you zoom out, objects look smaller,
but you can see more of the drawing. The ZOOM command has several options that
make it easy to see just what you need at an appropriate size.

When you use á  zoom, the drawing zooms in and out as you move the cursor. To
use real-time zoom, click the Zoom button on the status bar and press Enter at the
prompt. The cursor changes to a magnifying glass with a plus sign on one side and a
minus sign on the other side. To zoom in, click and drag up in the direction of the plus
sign. To zoom out, click and drag down in the direction of the minus sign. Press
Esc or Enter to leave Zoom mode.

You can zoom by rotating the mouse wheel up to zoom in and down to zoom out. There
is no Zoom Realtime cursor, and you don¶t need to press Esc or Enter to leave Zoom
mode. You can also double-click the wheel to do a zoom to the extents of the drawing.

 

$ ' 

(„)  
  *


$ '
 

To access the ( ' command you can:

Type $ ' at a   prompt

OR

click on the ( ' $  (if the ( 


 $ is displayed).

 
$ '     

Access the ( ' command:

--Prompt: (#
  $ ' +
,--.Use a  
 or an „

# to
locate the first corner of the box on the XY plane.
--Prompt: (#
  +$/,Indicate the position of the ##



   for the box's base )!#.
OPTIONS:
 -The $ option requires only one coordinate value to create a cube.

-The  option will prompt you for the X, Y, Z coordinates separately.

--Prompt: (#

Type a height value (positive or negative).

The Box should appear.

 


' 


The extrude command raises the shape of a 2D outline into a 3D solid. For example, a
circle would be extruded into a cylinder. The EXTRUDE command creates 3D solids by
extruding closed polylines, circles, ellipses, closed splines, or regions. The following
tutorial shows you how.

1. Open the drawing in AutoCAD. The drawing consists of a region, an open U shape
polyline and a closed polyline (rectangle) [Figure 1].

Figure 1

2. Invoke EXTRUDE (Draw menu > Solids > Extrude).

3. Create a pyramid with the taper angle of 10 degrees and height of 3 units [Figure 2].
Select the rectangle as the base object:

Command: _extrude
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects:
Specify height of extrusion or [Path]:  
Specify angle of taper for extrusion <0>: 

4. Invoke EXTREUDE again. Extrude the region along the open polyline. Select the
polyline as the path of extrusion [Figure 3]:

Command: ' 
EXTRUDE
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects:
Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: #
Select extrusion path or [Taper angle]:

Figure 3


 #*

0

Reshape is a reverse engineering solution designed to help import and manage files from the 3D
digitalization of physical models in a CAD environment, to operate within prototyping, design
review, finished elemental analysis and inspection. It is designed for companies in the
automotive, transportation, molds, product design, consumer product and medical industries, to
name a few. In general, it is recommended whenever it is necessary to start from a physical
prototype made by a designer in wood, resin, or another material, or from any real object that has
to be reproduced in a 3D computer image to process or change it. In many contexts, such as a
few styling sectors and for specific clay modeling shapes, this is still a very important stage,
especially for those who do not have powerful modeling tools such as ThinkDesign¶s GSM.
Reshape builds upon think3¶s ThinkCore kernel of EGS, a company specializing in the
development of software products and solutions for the processing of data from 3D scans.



1





Reshape can import mesh or STL files from 3D digitalization machines in .stl, .rve, .obj and .ply
formats, and after reduction of points, cleaning and healing of the mesh, it can rebuild the
surfaces of these files if necessary. Reshape includes automatic tools that enable the extraction of
character curves, theoretic intersection curves, fillet edges and other meaningful curves
lying on the mesh, delivering incredible results. In addition, it is still possible to operate
manually where needed, exploiting all the functionalities provided by the integration with the
Think Design suite, such as the execution of mesh symmetries and patterns from the partial
digitalization of physical models. The surface creation stage is not mandatory and not necessary
for the whole model: users can choose not to reconstruct surfaces on the mesh to preserve its
³character´. In fact, sometimes, with artistic creations or toys for example, real models have
higher detail levels that could be lost in the healing and reconstruction stages.

