Upload a Steel Drawing
How to prepare and upload a structural steel PDF to FrameAI. File formats, size limits, orientation handling, and what happens during processing.
File requirements
FrameAI accepts PDF files from any drawing software: AutoCAD, Tekla, Revit, SolidWorks, or hand-drawn scans. The extraction quality depends on the source format.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | PDF only. PNG/JPG not supported for pipeline — use the /demo page for image-based demos. |
| Size | Maximum 20 MB per file. |
| Best results | Vector PDF with text layers. Raster (scanned) PDFs also accepted — GPT-4o reads both. |
| Page count | No limit. Multi-page PDFs extract all members across every page. |
| Orientation | Any. FrameAI detects and handles rotated pages automatically. |
| Drawing scale | Any. Dimensions are read from annotations, not inferred from page size. |
Vector vs. raster. Vector PDFs (from AutoCAD, Tekla, etc.) preserve text labels that FrameAI reads directly. Scanned drawings rely on GPT-4o vision — quality is high, but extraction confidence may be lower for dense drawings. Use the manual override panel to correct any fields after upload.
Supported frame types (v1.1)
FrameAI auto-detects the structural frame type during the extraction pipeline and routes it to the correct IFC builder. The following frame types are supported:
| Frame Type | Detection signals | IFC output |
|---|---|---|
| Portal frame | Keywords: eaves, ridge, haunch, rafter. Section mix: IPE/UB rafters + HEA/HEB columns. Single or twin span. | 2 columns + 2 rafters per bay. Pitched geometry at eaves height. |
| Multi-bay portal | Keywords: multi-bay, bay width, bay spacing, interior column. 3+ column lines detected in grid. 4+ column sections. | N+1 columns at bay spacing, N×2 rafters. Shared column at each bay boundary. |
| Simple roof truss | Keywords: Warren, Pratt, Fink, truss, top chord, bottom chord, diagonal. CHS/SHS/RHS sections. Role annotations TC/BC/D/V. | Top chord panels, bottom chord panels, diagonals, verticals (Pratt/Fink). Pin-ended members. |
| Braced bay | Keywords: X-brace, K-brace, cross-brace, diagonal brace. CHS/SHS/RHS brace sections. Role annotations BR. | 2 boundary columns, 1 horizontal beam, 2 cross braces (+ mid-span vertical for K-brace). |
Frame type badge. After upload, the result panel shows a detection badge: "Multi-bay portal — 4 bays detected", "Warren truss — 7 panels", etc. Low-confidence detections are flagged for review. Use the sample buttons on /intake to see each type before uploading a live drawing.
Supported drawing types
FrameAI reads the following structural drawing types:
- Workshop / fabrication drawings — member schedule, part marks, profiles, grades, dimensions
- Erection schemes — overall layout, member positions, boundary conditions
- Engineer's GA drawings — general arrangement with member sizes, grid, and levels
- Connection details — bolted end-plates, base plates, welds, bolt schedules
- Connection schedules — tabulated connection data with force demands
The upload process
- Navigate to the pipeline at
/appand sign in. - Drag your PDF onto the drop zone — or click the zone to browse and select a file.
- FrameAI immediately creates a job card and sets status to Queued.
- The job card shows progress: Extracting, Checking, Done.
- Click the job card when done to open the results.
Processing status stages
| Status | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Queued | Job is waiting in the processing queue. |
| Extracting | GPT-4o is reading the PDF — detecting members, profiles, grades, and connections. |
| Checking | Eurocode calculations are running against the extracted data. |
| Done | All checks complete. Results ready to view and export. |
| Error | Processing failed — check the error message and retry with a clearer PDF. |
Orientation and page handling
FrameAI handles drawing orientation automatically. Rotated pages, landscape, and portrait orientations are all read correctly. If a page is entirely blank or unreadable, FrameAI skips it and extracts from the remaining pages.
If the extraction misses a member, use the manual override panel in the results view to correct any field — the Eurocode engine re-checks immediately with your override.
Batch uploads
For large projects, use the batch upload at /app to submit multiple PDFs in a single operation. FrameAI processes each file sequentially and returns a combined result when all files are complete.