Tekla Alternative · FrameAI vs Tekla Structures
You Don’t Need a €10,000 Tekla Licence to Do Good Structural Work.
FrameAI takes a PDF of your steel drawings, extracts every beam and column with GPT-4o vision, runs EN 1993 Eurocode checks, and outputs fabrication-ready drawings with DSTV NC1 codes — all for a fraction of Tekla’s price. No CAD operator required.
PDF → BIM
EN 1993 checks
DSTV NC1 export
DXF shop drawings
Pro from €10/mo
Side by Side
FrameAI vs Tekla Structures
| FrameAI | Tekla Structures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From €10/moPro plan — no perpetual licence | €5,000–15,000+/seatPerpetual + annual maintenance ~18% |
| PDF drawing import | GPT-4o vision extractionNo manual modelling from scratch | Requires re-modellingNo PDF-to-model path |
| Learning curve | ½ day to first outputUpload PDF, get drawings | 3–6 months to proficiencyStructural engineering degree helps |
| DSTV NC1 export | Built-in, per part markASCII NC1 files for CNC | AvailableRequires correct configuration |
| Eurocode checks | §6.1 cross-section & §6.3 bucklingEN 1993-1-1 §5/§6 full suite | AvailableRequires extensive configuration |
| Team size needed | 1 personSolo engineer or small practice | 2–5 typicallyModel, detail, check, publish |
| Cloud-based | Yes — browser onlyNothing to install, works anywhere | Desktop softwareLicence per seat, VPN for remote |
| DXF / IFC export | DXF R12 + IFC 4Shop drawings + BIM model | Full export suiteIndustry standard |
See it in action
Live Demo — Industrial Portal Frame
Portal Frame — 4×HEA300 Columns + 2×IPE400 Rafters + 6 Connections
Waiting to run…
Uploading PDF — extracting steel sections…
Running EN 1993-1-1 cross-section + buckling checks…
Generating fabrication drawings — DSTV NC1 files…
— members extracted
— connections
— NC1 parts
— ms execution
| Part Mark | Profile | Type | Material | Util. §6.1 | Util. §6.3 |
|---|
No file needed — pre-seeded with portal frame PDF sample
Learn More
Go Deeper
Docs
Upload a Steel Drawing
What makes a drawing good for FrameAI — and what we extract from it.
Example
Industrial Portal Frame
Full worked project: HEA columns, IPE rafters, base plates, DSTV export.
Docs
Run Eurocode Calculations
Full list of every EN 1993 and EN 1992 check FrameAI supports.
Pricing
FrameAI Plans
Pro from €10/mo, Studio from €400/yr. No credit card required.
FAQ
Common Questions
Can FrameAI replace a full Tekla model?
▾
For fabrication workflows — yes. FrameAI extracts steel from PDFs, runs Eurocode checks, and outputs DSTV NC1 files for CNC machines. If you need to coordinate multi-trade BIM or run detailedconnection design with custom plates and stiffeners, Tekla is still the tool for that. FrameAI is the faster path for simpler structures where the drawings already exist.
Does FrameAI handle complex connections like Tekla does?
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FrameAI extracts bolted connections visible on the drawing and assigns EN 1090-2 Execution Classes. For standard end-plate, base plate, and shear connections, it generates EN 1993-1-8 calculations. For highly complex custom connections — fin plates, haunches, custom gussets — you’d still use Tekla or a dedicated connection design tool.
What national annexes does FrameAI support?
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EN 1993-1-1 national annexes are available for NL, DE, FR, IT, PT, GR, RO, SI, HR, and the EN default. EN 1992-1-1 (concrete) covers NL, DE, FR, IT. Seismic spectra include IT, GR, PT, DE, FR, RO, SI, HR, NL national annexes.
Do I need a structural engineering background to use it?
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Basic familiarity with steel design helps, but the interface is designed for detailers and engineers who want to go from PDF to fabrication drawings without a Tekla licence. Eurocode references are shown inline so you can verify the checks.
Does FrameAI export to SDS/300 or other CNC formats?
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FrameAI exports DSTV NC1 (7th edition ASCII) which is the standard format used by most European steel fabricators and CNC machines. DXF R12 is also available for CAD import. Tekla native formats are not directly supported — you’d need to go through IFC for model exchange.