Kerf vs Siemens NX

NX defined advanced surfacing for a generation — Kerf makes that power accessible without a six-figure licence.

54/54in Kerf today

54/54in Siemens NX (included)

0behind a paid tier

2026-05-24last reviewed

Grouped by discipline (D1–D14), same as Kerf's own capability list. Click a section to expand it.

D1 Geometry & core CAD 9 of 9 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Constraint sketcher (geo + dim)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/sketch_solver.py`	yes source ↗
Pad / pocket / revolve	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/solid_features.py`	yes source ↗
Variable-radius fillet	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/edge_blend.py`	yes source ↗
NURBS surfacing (blend/network/patch)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/class_a_surfacing.py`	yes source ↗
Direct edit (push-pull)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/direct_edit.py`	yes source ↗
Assemblies — mates	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/assembly/mates.py`	yes source ↗
Sheet metal	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/construction_verbs_tools.py`	yes source ↗
2D drawings (views/dims/sections)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/drawings/`	yes source ↗
GD&T on drawings / MBD / PMI	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gdt/tolerances.py`	yes source ↗

D2 Structural / FEA 4 of 4 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
FE — solid (tet/hex)	yes `packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/solid_tet.py`	yes source ↗
Modal / buckling / nonlinear	yes `packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/modal.py`	yes source ↗
AISC 360-22 steel (members)	yes `packages/kerf-structural/src/kerf_structural/aisc_member.py`	yes source ↗
Fatigue (S-N, ε-N, rainflow)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/fatigue/life.py`	yes source ↗

D3 Machine elements 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Spur/helical gear rating (AGMA 2001-D04)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gearstrength/rating.py`	yes source ↗
Bearings — ISO 281 L10	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/bearings/select.py`	yes source ↗
Shaft (stress + critical speed)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/shaft/calc.py`	yes source ↗

D4 Thermal / fluid / HVAC 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Thermo cycles (Rankine/Brayton/Otto)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/thermocycle/cycles.py`	yes source ↗
CFD	yes `packages/kerf-cfd/src/kerf_cfd/openfoam_bridge.py`	yes source ↗
Heat exchangers (LMTD + ε-NTU + Bell-Delaware)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/heatxfer/shell_tube_bell.py`	yes source ↗

D5 Aero / marine / space 4 of 4 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
3D wing VLM (+ viscous + compressibility)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/vlm_viscous.py`	yes source ↗
Orbital (Kepler, J2/J3, Hohmann)	yes `packages/kerf-aero/src/kerf_aero/orbital/kepler.py`	yes source ↗
Turbomachinery / wind-turbine BEM	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/turbo/stage.py`	yes source ↗
Naval hydrostatics + GZ stability (IMO)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/navalarch/hydrostatics.py`	yes source ↗

D6 Electronics / EDA / silicon 5 of 5 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Schematic capture (KiCad round-trip, ERC)	yes `src/components/SchematicView.jsx`	yes source ↗
PCB layout (tscircuit, KiCad round-trip)	yes `src/components/PCBView.jsx`	yes source ↗
SPICE	yes `packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/spice/netlist_codegen.py`	yes source ↗
Signal integrity (Z0/crosstalk/eye/IBIS)	yes `packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/si/ibis_channel.py`	yes source ↗
Silicon synth (Yosys) / STA / GDS / DRC / LVS / formal / CTS	yes `packages/kerf-silicon/src/kerf_silicon/bridges/yosys_bridge.py`	yes source ↗

D7 Manufacturing / CAM 7 of 7 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
3-axis CAM (profile/contour/pocket/face)	yes `src/components/CAMView.jsx`	yes source ↗
5-axis (kinematics + posts)	yes `packages/kerf-cam/src/kerf_cam/five_axis`	yes source ↗
Adaptive / trochoidal clearing	yes `packages/kerf-cam/src/kerf_cam/adaptive.py`	yes source ↗
Moldflow / fill sim	yes `packages/kerf-manufacturing/src/kerf_manufacturing/moldflow/flow_front.py`	yes source ↗
Feeds & speeds + tool-life	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/cuttingtool/tool_life.py`	yes source ↗
Nesting (skyline + true-shape NFP)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/nesting/nfp.py`	yes source ↗
FDM slicing (Cura)	yes `src/components/PrintSliceView.jsx`	yes source ↗

D8 Civil / infrastructure / geo 2 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Horizontal+vertical alignment (clothoid, SSD)	yes `packages/kerf-civil/src/kerf_civil/horizontal_alignment.py`	yes source ↗
Geotech (bearing/settlement/slope/pile/liquefaction)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geotech/liquefaction.py`	yes source ↗

D9 Dynamics / motion / controls 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Planar MBD (Lagrange/DAE, Baumgarte)	yes `packages/kerf-mates/src/kerf_mates/mbd/mbd_tools.py`	yes source ↗
Vibration n-DOF modal / FRF	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/vibration/mdof.py`	yes source ↗
Controls — state-space / LQR / Kalman	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/controls/statespace_tools.py`	yes source ↗

D10 Electrical / energy / PLC 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Wiring/harness (WireViz + 3D router)	yes `src/components/WiringView.jsx`	yes source ↗
AC load-flow (Ybus / Newton-Raphson)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/elecpower/loadflow.py`	yes source ↗
PLC IEC 61131-3 (ST/Ladder/FB/motion)	yes `src/components/PLCView.jsx`	yes source ↗

D11 Tolerancing / metrology / QA 4 of 4 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
GD&T data model (ASME Y14.5)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gdt/tolerances.py`	yes source ↗
Tolerance stackup — 1D (WC/RSS/MC)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/tolstack/stack.py`	yes source ↗
Tolerance stackup — 3D vector loop	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/tolstack/tol3d.py`	yes source ↗
Process capability (Cpk/Ppk)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/spc/charts.py`	yes source ↗

D12 Optics / acoustics 2 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Acoustics (ISO 9613, RT60, weighting, mass-law TL)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/acoustics/sound.py`	yes source ↗
Paraxial ABCD ray transfer	yes `packages/kerf-optics/src/kerf_optics/ray_transfer.py`	yes source ↗

D13 Verticals 2 of 2 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
BIM (walls/slabs/framing/stairs/IFC4)	yes `packages/kerf-bim/src/kerf_bim/export_ifc/`	yes source ↗
Jewelry (41 modules)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/jewelry/`	yes source ↗

D14 Cost / materials / LCA 3 of 3 matched

Capability	Kerf	Siemens NX
Material selection (Ashby)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/matsel/multi_objective.py`	yes source ↗
LCA (full ISO 14040/44 4 phases)	yes `packages/kerf-lca/src/kerf_lca/phases.py`	yes source ↗
Should-cost (6 processes, Boothroyd-Dewhurst)	yes `packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/costing/estimate.py`	yes source ↗

yes shipped
partial works with limits
paid tier present, but behind an add-on or meter
no not available

Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/nx.md and every claim in it carries a link.