DSTV NC Interface

This function enables you to prepare HiCAD files for export to NC equipment. The type of machine targeted determines whether the DSTV-NC or NCX Interface will be selected.

The NC Interface creates for each itemised part a NC file with the file name extension .NC. This file contains information such as attributes of the part, processings (maximum bore diameter, arcs etc.). The designation drawing_Pn is used as file name, with drawing being the name of the current drawing and n the item number of the corresponding part.

When you itemise the drawing, the Powder marking lines and punch marks acc. to DSTV-NC export checkbox shold be active, to ensure that the corresponding data will be considered for DSTV-NC export.

Please remember that only itemised parts can be exported!

To export a file via the DSTV NC interface, select > Save as > Further... > DSTV-NC.

The dialogue window consists of the following areas:

Output for
File name
Punch mark output
Powder marking line output
Lettering
Others

Output for / File name

At the top left of the window you can choose beneath Output for whether you want to apply the export to a Selection list (= the active part list) or to All parts.

If you want Sheet Metal part developments to be included in the DSTV-NC export, activate the Consider sheet metal parts checkbox.

At the top right of the window you can choose beneath File name whether it is to be generated according to the HiCAD file name, the HELiOS document master or the HELiOS article master (if you are working with a HELiOS database). Choose the option DSTV_NC_Filename.ftd if you want the file name to be exported according to this template file and the corresponding annotation of your HiCAD drawing.

Punch mark output

If there are any Punch marks, you can determine whether you want to apply them to the part and if so, specify their position via the corresponding tab for beams or plates:

Write into block BO (bore)
Write into block KO (punch mark)
Do not write

If you click the Extended button and activate the Calculate punch marks automatically checkbox, missing punch marks will be automatically calculated and written into the DSTV-NC file. Already existing punch marks will not be replaced or changed.

If you also activated the Display punch marks as points checkbox, the automatically calculated punch marks will not only be exported to the file, but also made visible in the HiCAD drawing. They will be displayed as isolated points, and not as "real" processings. The exact edge distance can be specified in the input field below the checkboxes.

Powder marking line output

You proceed likewise for Powder marking line output:

Write into block PU (Powder marking line)
Write into block KO (punch mark)
Do not write

In the Beam and Plate tab you can specify various settings, such as the general Length of the Side marking, or extended settings concerning contours and identifications.

Besides the representation option Contours, entire length of contact edge option, you can choose between the following three other options:

Contours with length limitation: For the representation of the mounting of longer parts, the powder marking line can be replaced with a intermediate segmented line whose segment lengths and the distances between them can be specified. Default values are a length of 15 mm and a distance of 500 mm.

Minimal markings at 2 corners: Marks two corners and the connecting side of the attachment part. Specify a value for the Line length for corners.

Punch marks at corners: For symmetrical parts that are rotated 90 or 180 degrees about the beam axis, there will be several possible attachment positions. This requires a clear an unambiguous marking of the connection side by means of punch marks. Specify a Diameter.

1: Contour representation, entire length; 2 Contour representation, limited length

In the Extended tab you to specify parameters for Tolerance for powder marking line search, such as Distance tolerance, Angle tolerance and Minimum length.

In the Powder marking line output area, activate the Manually created option if you want manually created powder marking lines to be output. The corresponding input fields on the Beam and Plate tabs will then be greyed out. If you activate the Automatic option, powder marking lines will be created automatically. Manually created lines will not be considered.

Lettering

You are can individually allow or suppress an automated Lettering for Beams+Profiles, Plates and Contact surfaces.
You can specify the Position on flange or web via X- and Y-coordinates.
In the Text area you can select whether you want the Item number to be written onto the part alone, or together with the Drawing number or Order number. In addition, you are enabled to select a Font size. Via selection of Attribute configuration, you can also have the text that is defined in the system file DSTV_NC_Signaturtext.ftd (in the sys directory of your HiCAD installation) written into the DSTV-NC file. This is done via the Annotation settings (3-D Dimensioning + Text > Text > Leader > Change font). If you change the part attribute for the file DSTV_NC_Signaturtext.ftd there, it will be written to the position for the lettering in the DSTV-NC file.
In the Configuration Editor, at Steel Engineering > DSTV-NC you have the option to preset the values for drawing number and order number to Configuration. default.

