Understanding the Tabs

Using the tabs in NX is a quick and easy way to navigate around your part and edit various aspects of your drawing. The tabs are located on the left hand side of the screen and consist of several different operations. Any tab can be opened in a separate window by double clicking on it.


1. Looking at the left hand side of the screen the user will see the first tab called the assembly navigator. This tab allows the user to see what part he or she is working on. For example if I’m working on a part called “Part1”; that name will appear checked off in this area. If there are additional parts open or if an assembly is being performed; multiple parts will appear here as well.

2. The second tab is the Part Navigator. This allows the user to change camera and part views and most importantly, it allows the user to access features that have been added to the part. For example, if the user wants to change the depth of an extrusion or the dimensions of a sketch, they can simply double click on the feature they want to edit. If they want to quickly look at another angle of a part, the camera view options will quickly change the perception to allow them to easily change this feature. Although I tend not to use the camera or model views (as navigating with the mouse tends to be easier) this is a way to quickly see your part from a different desired angle.

3. The third tab is the Internet Explorer tab. If the user would like to display information from the web and doesn’t want to open a separate browser, information from a web page can be displayed here. I think most users will tend to simply open a browser if they’d like to access information online, but this is an option in NX to have information displayed in a tab. In addition, like any other tab, this tab can be double clicked and the browser information can be seen in a small separate window.

4. The fourth tab down is the History tab. This allows the user to access recently opened parts. This is especially useful if a user working on several parts and doesn’t want to keep navigating through files on the computer to access a part that they were recently working on.

5. The fifth Tab is the system materials tab. This allows the user to change the material that the part is made of. For example, since my bottle opening belt buckle will be made from titanium, I can change it to the appropriate material. Until a rendering is done however in the visualization menu in the view tab, these changes will not be seen. The is true of the system visualization tab as well (#9).

6. The sixth tab is the Process Studio tab. This tab allows the user to do analysis of the part for real world applications. For example, if I want to see if my bottle opener is strong enough I might use the stress wizard in order to determine the proper material or thickness. In addition, I can look at the resonance of a part by using the vibration wizard. If I’m concerned about specific stresses or a certain vibration mode, I can adjust my part accordingly after consulting the wizards. This can be quickly achieved by dropping the wizard onto your part. (although for me I get a memory error, but in theory this is how it should work.)

7. The seventh tab is the manufacturing wizard. If you’re uncertain about how a part should be made, or order of operations on a mill, this is the tool to drop onto your part. It covers a wide array of part processes including milling and molding. For example, a part might be milled or made from a mold. This process will help the user understand the processes involved for the method chosen.

8. The eighth tab is the roles tab and allows the user to overwrite the tools in a customized fashion. This is for an advanced user who desires a specific setup in the tool bar. If you like your tool bars the way they are, don’t mess with the roles!

9. The ninth and last tab that I’ll discuss is the System Visualization Scene tab. If the user desires to change the lighting in the scene, or the background, this is way to do it. Mostly this an aesthetic concern, (do you need to see your part on a beach?...not really) but if shadows and a scene help you visualize your part, this can be a helpful tool. (see note in #5)


The user should note that certain additional tabs will open in conjunction with selecting certain processes. For example, after selecting a material or a manufacturing process, these additional tabs will open to assist the user further in these functions. it may also be necessary to switch back to modeling after getting into another mode.