NX value-based licensing: What machine shops, parts manufacturers need to know
From major machine parts manufacturers to smaller machine shops, every minute of production time counts – from conception and design to programming and manufacturing.
That means your CAD/CAM software needs to work as hard as your machines do, but you shouldn’t have to pay for features you’re not using.
NX value-based licensing addresses this. It’s designed to match the way real shops work.
Watch this short video to see how it works:
What is value-based licensing for NX?
Value-based licensing is a more modern approach to software access that directly connects costs to actual usage.
Instead of the traditional “all-or-nothing” software licenses, think of it as a more intelligent system that understands exactly which NX capabilities you’re using at any given time.
When a programmer opens NX to create a basic 3-axis milling program, the business is only paying for those core features. If the same programmer later needs to create a complex 5-axis toolpath or run an in-depth simulation, the system automatically adjusts to provide access to those advanced capabilities.
The system works through a sophisticated token system running in the background. Different NX features are assigned different token values based on their complexity and value.
Related: Parts manufacturing digital solutions for machine shops
Basic operations like part modeling or simple toolpath creation require fewer tokens, while advanced capabilities like synchronized mill-turn programming or complex surface machining use more.
These tokens are automatically checked in and out as features are used, ensuring you’re only paying for actual usage.
For example, if your shop primarily handles 3-axis work but takes on occasional 5-axis jobs, you’re no longer forced to purchase expensive full-time licenses for advanced capabilities.
Instead, you maintain access to your core features through standard licensing while using tokens for those intermittent advanced operations.
This is where value-based licensing really shines for machine shops because your software investment directly aligns with your revenue-generating activities.
The benefits of NX value-based licensing for the machine shop
NX value-based licensing can give machine shops and parts manufacturers an edge in earning new business, accelerating design and production processes, and more. The benefits aren’t simply limited to the shop floor or the accounting department. They impact the entire business.
Financial advantages
Parts manufacturers don’t run all their machines at once without good reason, and value-based licensing ensures you’re not paying for software capabilities sitting idle. Value-based licensing aligns software costs with revenue, and it reduces large upfront investments, freeing up capital for other crucial shop needs.
Operational benefits
Engineering and programming teams get access to the right tools at the right time with the flexibility to adapt as the business changes and grows. Whether it’s transitioning from 3-axis to 5-axis work or taking on new types of jobs, the licensing adapts with you.
Competitive advantages
Confidently bid on a wider range of jobs and respond quickly to market demands with value-based licensing. Since users can access advanced capabilities when needed without any long-term commitments, you can say “yes” to more opportunities.
Technical benefits
Stay up to date with the latest software features and test new capabilities before making long-term investments. The system scales seamlessly as the business grows, whether you’re adding new engineers and programmers or expanding into new types of machining.
Management benefits
Gain clear visibility into software usage and costs with simplified administration through a single system. Make well-informed decisions about future investments and allocate costs more effectively.
Conclusion
Value-based licensing gives machine shops the flexibility they need to meet ever-changing customer demands and increasing competition.
With token-based access, machine shops and parts manufacturers guarantee predictable costs to world-class software capabilities and ensure their software investments directly support revenue-generating activities.
Whether you’re a small machine shop or an established parts manufacturer, NX value-based licensing offers a practical solution that scales with your business.
Learn more about value-based licensing here.
Or contact your Siemens representative for a personalized assessment of how value-based licensing can work to meet your specific needs. They can analyze current workflows, understand growth plans, and help develop a licensing strategy that maximizes your return on investment while minimizing upfront costs.
