Use bolts and welds to create and connect assemblies and sub-assemblies

You can use bolt and weld properties in the property pane to create assemblies, or to connect sub-assemblies to an existing assembly.

Use bolts to create and connect assemblies

Assemblies and their main parts are automatically defined when you create workshop bolts. Additionally, you can connect more parts to assemblies by using bolts, or create nested assemblies by connecting sub-assemblies to an existing assembly.

To control how Tekla Structures creates the assembly, use the Connect as and Bolt type lists in the Bolt properties in the property pane

The order in which you select parts when creating the bolt determines the main and secondary parts of the assembly, or the assembly hierarchy.


Assembly type	Connect as	Bolt type	Result
Basic assembly	As secondary part	Workshop	Basic assembly with the part you are bolting as a secondary part. The first part you select usually becomes the main part in the assembly.
Nested assembly	As sub-assembly	Workshop or Site	Nested assembly with the assembly you are bolting as a sub-assembly. The first part you select determines the assembly to which you are bolting.
	As secondary part	Site	No assembly created.

Bolt secondary parts to an assembly

Open the Bolt properties in the property pane.
In the Connect as list, select As secondary part.
Select the main part to which the secondary parts will be bolted.
Select the secondary parts.
Click the middle mouse button to finish selecting parts.
Pick a point to indicate the bolt group origin.
Pick a second point to indicate the bolt group x direction.

Bolt sub-assemblies to an assembly

Open the Bolt properties in the property pane.
In the Connect as list, select As sub-assembly.
Select a part in the assembly to bolt to.
Select a part in the sub-assembly to be bolted.
Click the middle mouse button to finish selecting parts.
Pick a point to indicate the bolt group origin.
Pick a second point to indicate the bolt group x direction.

Use welds to create and connect assemblies

Assemblies and their main parts are automatically defined when you create workshop welds. Additionally, you can connect more parts to assemblies by using welds, or create nested assemblies by connecting sub-assemblies to an existing assembly.

To control how Tekla Structures creates the assembly, use the Connect as and Workshop/Site lists in the Weld properties in the property pane

The order in which you select parts when creating the weld determines the main and secondary parts of the assembly, or the assembly hierarchy. The first part you select becomes the main part of the assembly. Tekla Structures dimensions secondary parts relative to the main part in assembly drawings.


Assembly type	Connect as	Bolt type	Result
Basic assembly	As secondary part	Workshop:	Basic assembly with the part you are welding as a secondary part. The first part you select usually becomes the main part in the assembly.
Nested assembly	As sub-assembly	Workshop: or Site:	Nested assembly with the assembly you are welding as a sub-assembly. The first part you select determines the assembly to which you are welding.
	As secondary part	Site:	No assembly created.

Weld secondary parts to an assembly

Open the Weld properties in the property pane.
In the Connect as list, select As secondary part.
Select the part to weld to.
Select the parts to be welded.

Weld sub-assemblies to an assembly

Open the Weld properties in the property pane.
In the Connect as list, select As sub-assembly.
Select a part in the assembly to weld to.
Select a part in the sub-assembly to be welded.