(



Thanks to its speed and quality, Reshape delivers immediate benefits: reduced
acquisition/reconstruction time, reduced manual adjustments of surfaces, and more
consistency with the digitalized shape. But the main benefit emerges when Reshape¶s
output is implemented in Think Design¶s CAD environment and thinks PLM¶s data
management. The integration with Think Design Styling, Think Design Tooling, Think
Design Professional and think PLM provides a wide range of tools from the consolidated
think3 solution: modeling functionalities, GSM assemblies, rendering, 2D tables and
PLM for a comprehensive lifecycle management of reverse engineering information.

2



&

In order to keep the creative intentions of the designer unaltered, images in the standard graphic
formats originating from scanners or graphic processing applications can be entered in the 3D
workspace. These can be used as a basic sketch on which to construct curves and surfaces
required to form the shape. In the subsequent phases of modeling and editing, think3¶s Global
Shape Modeling, called GSM , provides an incredibly high level of technological innovation that
is easier to use than ever before. It is currently the only creation and editing tool that lets you
make fast changes with great accuracy and precision, at any phase of the project process, thereby
accelerating interactions without limiting creativity and without having to rebuild models.
The Think Design Professional integrated design environment ensures complete 2D/3D/PDM
transparency. Think Design Professional provides optimized interoperating 2D and 3D
environments that are completely integrated with think PLM, think3¶s PLM (Product Lifecycle
Management) application suite. In this way, companies are able to protect and edit existing 2D
data by preserving their original investment and eliminating the risk associated with the
migration from one design platform to another. Think PLM lets users research data, generate
bills of material, manage documentation associated with the project, and is one of the key tools
in managing parts and machine set reviews and in the maintenance cycle of molds and
equipment.

 
 


Think Design Professional features 2D translators for DWG, DXF, IGES and GBG Draftmaker
formats, as well as 3D translators for IGES, STEP, STL, VDA, VRML, Wave Front and IV
formats, the neutral format of Think Design and ASCII. Other think3 translation platforms
(purchased separately) support most of the proprietary 3D formats as well as the
bidirectional conversion of Catia V5, Pro/E and Parasolid files. The bidirectional converter for
Catia V4 files is also available (2D included).

# 


It is possible to include in the work area 3D images in standard graphic formats from scanners or
graphic processing applications. These images can be used as basic sketch to build the required
shapes or curves to realize the shape while preserving the designer¶s creative intent.

4 

  

Base functions for files management the daily and repetitive activity of file management
is supported by classical commands such as Open, Save, Save As, etc. However, it
becomes robust with management of templates, a kind of base file that not only
contains the predefined styles and various properties, but also particular layers settings
or existence of base geometries, typically useful or necessary for a particular sketch or
modeling activity.
]


3
 


Geometry visualization can be managed with tools like zoom, pan, rotate and fit. View settings
can be stored via Visual Bookmarks, and the screen divided into viewports for isometric or
perspective views.

&
# #




Besides graphic properties it is also possible to set physical properties of models organized in a
materials table. These properties are expressed according to unity of measure defined by the user
and can be assigned to solid objects contained in the model. Analysis functionalities use these
properties f or the calculation of volumes, weights, center of gravity, etc. providing fundamental
information to control costs and product planning.

 


Layers can be used to organize jobs according to various criteria: by color, by entity type, or by
some other user-defined method. In each case creating, using and modifying layers is simple and
intuitive. AutoCAD users rage about the very similar environment that Think Design has which
facilitates and smooths the migration from AutoCAD to Think Design.
(#
 

Think3 is on the cutting-edge of every possible user interface application. One example is the
speech recognition system, which when combined with the use of mouse allows f or optimal
usage. The speech recognition system works on the personal user¶s voice tone, eliminating the
possibility of errors due to variation of the user voice, or improper use from other people or in
presence of environmental noises.




4 





3D volumetric analysis offers clear advantages over 2D analysis tools. From the 3D model it is
possible to extract with speed and precision information such as minimum and maximum
distances, volume, weight, center of gravity and area of complex surf aces. The commands are
specialized and easy to use.

c   


2D drafting details are still very important to many companies. Think3 is very aware of this f act
and the functionalities provided in the Think Design 2D drafting environment are very
productive and complete. Tools for geometry creation and modification, dimensioning and
annotation insertion, and full support of international standards are featured. Migration to 3D can
be done anytime, and mixed 2D/3D projects can be managed easily.
 $


Think Design offers functionality for the creation of tubing structures. The process allows tubing
and connection elements to be created on a preconstructed 3D network lay out, consisting of 3D
profiles. Positioning can be confirmed using a single operation or through the selective
positioning of single parts. The user can access parts from a standard library that can be
expanded through the addition of personalized components. A specialized cut list can then be
generated from the tubing structure.

