NX Algorithmic Modeling: New feature to create a Spline from a CSV File [NX 2007]

I got a question recently about how to associatively drive a spline in NX from data in a spreadsheet. We don't have an OOTB feature to do this, but thinking about it a little bit, I realized that Algorithmic Modeling could handle this nicely. This video walks through how to build a new NX Feature that will read point coordinate data from a CSV file, and then build an associative spline curve through that point data. The CSV file can be any length, as you'll see. I hope you find this useful!
By the way... Huge thanks here to two websites that freely offer point data files for thousands of airfoil definitions:
airfoiltools.com/
m-selig.ae.ill...
As described in the video, I did a little bit of manipulation of these files to put them into a consistent format for my purposes, but that was minor, easy stuff. Again, huge thanks to Professor Michael Selig at the University of Illinois and to the anonymous folks behind airfoiltools.com!

[@dilekayas94]

Wooow Süpper! greate job, thank you for share this video🙋

[@MrTheNille]

Hi Taylor. Wonderful tutorial! I'm trying to combine multiple csv-defined foils into 1 propeller blade. I've tried with a "Through Curves"-node, but it doesn't allow me to select multiple csv-generated cruves. Any ideas?

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

Hi! One option would be to set up a CSV file selector for each of your curves. Would that make sense in your application?

[@hellykotty9722]

Great video. The huge amount of nodes are overwhelming. Some kind of workshop or training would be nice for shure.

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

We're working on it! Thanks!

[@glitchmober]

Good lesson. Thank you Taylor👍

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

My pleasure!

[@antonioesposito8071]

Hi, is there a book or a course explaining in depth NX's Algorithmic Modeling?

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

We're working on it! Thanks!

[@gusbronk2863]

Hi Taylor,
This is a fantastic video. I'm struggling to use an NX open program inside of an algorithmic feature, specifically how to structure the NX open program so the algorithmic feature will grab the output. Do you know of any samples?

[@__--JY-Moe--__]

is it better to make the file in a CSV, or in a STEP/3d file. also. U can convert a 3d file into a CSV. it looks to me that NX Algorithmic Modeler,
doesn't create calculated objects like Rhino-Grasshopper! though the NX looks so similar. good luck!

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

This specific example is coming *from* CSV, and not the other way around. :-) NX can certainly export 2D and 3D geometry to STEP and other formats. And what you're seeing here is almost exactly the same style of creation as Rhino-Grasshopper, with the added bonus that this design can stay intact as part of a larger parametric design forever, without ever needing to be "baked" at some point. Thanks!

[@sinashojaee4804]

Great video. But what if we want to tangent the created spline to another spline?

[@taylorandersonnxvideos]

Generally, other curves will be created tangent to an airfoil-driven curve like this, rather than the other way around. For more flexible control of tangency/curvature continuity, you'll definitely want to look into the other interactive curve creation options in NX. Thanks!