BTL Export (ML019)

Not version-specific

Tekla Structures

Environment

Construsoft European

Function: Generate production data for woodworking machines and framing machines.

The BTL format is a free standard and can be used by various software and machine solutions. It describes parts in a machine-independent language. A BTL file contains a complete description of all contours and processes and can be viewed and checked with a free BTL viewer
(http://www.design2machine.com).

It is possible to export all timber parts and boards/panels of a project in one BTL file, with all associated processes and nail line and markings separately for each layer. In this way, only one file needs to be generated. Then the different types of machines (sawing and woodworking machines, framing machines, etc.) can read the data from the file which is necessary for the respective machine.

BTL-Processes:
BTL information is organised into processes. Every operation is a process. For example, when a wooden beam has to be cut by means of a single saw cut then the BTL process "Saw Cut" must be applied and when a rafter needs to be fitted with a bird's mouth then the BTL process "Birds Mouth" must be applied.

The BTL process to be applied controls which operation to model on the part in Tekla Structures. Of some operations on a part in Tekla Structures, the system can determine which BTL process to apply. For others, generally the somewhat more complex operations, the user should indicate which process should be applied by modelling a negative volume and giving it a special name.

Click here for a BTL-specific description on the scope of operations currently supported by the BTL tool.

Main tab

In the "Main" tab, you can define export parameters.

Option	Description
Export	Export the Selected parts or All parts located in the model.
Filter operation	Filter is not used: No selection filter is applied.
	Exclude filtered parts: Items that fall within the selection filter are NOT exported.
	Only filtered parts: only parts that fall within the selection filter are exported.
Filter	This field is linked to field 2. If you choose Exclude filtered parts or Only filtered parts in field 2, it is possible to select a selection filter here. If you choose Filter is not active, this field is greyed out.
Exclude	Define the parts that should be excluded and thus not be part of the BTL export. Enter the relevant name of the component here. For example: "DUMMY".
Framing info	Define whether the framing information should be co-exported. Options: Yes - the BTL file contains the necessary information for the machine to assemble an element. No - the BTL file only contains information for the production of individual timber profiles.
Exclude	Define the parts that should be excluded and thus not be part of the BTL export. Enter the relevant name of the component here. For example: "DUMMY".
Layer determination	The determination of the layer can be determined in two ways. Options: By Zone Automatically At By Zone, the set zone of the parts is adopted. When Layer determination is set to automatically, the export starts determining the different layers itself. The layer determination is always sequential. This means that if in Tekla Structures the zones 1, 2, 3, and 5 are exported. In BTL, this is read as 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Layer order	The layering sequence can be done Reverse layers or Normal layers.
Nail info	Define whether the nail information should be co-exported. Options: Yes No Choose Yes if the machine in question has the ability to nail the sheet layers to the timber frame.
Glue info	This function exports the glue information of the stone strips. Defining these settings can be done on tab Glue info for bricks.
Brick export	All information regarding stone strips on walls can be switched on or off with the functionality. If the Brick export is set to Yes, it is advisable to create one file per element because of the size of the file.
Lock-out area export	Using the tool Timber Process Definer (m101), a Lock-out area can be created. The Lock-out area is a contour on the element where no nail or nail lines are allowed.
Part orientation	Part orientation on the machine.	Image Image Image
Export version	This can be used to specify which BTL version should be generated. Options: 10.4 10.6
BTL assembly number	This option can be used to set which numbering should be exported to BTL. Options: Part number Assembly number Ass Nr and Part Nr
Designation	Define how the parts are to be indicated in the BTL viewer. Options: Object Name Object Name and Ass Nr Object Name and Part Nr Assembly number Part number Object, Name, Part and Ass Nr
Scale unit	The data in the BTL file are represented with a certain precision. It may be that, the BTL woodworking machine controlled with this data, expects the data in a certain precision. This can be set with this option. Each numerical value is displayed in BTL with 8 digits. There is no decimal point in the number. The Scale unit indicates how many digits, seen from the right, are behind the non-visible decimal point. When this option is set to 1, the accuracy is 1/10 When this option is set to 2, the accuracy is 1/100 Example: A part with a length of 2500 mm: Scale unit = 0, value in BTL = 00002500 (read: 2500) Scale unit = 2, value in BTL = 00250000 (read: 2500.00)
Add side cuts	By default, for an end section, even when the end section is square, a Cut process is included in the BTL file. After all, the part is likely to be cut from a longer beam. This option can be used to set whether or not the Cut processes on the end sections should be exported to BTL. Options: Yes No
Use reference plane	In BTL, processes can be described relative to two coordinate systems. By default, the reference plane is used for all processes. However, the woodworking machine to be controlled may not be able to handle this properly. In appropriate cases, this option can then be applied. Define whether the reference plane is to be used. Options: Yes No More information can be found in the BTL description at www.design2machine.com
Draw axes	It is possible to display a local coordinate system for each part using construction lines in the Tekla Structures model. This can be useful in problem analysis. When exporting large quantities of parts, it is recommended to disable this functionality. This will speed up the export process. After Regenerating the model window, the axes have disappeared. Example: Image
Show log	Show the log file created during the export. If there occurs an error during the export, the log file will show the ID of the object. Select the relevant line in the log file and the object in the Tekla Structures model wil be selected.
Show event types	Select which information is written to the log file.	All: Both info and error information are displayed.
		Info: Only information from correctly exported processes are shown.
		Error: Only information from processes that have not been exported are shown.
Overwrite log file	Specify whether existing log files may be overwritten or whether a new export will add the information to the existing log file.
Apply export filters	Indicate whether you want to apply an export filter. Options: Yes No In Export Filters tab, any export filters are added.
Group identical parts	By default, identical parts are grouped together. In some cases, it may be desirable to create a unique record for each part (despite the parts being identical). This option only applies to part editing systems and can only be applied if Framing info is disabled.
Label start	This option is not yet available.
Position	This option is not yet available.
Export path	Define the location of the BVX files.