  

Mated assemblies in Think Design can be put through their kinematic motion through the use of
the animation tool. A 'timeline' can be defined, along which the assembly will move per its
defined mates. The animation can be paused at any time to study the model for form, fit and f
unction. It is also possible to define different camera or viewing angles at which the assembly
can be examined. Light settings, shadow and ref lection settings can all be adjusted f or optimum
effect.
 #*

*#




 # 

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, is a
leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software. PLM is the platform
for turning more ideas into successful products because only PLM can provide the application
depth and breadth needed to digitally author, validate and manage the detailed product and
process data necessary to support continuous innovation.

5

  

The first commercial product developed by what is now known as Siemens PLM Software was
called UNIAPT. Released in 1969 by a software company then called 
 #
,
UNIAPT was one of the world's first end-user CAM products. United Computing was founded in
1963 above a hair salon in Torrance, California, and went on to purchase the Automated Drafting
and Machining (ADAM) software code from MGS in 1973. The code became a foundation for a
product called UNI-GRAPHICS, later sold commercially as Unigraphics in 1975.

The following year, United Computing was acquired by the Aerospace company McDonnell
Douglas, who created new CAD/CAM divisions, naming one the Unigraphics Group. Finally, in
1980, Unigraphics was released, marking the group's first true 3D modeling hardware and
software offering.

Already home to McDonnell Douglas, the Unigraphics Group grew in St. Louis, Missouri, which
became the new headquarters. In 1991, the McDonnell Douglas Systems Integration groups,
including Unigraphics, were acquired by EDS, calling the new group EDS Unigraphics.
Eventually, in 1997 EDS set up its Unigraphics division as a wholly owned subsidiary called
Unigraphics Solutions. EDS took Unigraphics Solutions public while continuing to own majority
controlling shares in Unigraphics. During this time, Unigraphics acquired a few companies itself
including Engineering Animation, Inc., the former Ames, Iowa-based visualization company.

In 1999 the company acquired ``
, a long term player in the EDA field.

Unigraphics changed its name to UGS in 2001. Also that year, EDS repurchased all outstanding
UGS stock, and acquired a UGS competitor, SDRC. UGS and SDRC were merged into a single
Line of Business (LOB) named EDS PLM Solutions. EDS sold off its EDS PLM Solutions
business to the private equity group of Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus in
2004. The company resumed operating under the UGS name following the private equity sale.
In 2005, UGS purchased Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. On January 24, 2007 the German
electronics giant Siemens AG announced that they would acquire UGS for $3.5 billion. When
the sale completed, UGS became part of Siemens Automation & Drives group as Siemens PLM
Software

(6
 



*#  



A comprehensive mechanical design solution, NX lets you choose the tools and methodologies
that best suit your design challenge, and work directly with design data from other CAD systems.
A unique assembly design and mockup environment, process-specific design aids, drafting and
3D annotation help you work significantly faster than you would with general-purpose CAD
tools.

7 *$



NX automates and simplifies design by leveraging the product and process knowledge that
companies gain from experience and from industry best practices. It includes tools that designers
can use to capture knowledge to automated repetitive tasks. The result is reduced cost and cycle
time and improved quality.

1* # 
4
 

With NX, efficiency and cost savings extend beyond the design process to all phases of product
development. NX dynamically integrates CAD with planning, simulation, tooling, manufacturing
and other processes to help ensure that design decisions can be made more quickly, with detailed
knowledge of product performance and manufacturability issues.

NX offers a complete set of flexible shape creation, manipulation, and analysis tools for
industrial design and styling. The combined powers of these tools ensures that you can create the
most complex shapes quickly, with ease and with the adaptability to change. NX is an integrated
part of a complete digital product development solution, providing all the tools you need to
explore shape and style, while ensuring a seamless transition into engineering, simulation and
manufacturing


7 #$



(



( 
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ï Creates high-quality surfaces that are usable throughout the product development process
ï Sophisticated freeform shape modeling, surface continuity and analysis, simulation and
visualization tools
ï Comprehensive 3D design capability: wireframe, surface, solid, and direct modeling
ï Integration with other industrial design, simulation, tooling, and machining applications
ï Removes the traditional disconnect between styling and product development, helping
maintain design intent

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ï Greater design control, speed, productivity and throughput

ï Better quality, less re-design, fewer errors
ï Shorter overall digital product development time
ï Significant time, effort, and cost savings through design re-use
ï Better integration and coordination of multiple disciplines, design teams, and CAD
systems resulting in faster time to market

 
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NX is an integrated digital product development solution that streamlines electromechanical

systems design. With two-way exchange of data, NX brings together mechanical and electrical
designers, enabling each discipline to work with its own design systems while dynamically
linking their efforts in the product lifecycle.