Others

For Order No., Drawing No., Item number and Part No. you have the following setting options in a pull-down menu:

Do not write: No value will be written out for the attribute.
HiCAD attribut: The corresponding HiCAD drawing attribute will be used ('Order number' / "Drawing number" or Drawing name / "Item number")
From template file: The text will be composed according to one of the following settings files:
DSTV_NC_Ordernumbertext.ftd (for Order No.)
DSTV_NC_Drawingnumbertext.ftd (for Drawing No.)
Part type-dependent (see below) DSTV_NC_Itemnumbertext.ftd or DSTV_NC_H_Itemnumbertext.ftd or DSTV_NC_W_Itemnumbertext.ftd (Item number)
Part type-dependent (see below) DSTV_NC_Partnumbertext.ftd or DSTV_NC_H_Partnumbertext.ftd or DSTV_NC_W_Partnumbertext.ftd (Part No.)

Beside Item number and Part No. you can additionally specify the number of decimal places for the written out result, if you have selected HiCAD attribute.

Write comment: Activate this checkbox if you want comment lines to be output.

Please note:

In older HiCAD versions, only the configuration files DSTV_NC_Itemnumbertext.ftd for the Item number and DSTV_NC_Partnumbertext.ftd for the Part number were used. As of HiCAD 2016 Service Pack 2 (Version 2102) you distinguish between Main part (H part), Sub-part (W part) an Loose parts, for which separate configuration files exist. If you have worked with the corresponding configuration files in older versions, their content must be copied to those for Main parts and Sub-parts: For the Item number DSTV_NC_H_Itemnumbertext.ftd(main part) and DSTV_NC_W_Itemnumbertext.ftd (Sub-part) or for the Part No. DSTV_NC_H_Partnumbertext.ftd (Main part) and DSTV_NC_W_Partnumbertext.ftd(Sub-part), respectively. DSTV_NC_Itemnumbertext.ftd and DSTV_NC_Partnumbertext.ftd each refer to Loose parts that do not belong to any assembly.
These template settings are specified, like those for the lettering, via the annotation settings at (3-D Dimensioning + Text > Text > Leader > Change - Settings). If you change the attribute for the corresponding file there (and save the file), it will be written to the relevant place in the DSTV-NC file. The advantage of this is that various information can be written into both places in the DSTV-NC file.

Furthermore, you can specify a Maximum diameter for bores beneath Bore.

By deactivating the Write mounting bores checkbox you can exclude bores from the export.

You can enter a Maximum diameter for the arcs of the Outer and inner contours, and specify whether slots or rectangular holes are to be written into the block BO (bore) or IK (inner contour). If you want to output an additional value for the third coordinate or the radius (even if the radius is 0), activate the Value for 0-radius checkbox.

After having specified all required settings, confirm with OK and, in the following dialogue, specify a path for the export files. The file extension can be freely selected, e.g. if a saving in the "nc1" format is required.

Please note:

Processings on beams and profiles with circular (i.e. "infinite") cross-sections will not be written out. Only the header data will be written for this beam/profile type.
After completion of the export, a protocol file (conversion log) containing errors and information about the data transfer will be displayed. Double-click a log entry to show further information. The data are saved in a LOG file.
The DSTV-NC and NCX interfaces generate log files with the file name extension .LOG during export.
For the DSTV NC Interface you can specify in the configuration file \sys\stb_parameter.dat which attribute should be used as item number for "H" parts. Default setting is the item number of the assembly.
In the Configuration Editor at Active configuration (Base configuration) > Steel Engineering > DTSV-NC you can specify for the DSTV-NC interface:
which attribute is to be used as item number for "H" parts. If the Use item number of assembly checkbox has been activated, the assembly item number will be used.
Displacement of punch marks: The inward displacement of punch marks located on edges can be entered here as a decimal number. The default value is 0.
The setting for maximum bore diameter is only considered for through holes; countersinks of whatever diameter will always be written into the "BO" block.