After you finish detailing in Tekla Structures, you can deliver the results to the next phase. You can use CNC links to send the information directly to automatic cutting and welding machines, or produce data for MIS systems (management information systems).
Formats Tekla Structures produces NC files in the following formats:
1. DSTV 2. Peddimat
For DOS
For Windows 3. Daito 4. DXF
Tekla Structures creates the files from completed regions of the Tekla Structures model. Tekla Structures translates part length, hole positions, bevels, notches, and cuts into sets of coordinates that sawing, drilling and profile burners can use to create the part in the shop.
DSTV format is an industrial standard defined by the German Steel Construction Association.
Often NC machines can use these files directly to punch, drill, and copy parts. For other machines you may need to translate DSTV files to suit the specific machine. If you need machine-specific files, you may have to post-process the NC files Tekla Structures produces, using an NC Translator program.
To define NC settings and create NC files, go to File > CNC > NC files...
Topics Setting up NC files (p. 168) Pop-mark settings (p. 179)
Defining destination machines for parts (p. 170) Defining hole properties (p. 172)
Creating NC files (p. 172)
Defining the output format and folder (p. 173)
Setting up NC files
Tekla Structures model NC files
NC software NC machine
Finished machined part
parts be machined by different NC machines, for example, plates by one machine, drilled parts by another, etc.
To set up NC files:
1. Click File > Export > CNC > Create NC Files...
2. Click Add to open the NC file settings dialog box, which contains several tabs:
Tekla Structures saves the settings files in the attributes folder under the current model folder.
See also Pop-mark settings (p. 179)
Defining destination machines for parts (p. 170) Creating NC files (p. 172)
Fittings affect NC data (p. 174) NC file settings
Output format, the profile types that machines can handle, and maximum hole diameters
Defining the output format and folder (p.
173)
Defining selection criteria (p. 170) Holes and cuts Slot conversion options,
standard tooling for
Hard stamp Hard stamp options Hard stamp proper-ties (p. 181)
Defining destination machines for parts
To define the limits of an NC machine:
1. Open the NC file settings dialog box and go to the Files and Part selection tab.
2. In the Selection criteria for parts section, use the Maximum size and Profile type fields to define the limits of the NC machine, for parts and profile types. Larger parts will be sent to the next machine.
Tekla Structures uses DSTV standard names for profile types: I, U, L, M, R, B, CC, T, SO. See also Profile type (p. 171).
Inner corners shape
Use the options in the Holes and cuts tab, Inner corner shape list box to define the shape of the inner contour, which can be radial, tangential or square. Inner contours are always rounded.
Enter a radius for rounding in the Radius field.
See also Creating NC files (p. 172)
Defining selection criteria
Each NC file setting is meant for one NC machine. The selection criteria determine the part types and maximum sizes the machine is meant to or able to process.
To define the selection criteria:
1. Click File > Export > CNC > Create NC Files... The NC Files dialog box appears.
2. Select a setting from the list and click Edit.... If the list is empty, click Add... to create new settings.
3. In the NC file settings dialog box, define the selection criteria.
Maximum size
The maximum size options define the maximum length, width, and height of the parts the machine can handle. Larger parts are sent to other machines.
Profile type
The machine can handle all the profile types which have the option Yes in the Profile type list.
Profile types are named according to the DSTV (p. 174) standard:
DSTV profile type Description
I I profiles
U U and C profiles
L Angle profiles
M Rectangular tubes
R Round bars and tubes
B Plate profiles
CC CC profiles
Round tubes By default Tekla Structures unwraps round tubes as plate profiles and uses the plate profile type B in the NC file header data. To change this, use the variable
XS_TUBE_UNWRAP_USE_PLATE_PROFILE_TYPE_IN_NC.
Maximum size of holes
The Maximum size of holes list defines how large holes the machine is able to drill. Parts containing larger holes are sent to other machines. The hole size is connected to material thickness (or plate thickness). Each row contains the maximum hole diameter and material thickness. Row 60 45 means that when the material thickness is 45 mm or smaller, holes of a diameter of 60 mm and smaller will be drilled. The remaining rows serve the same purpose.
Defining hole properties
Open the NC file settings dialog box and go to the Holes and cuts tab. You have the following options:
Slotted holes Options that define slotted holes:
•
Ignore slots: deletes slotted holes•
A single hole in the center of the slot: drills a single hole in the center of the slotted hole•
Four small holes, one at each corner: drills 4 smaller holes, one at each corner•
Internal contours: flame-cuts the slots as internal contours•
Slots: leaves slots as they are.Maximum hole diameter
Holes and slotted holes that are larger than the maximum hole diameter are manufactured as internal contours.
Maximum size of holes
Use the Maximum size of holes section of the Files and part selection tab to define the maximum hole diameter for different plate thicknesses.
Once you have finished defining NC settings, click OK to save your changes and close the NC file settings dialog box.
See also Creating NC files (p. 172)
Creating NC files
To create NC files:
If necessary, define the NC file settings. See Setting up NC files (p. 168).
T Tee shaped profiles
SO Z profiles and all the other
types of profile
The DTSV standard does not support curved beams, so Tekla Structures does not support them, either.
DSTV profile type Description
2. Select the Create checkboxes in the NC file settings section to indicate which NC file settings to use.
3. Against the Create files for field, select a checkbox to indicate the parts you want to create NC files for:
•
All parts•
Selected parts4. Click Create to create the NC files.
See also Setting up NC files (p. 168)
Defining the output format and folder (p. 173)
Defining the output format and folder
Format Use the options in NC file settings > Files and part selection, File format field to select the file format. For more information on formats, see:
•
DSTV (p. 174)•
DXF (p. 175)•
Peddimat (p. 176)Folder By default Tekla Structures creates NC files in the current model folder. To change this:
1. Go to the Files and part selection tab.
2. Click the Browse button next to the File location field.
3. In the Set file location dialog box, locate the correct folder. If the folder does not exist, use the Create New Folder button to create it.
4. Click OK. Tekla Structures displays the folder path in the File location field.
Relative paths You can also enter a folder name or a relative path directly in the File location field.
The following table shows where the NC files are created with different values of the File location field, when the variable XS_MIS_FILE_DIRECTORY is set to C:\NC.
Tekla Structures does not create NC files for curved beams.
You must select a file in the destination folder to get the folder selected in the File location field. It does not matter which file you select. If there are no files in the folder, create one there, for example an empty .txt file.
File location NC files are created to C:\NC
.\ C:\NC\ModelName
.\MyFiles C:\NC\ModelName\MyFiles
C:\TEMP C:\TEMP
The following table shows where the NC files are created with different values of the File location field, when the variable XS_MIS_FILE_DIRECTORY is NOT set.
See also Setting up NC files (p. 168) Creating NC files (p. 172)