NX automatically creates 3D models of printed circuit boards ± including flexible PCBs -- from
ECAD systems data for use in mechanical packaging design. Assembly design tools enable
virtual prototyping with electronic, mechanical, and electrical components in their full product
context, with associative control structures that simplify product variants and new
configurations.

Rules-based routing tools in NX automate the creation of wiring paths and connections from
logical designs, with connection list management, access to libraries of standard electrical
connectors and components, automated bundle size calculations for space allocation and
interference checking, and documentation for wire harness manufacturing




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ï Associative data exchange with ECAD systems

ï Automated modeling of printed circuit boards for mechanical packaging
ï Virtual prototyping of full product assemblies with in-context design of electronic,
electrical, and mechanical components
ï Rules-based electrical routing and wire harnes design
ï Electromechanical simulation

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ï Better coordination, management and integration of mechanical, electronic, and electrical

development teams
ï Reduction in rework and data re-creation
ï Better quality through rule-driven design, reduction of errors and interferences
ï Reduction or elimination of physical prototypes

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Gateway Application

Screen Layout
Top: Top Menu Bar
Middle Top: Status Bar
Left: Left Menu Bar
Center: Graphics Window

Customize: Right Click in Toolbar area to add/delete toolbars

Dialog Boxes: positioned by the Dialog Rail
Command Flow within Dialog Boxes: proceed top to bottom
Red Asterisk: selection/input required
Green Asterisk: selection/input completed
Orange Highlight: current active selection step
Green Highlight: next suggested selection step
OK/ Apply/ Cancel

Navigators:
Part Navigator, located on Resource Bar, pin to keep open
Part Navigator
Assembly Navigator
 Operation Navigator
Parts:
Items saved as parts (.prt file)
Models
Assemblies
Drawings
Help:
F1 Key on any function in any application
All Programs/ UGS NX6.0/ NX6 Documentation
Set up Defaults
File
Utilities
Customer Defaults
Gateway/ General/ Part: Inches
OK


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Gateway Application (NX Start/ All Applications/ Gateway):

New
New Dialog

Model Tab: Units: Inches

Drawing Tab: Units: Inches
Simulation Tab: Units: Inches
Manufacturing Tab: Units: Inches
Select Model Tab:
Select Template Name: Model
Input: New File Name: ³Block.prt´ (use Choose New File Name Icon)
OK
OK (Note: Top Menu Bar reads, ³NX6-Modeling-Block.prt(Modified). You are now in the
Modeling Application.

Sketch Icon (create 2-D sketch in the XY Plane that you will extrude in the Z Plane)
Create Sketch Dialog
Select Planar Face or Plane: (left click on the XY Plane)
 Select Horizontal Reference: (left click on X Axis)
OK (You are now in the Sketcher Application)
Rectangle Icon
Rectangle Dialog
Rectangle Method: Select 3-point (Note Status Bar prompting to ³Select the first point of the
rectangle)
Cursor Select point (0,0) for first point
Cursor Select second point
Cursor Select third point
Circle Icon
Circle Dialog
Circle Method: Select Circle by Center and Diameter
Cursor Select the center of the hole
Cursor Select the radius of the hole, or input/enter the diameter.
Inferred Dimensions Icon (always dimension in the sketch « aids revisions)
Cursor Select (left click) a single line of your sketchMove dimension to desired location and
left click
š Repeat for all critical line dimensions
š Cursor Select a single circle radius, and move dimension to desired location.
š Cursor Select a single circle center, then Cursor Select a line. Move the distance
dimension to desired location
š Finish Sketch Icon (automatically returns you to the Modeling Application)

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Extrude Icon
Extrude Dialog
Select Curve (left click on the sketch in the XY Plane)
Select Vector (Note the Reverse Direction Icon for direction in the Z Plane)
Input Distance (the thickness of your block in the Z Plane)
Apply/ OK
File/ Save