Export in 3D DWG or DXF format

You can export selected parts or the whole model as 3D DWG or DXF. You can use either the older export to export as 3D DWG or DXF, or the newer export to export as 3D DWG.

Export 3D DWG files

3D DWG export uses Teigha libraries.
The surface presentation of the parts is exported. Bolt holes are not included in the export.
You can export objects relative to the model origin, to the base point you define, or to the work plane.
You can export in layers by name, phase or any template attribute or user-defined attribute.
Colors can be exported by class or by stored object group representation.
You can export all objects or selected objects. You can use the Select objects in assemblies and Select objects in components selection switches for selecting the objects to export. You can export selected parts in an assembly when you use the Select objects option and Select objects in assemblies and Select objects in components when you select the parts. If you do not select a part but an assembly, the highest level of assembly parts will be included in the export.
Bolt holes are not exported.
Grids are not exported.

Create object group color representations

If you want to use object group color representations in the export, you need to create the object groups first, set the colors for the object groups and save the representation settings. Note that the transparency setting is also included in the export.

Create base points

If you want to export objects relative to a base point, you need to create a base point in your model.

Open a Tekla Structures model.
On the File menu, click Export > 3D DWG.
In the File name box, enter the name of the export file.
In the Folder box, enter the export folder path, or browse to the folder.
In Location by, select one of the following:
- Model origin exports the model relative to 0,0,0.
- Work plane exports the model relative to the current work plane coordinate system.
- Base point <name of base point> exports the model relative to the base point using coordinate system values East coordinate, North coordinate, Elevation, Angle to North, Latitude and Longitude from the base point definition.
In the Selection list, select All objects, or Selected objects. If you want to export selected objects, select the objects with the appropriate selection switches:
- If you activate the Select parts and Select objects in components selection switches, all the selected parts will be exported.
- If you activate the assembly or component selection, nothing will be exported.
In Object color, select whether you want to export objects using object class colors or object group colors.
In Layer names as, select Name or Phase from the list, or type the template or user-defined attribute name in the box. You can use phases, part names, or template attributes or user-defined attributes as layer names for exported objects.
When you are done, click Export to export the objects according to the defined settings.

Tekla Structures creates the <name>.dwg file in the specified folder.

Export 3D DWG or DXF files (old export)

You can export the whole model or model parts as 3D DWG or 3D DXF files. By default, Tekla Structures creates a model.dwg file in the current model folder. You can export parts, items and bolts as 3D DWG or DXF.

Limitations

The old 3D DWG and DXF export has the following limitations:

Bolt holes are not exported.
Curved beams and polybeams are exported as single, continuous beams.
The number of segments in the curved beams is as defined for the particular curved beam.
Reinforcing bars are not exported.
Grids are not exported.

Tip:

You can define the color settings for parts and other model objects. This way you can affect the color that the objects have in the exported DWG/DXF files.

Open a Tekla Structures model.
On the File menu, click Export > 3D DWG/DXF.
In the Export 3D DWG/DXF dialog box, accept the default export file name, or enter another one.

To replace an already existing export file, click the ... button and browse for the file.
Select whether to export as DWG or DXF.
In Export as, select the representation for the exported objects:
- Faces exports parts as faces.
  
  Exporting 3D DWG or DXF files as Faces uses more memory and may take longer, but the end result is better.
- Lines exports parts as lines located in the center of the profile cross sections. This option suits well for exporting to analysis software.
- Center lines exports parts as part center lines.
- Reference lines exports parts as reference lines, drawn between the creation points. This option suits well for exporting to analysis software.
  
  If the model is large, or you have less memory to use, the Reference lines option is faster, and the resulting file size is smaller.
Select Part accuracy:
- The options are High and Normal. High also exports chamfers in profile cross-sections.
Select Bolt accuracy:
- High exports entire bolt assemblies, including washers.
- Normal only exports the bolt and nut.
- No bolts exports no bolts.
Select whether to include Cuts in the export.

Yes exports cuts.
Select whether to include Inner contours

Yes includes the inner contours.
In the Export list, select what to export:
- All objects exports the whole model.
- Selected objects exports the parts selected from the model.
To only select parts that you want to include in the export, activate the Select parts and Select objects in components selection switches. You can also create a selection filter that exports all the parts and objects that you want. Components cannot be imported as such, but you need to select the objects in components to export the included parts.
Click Create.

Tekla Structures creates the export file in the current model folder. The ID of each part is exported as an attribute and written into the export file for each part.