DSTV NC Settings

The DSTV settings explained in this topic can be accessed from the Document generation Settings : CNC tab : DSTVs tab

Scope of these settings

This topic explains the settings of a single DSTV configuration.
However the settings for weld contours and match lines are general settings that apply to all CNC files, not just the Dstv files.

You can read more about these general settings in these 2 topics :

The Check CNC contours when numbering parts settings influence the numbering of parts, so that the CNC filenames become shorter and simpler.
The CNC contour and matchline settings allow you to enable lines or punch marks in the CNC files automatically at the locations where parts need to be welded. This will greatly reduce time spent and mistakes made in the workshop.

The DSTV Settings dialog allows you to change the following settings which are explained below :

General tab

Generate DSTV for plates - When activated, DSTV files will be generated for plates.

Generate DSTV for profiles - When activated, DSTV files will be generated for profiles.

Create 2 holes instead of each SlotHole - If activated then Parabuild will insert two holes in the DSTV file instead of a single slothole. This is useful if the machine doesn't have a tool for creating slotholes.

Sort L-profiles apart from the rest - If activated then the DSTV files of L-profiles will be stored into a separate folder. This is useful when the L-profiles need to be done with a different machine.

Annotate plates with the position number - The machine that supports this will engrave/write the position number on the plate.

Annotate profiles with the position number - The machine that supports this will engrave/write the position number on the profile.

Default view for this annotation - Here, you can choose on which side of the part the position number should be scribed.

Text height for position numbers - Set the text height for position numbers scribed on the part.

Position of tag as an offset from the start of the profile (mm) - This setting only applies to the tag of the part itself (not the tags of parts that are welded to it). The tag is positioned at the beginning of the part, plus this offset value. This value is always in millimeters, regardless of the drawing's units

Add DSTV weld points to assembly drawings - For each weld point in DSTV Parabuild will draw a cross in the assembly drawing.

Add DSTV weld points to DSTV file - The drill of the machine can be used to create a dot to facilitate the welder. You can find out more about this in the DSTV WeldPoints (weld markings) topic.

These older DSTV WeldPoints (weld markings) are still available for adding markings to the Dstv file with the drill's tip.
However we recommend to use the newer CNC contour and matchline settings instead, even if you only need markings with the drill tip. The new CNC contours allow this too, and they are to be set up once and then forget. The older weld points require you to choose the weld point manually per part in the properties.

Circular section treatment - Select a treatment option for Circular hollow sections or circular bars.

Skip all circular sections - No Dstv files will be generated for CHS profiles or round bars.
Process end-cuts only - The circular profiles will be treated like any other profile. Due to the circular form, no holes can be described in the dstv file if this option is enabled. And only simple planar end-cuts will be described in the dstv file.
Process with wrap-around method - A wrap-around of the circular profile will be written in the Dstv file. This method writes a detailed description of the holes and cuts of the section in the Dstv file. Use the Curve choice option to configure the wrap-around calculation method.

Curve choice - In case of the wrap-around method, choose how the curves of the wrap-around should be calculated.
Generating the wraparound of the 3D model will cause a loss of information.
We are after all exporting just 1 layer of the pipe, whereas the actual pipe in 3D consists of many layers that could be exported.

These are the available options for the curve choice :

Inner cylinder - The curves of the inner cylinder are used (cylinder B in the illustration)
Outer cylinder - The curves of the outer cylinder are used (cylinder A in the illustration)
Minimum material - Parabuild will choose the inner or outer automatically depending on which would cut the most amount of material away. Perpendicular cutting is assumed.
Maximum material - Parabuild will choose the inner or outer automatically depending on which would cut the least amount of material away. Perpendicular cutting is assumed.

What to unfold - You can optionally enable unfolding of profiles or strips just before generating the Dstv file here.
Only the parts that have unfolding enabled will be unfolded. There are several ways to enable unfolding on a part and this is explained in the topic
Enabling unfolding for Dxf/Dstv and shop drawings.
This option allows you to choose what should be unfolded : the section of the profile or the axis of the profile, or both.

Unfold curve choice - When unfolding, the bends are not only neutralized from the part, but also the part is flattened to a 2D plate.
As a consequence, there are multiple ways in which the flattening can be done.