Export filters tab

In the "Export filters" tab, it is possible to set additional export filters.

This functionality is only available when on "Parameters" tab the "Apply export filters" option is set to "Yes".

For relatively small projects, it is possible to export all parts to one file, regardless of the different properties of the parts to be exported. Larger projects that are, for example, divided into phases or grouped by user defined attribute (UDA), it may be desirable to create an export file of a particular phase or particular group of parts, or even a combination of the two.

Option	Description
Criterium	Select the desired property from the drop-down list here. Depending on the property you select in the drop-down list, you can define the corresponding value in the Export field. Example: Image
Active	Specify whether the criterion should be active. Options: Yes No
UDA name	When you select UDA under Criterium, a dialogue box appears where you can enter the UDA name. This UDA name must be entered in capital letters. Example: Image
Export filter	Indicate which parts, depending on the criterium, should be exported. Example: Only parts with Material VUREN_C24 will be exported. Image
Generate	File for all values or one File per value.
Show criteria in file name	Decide, whether the criteria should be in the file name.

Data specification tab

In the "Data specification" tab, additional BTL information fields are written away that have no direct application in Tekla Structures. These can be replaced by properties or user defined attributes (UDA).

Option	Description
Package	This value field is applied at part and assembly level.
Annotation	This value field is applied at part and assembly level.
No Module	This value field is applied at part and assembly level.
Only available for parts	This value field is applied at part and assembly level.
Storey	This value field can only be applied at part level.
Group	This value field can only be applied at part level.
UDA name	Enter the name of the user defined attribute you want to export.

Operations filter 1 tab

In the "Operations filter 1" tab, define the operations.

Option	Description
Operations to export	Specifies the operation you want to export.
Predefined names	The name reserved for this operation.
Extra names	You can optionally assign an additional name to an operation (several names are possible). Note: negative volumes never use a space unless reserved.

Operations to export	Predefined names	Situation	Component
Drilling	Drilling	Image
Slot	Slot	Image
Front slot	Front slot	Image
Ridge lap	Ridge lap	Image
Birds Mouth	Birds Mouth	Image
Cut	Cut	Image
Double cut	Double cut	Image
Mortise	Mortise	Image	Tenon And Mortise (j150)
Mortise Front	Mortise Front	Mortise cutout on the end of the part.	Tenon And Mortise (j150)
Free Contour	Free Contour	Image	Contour (m149)
Inner cirkel	Circlel	Circular cuts in Tekla Structures consist of segments. In the case of an Inner circle, the distance from the centre of the segment to the centre of the circle is taken. Example: Image
Outer cirkel	CircleO	Round cut-outs in Tekla Structures consist of segments. In the case of an Outlined Circle, the distance from the outer edge of the segment to the centre of the circle is taken. Example: Image
Slotted hole	Slotted hole	Slot holes cannot be exported to BTL with the bolt command. It must be a Polygon cut named Free Contour. Image
Slot Mortise	Slot_Mortise	These operations are defined on the Operations tab.
Marking	Aftekenen	Image	Marking (m116)

Operations filter 2 tab

In the "Operations filter 2" tab, define the operations.

