6/30/23, 11:17 AM Differences in NC file between mirrored and original steel parts | Tekla User Assistance

Home Tekla Structures Differences in NC file between mirrored and original steel parts

Differences in NC file
between mirrored and
original steel parts
Tekla Structures - Not version-specific DSTV CNC mirroring copying

Environment
Not environment-specific

Question:
I have a plate with weld-prepared edges. When I mirror it, the mirrored image does not
give the same NC file, even though it is exactly the same part. Why does this happen,
and what can I do to get complete NC information?

Answer:
In Tekla Structures, when you copy/mirror a part, the geometric shape is mirrored, but
the orientation of the faces does not change. For example, if in the original part, the
front part is pointing west (see the picture below - 'v' face) when the part is mirrored,
the front face will remain unchanged and it faces the same direction, even though the
shape of the part has been mirrored.
Since the AK block information of NC files is based on front/back/top/bottom faces, in
mirrored parts a certain face (for example, 'v' face) refers to different geometries, as
shown below. In the example below, the 'v' face of the mirrored part contains weld
preparation information, whereas this is not the case in the original part.
The solution would be to order the NC file to display both the front and back face, so
that no information is lost. There is an advanced option which enables you to do this:
XS_DSTV_WRITE_BEHIND_FACE_FOR_PLATE. Set the option to TRUE.

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