First, Parabuild will retrieve the neutral axis and this can be configured in the Advanced properties of the part, in the section table of the profile, or with a k-factor table in the global settings. The k-factor will be retrieved from these 3 sources in this order. If the k-factor could not be retrieved from any of the sources for the part then the default k-factor of 0.5 will be used.

Then the unfold curve choice is also needed for the unfold.
The option on this dialog will be used, but if it is set to <Not set> then it will be retrieved from the section table or from the Advanced properties in that order.
The actual meaning of these 4 curve choices are explained in the section table topic.
For more general information about unfolding see the Unfolding topic.

Add the section information of folded part - When this is enabled, the section information of the part in folded state will be added to the Dstv file.
It is not necessarily needed for producing the unfolded part, so it can be disabled in case a machine fails on this information.
This information is written in the PR block in Dstv and could look like this :

PR
+ 88.00 34.00 0.00
+ 88.00 8.00 -8.00
+ 80.00 0.00 0.00
+ 8.00 0.00 -8.00
+ 0.00 8.00 0.00
+ 0.00 34.00 0.00
+ 4.00 34.00 0.00
+ 4.00 8.00 4.00
+ 8.00 4.00 0.00
+ 80.00 4.00 4.00
+ 84.00 8.00 0.00
+ 84.00 34.00 0.00
+ 88.00 34.00 0.00

Mark the Center of Gravity of the assembly - This option enables the Center of Gravity (COG) marking of the assembly's weight. This marking tool only works on the main part of the assembly.

Select the Center of Gravity mark to show for each member side - This option has 2 dropdowns that work in tandem.

First choose a profile side from the first dropdown, after which the Center of Gravity (COG) type for that side is shown in the second dropdown. So we can choose a different COG type for each profile side.

The following COG types are available :

No Center of Gravity marking - This disables the COG marking for this side, for all profiles, even if the filter explained below passes.
Add a punch mark on COG - The COG will be indicated with a mark using the tip of the drill.
Add a scratch '<' mark (KO block in Dstv) - The COG will be indicated with a small contour in the shape of '<'. The KO type contour is used in this case, which means scratching.
Add a powder '<' mark (PU block in Dstv) - The COG will be indicated with a small contour in the shape of '<'. The PU type contour is used in this case, which means powdering.

The COG location in Dstv files is projected perpendicularly on the member, and centered in the web/flange. The COG will thus only be informed over the length of the profile.

Filter for COG - When no filter is entered here, then the above COG markings will be applied to all profiles.
When a filter is chosen here then the above markings per side will all be applied if the profile passes the filter.

Skip the mark when it is outside the local bounding box farther than - This option allows us to skip the COG marking when it falls too much 'outside' of the member. As the COG mark is drawn in the middle of the member, it may still be drawn when the location is outside of the member. This offset allows us to choose the maximum local offset of the mark. This value is in drawing units.

Contours and Match lines

General contour settings - Many of the contour and match line settings are stored generally, because they apply to both Dxf and Dstv files. Also the numbering can optionally be influenced by the contours and match lines. See the CNC contour and match line settings topic for more information.
Also related to the contours and match lines are the Check CNC contours when numbering parts settings.

Besides these general contour settings the older DSTV WeldPoints (weld markings) can also be used.
You can activate these old DSTV weldpoints on the general tab of this dialog.
This older method requires one to set the marking method manually for each welded part in the properties. Our advice is to not use the older weld points but to set up the newer CNC contours the way you need it, even if you only need markings with the tip of the drill. The new system allows it just to same and then it will be set and forget for you.

Allow to add welded part contours - This setting works as an override of the general contour settings. By disabling the contours here, the general contour settings are ignored. Here you may choose between either, Punch / Powder / or Both. If you choose 'Both' then all the contours are added double to the DSTV file.

Add weld contours to sub parts as well - When you enable this, then weld contours will also be added to sub parts that are touching other sub parts. This will occur in assemblies where 2 sub parts are touching each other.
If this option is disabled, then only the subparts that are touching the main part will get a contour on the main part.

Allow to add position numbers to contours - This setting works as an override of the general contour settings. By disabling the position numbers here, the position numbers are not added, regardless of what the general contour setting is set to. When you enable this, then weld contours that are placed on a main part will get a position number text close to them.

Add position numbers to weld contours on sub parts - When you enable this, then weld contours that are placed on sub parts will also get a position number text. This will occur in assemblies where 2 sub parts are touching each other.

