Workflow / BIM to Shop Drawings

BIM to Shop Drawings —
Export Pipeline

Your Tekla-compatible BIM model is the single source of truth. FrameAI's export pipeline generates every output format you need for fabrication, coordination, and QA — automatically.

By FrameAI · Updated 8 June 2026

PDF Shop Drawings DXF R12 DSTV NC1 IFC 4 BOM Excel Auto-Revision

Export Formats

Every Format You Need, From One Source Model

Format	Use Case	Recipient / Software
DSTV NC1	CNC hole drilling + cutting machine input	Beam lines, plate processors
DXF R12	2D profile nesting, plasma/lazercut	Shop floor CAD stations
IFC 4	Structural-coordination model exchange	Navisworks, BIM360, Revit
PDF	Fabrication drawing sheets for workshop use	Welders, foremen, QA sign-off
BOM Excel	Bill of materials with EN 10365 weights	Procurement, cost control

Pipeline

How the Export Pipeline Works

Input: BIM or SAF

Feed FrameAI a PDF (GPT-4o extracts the model) or import a SAF v2.x file from Tekla Structures or Scia Engineer. Both paths produce the same IFC 4 internal model.

Eurocode Connection Checks

EN 1993-1-8 bolt shear, bearing, tension, and end-plate checks run against every connection in the model. EN 1090-2 EXC is auto-assigned from project scope. Results are stored in the pipeline.

Shop Drawing Generation

Per-member PDF shop drawings with part marks, dimensions, cut lengths, surface treatment notes, and weld schedules. DXF R12 and DSTV NC1 ASCII for CNC machines and plasma/laser cutting.

BOM + Firm Branding

Bill of materials Excel export with EN 10365 steel weights, surface area per part, material grades, and firm branding (logo, address, project info). Subtotals by section type.

Auto-Revision

Auto-Revision Watcher

This is where FrameAI differs from manual export workflows. When an upstream drawing or model file changes, FrameAI detects the change and automatically queues a re-export of all downstream outputs.

What the revision watcher does

Detects: New PDF uploaded, model section changed, connection detail edited, grid line coordinate shifted.

Re-runs: Geometry extraction → connection check → all outputs (PDF, DXF, DSTV NC1, IFC, BOM).

Alerts: All affected team members receive a revision alert with a diff summary: what changed, which outputs were regenerated, and what downstream tasks may be affected.

Trigger conditions:

New PDF uploaded to project (automatic full re-validation)
Member section changed in model (selective re-export)
Connection detail edited (only affected member re-processed)
Grid line coordinate shifted (model-wide impact, full re-run)

Shop Drawing Contents

What's in Each PDF Sheet

Member elevation with dimensions and centerline offsets
Plan and section views with weld symbols per ISO 2553
Bill of materials (member, section, length, grade, quantity)
Connection detail drawing (bolt pattern, weld throat, plate sizes)
Material and surface preparation notes (EN 1090-2 execution requirements)
Approval signature block (Designer, Checker, Approver) with EN 1090-2 EXC stamp

This content was developed with AI-assisted research and reviewed by a qualified structural engineer.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What export formats does FrameAI support? ▾

FrameAI generates: PDF (multi-page fabrication drawings with part marks, dimensions, BOM, weld schedules), DXF R12 (2D CAD-compatible shop drawings), DSTV NC1 ASCII (per EN 10204, for CNC beam lines and plate processors), IFC 4 (full structural BIM model for Navisworks/Revit coordination), BOM Excel (with EN 10365 weights, surface area, subtotals by section type). SAF v2.x round-trip is also supported for Tekla and Scia.

How does the auto-revision watcher work? ▾

FrameAI monitors the source file (uploaded PDF, or model edit via SAF import) with a 5-minute polling interval. When an ETag change is detected, the revision watcher queues a full re-run: re-extract geometry, re-check connections, and regenerate all outputs (PDF, DXF, DSTV NC1, IFC). All affected team members receive a revision alert with a diff summary (what changed, which outputs were regenerated, and which downstream tasks may be affected).

What is included in a FrameAI shop drawing PDF? ▾

Each FrameAI-generated PDF shop drawing sheet includes: member elevation with dimensions, plan and section views with weld symbols per ISO 2553, bill of materials (member, section, length, grade, quantity), connection detail drawing (bolt pattern, weld throat, plate sizes), material and surface preparation notes per EN 1090-2, and an approval signature block (Designer, Checker, Approver). Pro/Studio plans include firm branding (logo, address, project info) on all outputs.

Can FrameAI export to DSTV NC1 format? ▾

Yes. FrameAI generates per-member DSTV NC1 ASCII files (7th edition format) compatible with steel fabrication machinery — CNC beam lines, plate processing, drilling centres. The NC1 files include hole patterns, cut lists, material grades, and surface treatment from the connection data. DSTV NC1 export is available on Pro and Studio plans.

How does the BOM Excel export work? ▾

FrameAI generates a Bill of Materials Excel file with one row per part mark. Columns include: part mark, profile (EN 10365 designation), length (mm), quantity, material grade (S355, etc.), surface area (m²), unit weight (kg/m from EN 10365), total weight (kg), and surface treatment. Subtotals are shown by section type. Firm branding is embedded. The BOM is regenerated automatically when the model changes.

What is the difference between DXF and PDF shop drawings? ▾

DXF R12 output is intended for the CAD station on the shop floor — 2D profile outlines for nesting on plasma or laser cutting machines, or for import into AutoCAD for further detailing. The PDF shop drawings are the engineering record — they include dimensions, tolerances, weld symbols, material notes, and the approval signature block per EN 1090-2. Both are generated from the same underlying BIM model.

Does FrameAI generate weld schedules? ▾

Yes. Weld schedules are included in the PDF shop drawing set. Weld types (fillet, butt, plug, slot), weld sizes, and weld preparation notes are extracted from the drawing annotations (ISO 2553 weld symbols) and stored as IfcRelConnectsWithEasting in the IFC 4 model. The weld schedule table is generated per member on the Connection Details page of the pipeline.

How does FrameAI handle EN 1090 execution class documentation? ▾

FrameAI auto-assigns EXC1–EXC4 per EN 1090-2 based on consequence class (CC1/CC2/CC3), loading category, and steel grade. The assigned execution class is stamped on all PDF shop drawings and in the BOM Excel. For Pro/Studio plans, the EXC can be overridden by the engineer and the override is recorded in the job_overrides audit trail.

Export Your First Shop Drawing Set

Upload a BIM model or PDF drawing set. FrameAI validates every connection, generates PDF, DXF, and DSTV NC1 outputs — all in one pipeline.

Get started → View live demo → See pricing

BIM to Shop Drawings —Export Pipeline