What is FrameAI?
FrameAI is a structural steel automation tool. Drop in a PDF drawing and get back fabrication-ready artefacts — PDF reports, DXF shop drawings, IFC 4 BIM models, and DSTV NC1 machine files.
The four stages
FrameAI processes a structural steel drawing through four automated stages. Each one replaces a manual step that would otherwise require a steel detailer or structural engineer.
1. Upload
Drop a PDF onto the pipeline. FrameAI accepts workshop drawings, fabrication plans, erection schemes, and engineer's sketches — in any orientation, any scale. Vector PDFs give the best results; high-resolution scans work too.
2. Extract
GPT-4o reads every page. It identifies each member: profile section (IPE 400, HEA 300, etc.), steel grade (S235, S275, S355), span, boundary conditions, and connection type. No templates, no manual tagging.
3. Calculate
Eurocode checks run automatically against the relevant national annex (recommended, NL, DE, FR, IT, PT, SI, etc.). The checks cover:
- EN 1993-1-1: section class, member buckling, interaction formula
- EN 1993-1-8: bolted end-plate connections, base plates, weld checks
- EN 1994-1-1: composite steel-concrete beams (Pro/Studio)
- EN 1991-1-4: wind actions (Pro/Studio)
- EN 1997-1: pad, strip, and pile foundations (Pro/Studio)
- EN 1998-1: seismic lateral force analysis (Pro/Studio)
4. Export
When all checks are complete, the fabrication package is ready to download:
- PDF fabrication report with firm branding and title block
- DXF shop drawings (AutoCAD R12 compatible) with part marks and dimensions
- IFC 4 BIM model importable into Tekla, Revit, Robot, and SCIA
- Excel bill of materials with EN 10365 steel weights
- DSTV NC1 ASCII files for CNC drilling and cutting machines (Pro/Studio)
No detailer required. FrameAI replaces the manual steps that sit between a structural engineer's calcs and a workshop-ready drawing. The output is audit-tracked with full Eurocode references.
Subscription plans
| Feature | Free | Pro | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF uploads per month | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Eurocode calculations | Basic member checks | Full suite | Full suite |
| DSTV NC1 export | - | - | Included |
| IFC 4 / SAF round-trip | - | - | Included |
| Team workspace | - | - | Included |
| Billing | Free | $10/month | $150/year |
Next step
The next tutorial walks through uploading your first steel drawing.