Operation to export	Predefined names	Situation	Component
Block House Half Lap	Block House Half Lap	Image
Tenon	Tenon	Image	Tenon And Mortise (j150)
Dovetail tenon	Dovetail Tenon	Image	Dovetail Tenon And Mortise (j151)
Dovetail mortise	Dovetail Mortise	Image	Dovetail Tenon And Mortise (j151)
Simple Scraf	Simple Scarf	Image	Lap Joint (j152)
Longitudinal cut	Longitudinal cut	Image
Ridge cut	Ridge cut	Image	Ridge/Valley cut (d153)
Valley cut	Valley cut	Image	Ridge/Valley cut (d153)
Lap Joint	Lap Joint	Image
Interne sparing	Aperture	N.V.T.
Pocket	Pocket	Image
Round arch			Arch Cut (m159)

Operations tab

In the "Operations" tab, it is specified that negative volumes based on solid circular and tubular profiles with the letter D and whose diameter is less than or equal to 50 mm should be exported as "Drilling" process.

Option	Description
Section prefix Max diameter	Define the cross-section prefix and the maximum diameter that can be processed by the machine. If a negative volume is used in the model which corresponds to both set condition, the negative volume will be automatically executed as a "Drilling" process regardless of its designation.
Drill depth from model	Decide, whether the the drilling should be through the part or the real drill depth should be exported from the model.
Export drilling by bolt type	Choose, which bolt-drilled holes should be included in the export. Options: All Site Workshop
d is smallest in-plane value of the modelled process
Limiting value a:	Maximum dimension for which the value at field "for 0 < d <= a then" may be used.
If 0 < d <= a then:	Define which process to use for the outcome.
If d > a	For all operations whose dimension is larger than defined at d, the process from field "If d > a" is used.
Saw blade position	Choose the saw blade position. Options: In workpiece On workpiece Center
Composite	An element production line has the option of post-milling the element's plates so that any edges are milled. In the setting below, it is possible to set the parameters of this milling operation. Options: Outer contour - outer side of the element. Inner contour - openings in the element (windows and doors). Conditions: The element must be modelled with component Wood element (57) and no must have no manual adjustments to the openings.
Outer contour	Define the milling or cutting settings of the Outer Contour. Options: Mill data (auto): the finishing operation is performed with a milling cutter. Saw data (auto): finishing is performed with a saw. None: no post-processing is performed. From model: takes the data defined in Timber Process Definer (m101).
Inner contour	Define the milling or cutting settings of the Inner Contour (windows and doors). Options: Mill data (auto): the finishing operation is performed with a milling cutter. Saw data (auto): finishing is performed with a saw. None: no post-processing is performed. From model: takes the data defined in Timber Process Definer (m101).
Define the run-out operation	To avoid making a groove or cut-out on the contours or openings of a wall, it is possible to define a run-out cutter. Run-out mil: Image Run-out saw: Image There are four options for defining the spout of the mil or saw.
	Option:	Description:
	Image	Function of the run-out is not applied.
	Image	The machine determines the run-out itself.
	Image	No run-out.
	Image	A run-out is applied at the start.
	Image	A run-out is applied at the end.
	Image	A run-out is applied at both the start and the end.
Part	It is also possible to define a run-out for parts. The application works the same as for Free Contour as described above.

Glue info for bricks tab

In the "Glue info for bricks" tab, define the additional information regarding gluing bricks.

Option	Description
s	Pitch of the glue line (centre-to-centre distance).
d	Vertical edge distance at the top of element contour.
hi	Vertical edge distance at the top of opening.
gi	Vertical edge distance at the bottom of opening.
c	Vertical edge distance at the bottom of element contour.
b	Horizontal edge distance at the right side of the element contour.
fi	Horizontal edge distance at the right side of opening.
ei	Horizontal edge distance at the left side of opening.
a	Horizontal edge distance at the left side of the element contour.
Minimum spacing between glue lines	Glue line smaller than the specified value is not generated.
Glue region defined by	With the setting Contour of the parent of the glue and UDA values, the setting is extracted from component Wood wall 57. With the setting Contour of the parents of the glue, the glue information is extracted from the parts in the model.
Add additional glue line outside the border	There can be an extra line of glue on the outside of the element so that there is enough glue on the edges.
Colour red	Red glue lines are always generated.
Colour blue	Blue glue lines all have the same spacing.
Colour black	May be present. If the distance from the blue glue line to the opening is too large, a black line is added.

About info

Information about the "build" date of the tool. This date may differ from the date in the tool you are using, but the content may nevertheless be the same. This date may be required when you contact the helpdesk.

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