Free Tool / DSTV NC1 Generator
DSTV NC1 File Generator — Free Online DSTV 7th Edition Creator
Generate valid DSTV NC1 files in seconds. No signup, no CAD software. Select a profile, enter your hole layout, and download a fabrication-ready .nc1 file.
DSTV 7th Edition
ISO/DIS 7573
EN 1090-2
Free — no account
Live Generator
Generate Your NC1 File
Copied to clipboard.
DSTV NC1 Format
DSTV NC1 Block Structure — ST, BO, AK, EN
The DSTV NC1 format encodes a steel part in plain ASCII using named blocks. Each block carries a specific category of fabrication data. FrameAI's generator produces all standard blocks — here's what each one means:
ST
Part Header
Profile, length (mm), material grade, drawing number, part mark, quantity, weight (kg), surface area (m²).
BO
Bolt / Hole Block
Hole positions (X/Y/Z from member end), clearance diameter (mm), face code (O/U/W/V). One line per hole.
AK
End Cut
Angle of each end cut (90° = square). Face code 0 = start end, 5 = far end. Bevel cuts are 45°.
SI
Supplementary Info
Free-text notes — execution class, tolerance class, fabrication standard, part description. Written per EN 1090-2.
WN
Weld Notation
Fillet weld positions along the member axis with throat thickness (a, mm) and weld type code. Exported from FrameAI pipeline.
EN
End of File
File terminator — every valid NC1 file ends with EN. The CNC machine reads up to this marker.
The coordinate system uses origin at the member end face, top of web surface. YD values are measured from the end inward; XD is the gauge from centroid. DSTV specification on stahl.de →
Worked Examples
IPE300 and HEA300 — Verified Output
The generator has been tested against two reference inputs:
| Parameter | Test 1 — IPE300 | Test 2 — HEA300 |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | IPE300 | HEA300 |
| Length | 4200 mm | 6000 mm |
| Hole face | O (top flange) | W (web) |
| Hole ø | 22 mm | 18 mm |
| e₁ (first hole) | 40 mm | 50 mm |
| p₁ (pitch) | 80 mm | 100 mm |
| n_holes | 4 (4 BO lines) | 6 (6 BO lines) |
| y_offset | 75 mm | 0 mm (centroid) |
Test 1 produces an NC1 with 4 BO lines for the top flange holes (face=1), with square end cuts (AK 0/5 at 90°). Test 2 produces an NC1 with 6 BO lines for the web holes (face=3), centroid gauge (y_offset=0), square end cuts. Both outputs are valid DSTV 7th edition NC1 files.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What sections does the NC1 generator produce?
▾
The generator produces all standard DSTV NC1 7th edition sections: ST (header), BO (bolt/hole blocks), AK (end cuts), and EN (file terminator). The ST block includes the section type code (I/U/L), profile name, length, weight per EN 10365, surface area, material grade, drawing number, part mark, and quantity. The BO block encodes hole positions using DSTV coordinate conventions: origin at member end, top of web surface.
How are hole positions defined in the BO block?
▾
DSTV NC1 holes use an XY origin at the member end face. XD is the gauge from the centroid axis (XD=0 for web holes on the centroid); YD is the distance from the member end along the member axis. For a web hole with e1=40mm and p1=80mm: the first hole is at YD=40mm, the second at YD=120mm, and so on. Hole diameter in the BO block is the clearance hole diameter (nominal bolt + 2 mm per EN 1993-1-8 Table 3.3).
Why are square cuts the default end cut type?
▾
Square (perpendicular) cuts are the most common default in DSTV NC1 for beams and columns that arrive at the workshop as mill lengths and are cut to final dimension on a saw. Bevel cuts are reserved for moment connections where the beam end is coped or profiled to fit the column face. If you select "Bevel", the AK block writes 45.00° cuts at both ends — verify this matches your fabrication intent.
What is the difference between face O, U, and W?
▾
DSTV face codes define which surface the CNC machine drills on: O (Ober — top) targets the top flange from above; U (Unter — bottom) targets the bottom flange from below; W (Web) targets the web face. For most beam-column moment connections, holes go in the web (face W). For shear tab connections, holes go on the top flange (face O) for the erection bolt through the slab. Specify the face based on the connection detail, not the member orientation.
How does EN 1090-2 tolerance class affect the NC1 output?
▾
The tolerance class is written to the SI (supplementary information) block of the NC1 file. Class A (±1.0 mm for hole groups where d₀ ≤ 27 mm) is the most common for EXC2 fabrication; Class B (±0.5 mm) applies to higher-execution-classwork or architectural exposed steel. The class also appears in the ST header comment and propagates to the CNC machine as a machine parameter. FrameAI writes the class so the workshop can verify positional tolerance against the NC1.
Can I download multiple profiles in one NC1 file?
▾
This generator produces one .nc1 file per single-part input. For batch multi-part export (all members from a drawing), use the FrameAI pipeline: upload the PDF, process with GPT-4o vision, then export the complete DSTV ZIP via GET /api/jobs/:id/export/dstv.zip (Pro/Studio tier). The pipeline ZIP contains one .nc1 file per unique part mark across the whole drawing.
What file extension does DSTV NC1 use?
▾
NC1 files use the .nc1 extension. Some older systems accept .nc as a synonym — check with your fabricator whether their CNC machine accepts .nc or requires .nc1. FrameAI always produces .nc1 files in the ZIP archive. The file is plain ASCII — you can open it in any text editor to verify the ST/BO/AK/EN blocks before sending to the workshop.
How does the tool compute weight in the ST header?
▾
Weight (WE= field) is computed as mass per metre from EN 10365:2017 multiplied by the member length in mm / 1000. For example, IPE300 has 42.2 kg/m; at 4200 mm the weight is 177.2 kg. Surface area (SA=) is similarly derived: IPE300 has 1.14 m²/m; at 4200 mm the surface area is 4.788 m². These values are used by the fabricator to calculate primer consumption and surface treatment cost.
Further Reading
Related Tools & Pages
Tool
Shear, bearing, and tension resistance checks for bolted connections.
Reference
How to upload a structural PDF and extract member geometry with GPT-4o vision.
Example
Eurocode EN 1993-1-8 end-plate moment connection with full DSTV/DXF download.
EN 1090
How EXC is derived from consequence class and service category per EN 1090-1.