Text Height and Minimum text height : Here you may select the text height and minimum text height. If the part number text is located (especially) inside the contour, then a reduced height may be used. With this option, you can choose the minimum text height that the function is allowed to use for this purpose.

The Preferred location of the annotation - The default behavior is to place the annotation outside of the contour. If you choose to place it inside the contour, but the text is too large, then Parabuild will automatically place it outside anyway.

Selecting 'No Preference' will allow Parabuild to select the most suitable position.

Draw polylines of contours that were stored in Dstv files - When you enable this then Parabuild will draw in the 3D model the contour lines and text that it has put inside the Dstv files. These lines and text objects are put on the PrB_Contours layer.
All of the contours and texts are drawn exactly on top of the faces of the 3D parts where the Dstv files have received that same contour or text.
This is a practical way for you to check whether your contour settings are adding the contours that you need.
These text fields have no other purpose than this checking and they will not be used the next time that CNC files are generated.
If you generate CNC several times with this option enabled then it will draw these contours on top of each other.
This may be annoying but it does no harm either.
To clearly see these contour lines you should switch the visual style to 2D wireframe, 3D wireframe or X-Ray.
Not all of the parts in your 3D model will get these contours. Only the reference parts that Parabuild has chosen for CNC generation will get the contours and text fields.

Draw offset polylines of contours that were stored in Dstv files - Same as above, but a larger offset around the contour will be drawn

Edge offset - Parabuild will trim the contour so that it does not come any closer to any edges than this offset value.

Leg length for contour corners : The length of each leg of the contour corners

Cuts / Notches

These options allow you to automatically :

Add chamfers to cuts/notches
Add fillet arcs to cuts/notches
Add corner arcs to cuts/notches
Swap fillet arcs for corner arcs
Swap corners for drill holes
Swap arcs for drill holes

This will allow you to match the Dstv files generated by Parabuild with the machine's capability.

These options will also require less modeling in 3D, as arcs can simply be skipped because they can be added by the Dstv export automatically.

The following options drive these capabilities :

Treatment for notches (inside corners of cuts) - When enabled, Parabuild will automatically add holes and/or arcs to notches. Notches will be detected automatically in the cuts of the 3D models. Arcs/holes are added to the DSTV file only, the actual 3D model is not modified. Therefore there is no update of the part numbers when arcs or holes are automatically added by these settings. By using this option the user could choose to omit 3D modeling these arcs/holes, saving valuable time.

Radius for automatically added arcs or holes - The radius for any arcs or holes that are added automatically. Warning! This value will always be in millimeters, even when you are working with imperial units.

Cut type - There are three distinct types of cuts that have notch settings. For each of these three types there are settings to modify below after selecting the cut type.
Make sure to review the settings for each of these cut types :

Corner cuts - Cuts that cut away a corner at the end of the profile (AK block in DSTV)

Example of a corner cut

Outer cuts (all but corners) - Cuts at an edge of the member's material, except corner cuts (AK block in DSTV)

Example of an outer cut

Inner cuts - Cuts that do not reach the edge of the material, forming a hole in the material (IK block in DSTV)

Example of an inner cut

Notch corner type - The type of arc that should be inserted at notch locations that do not have an arc yet:

None - No arc is added and no hole is drilled at the corner
Fillet arc - A basic fillet is added to the corner (arc with angle < 180°)
Corner arc - An arc with its center at the corner of the cut (arc with angle > 180°)
Corner hole only - No arc is added, only a drill hole is created centered at the corner of the cut

Consider the following Dstv end-results that are generated automatically from the same 3D model:

This is the example 3D model that incorporates the 3 different cut types. This is the original unmodified model thus generated with the notch corner type None

The example 3D model generated with the notch corner type Fillet arc enabled

The example 3D model generated with the notch corner type Corner arc enabled

The example 3D model generated with the notch corner type Corner hole only enabled.
In some Dstv viewers we can't see the difference between the arc and the hole because the end-result is the same.
The second image shows a view with a different representation for holes compared to arcs.

Notch drill hole type - This option will cause drill holes to be placed on top of fillets and/or corner arcs. This is done both for 3D modeled arcs and for those automatically added using the "Notch corner type" setting.
This option can be used in the following scenarios:

The machine can't cutout the current cut type. By adding holes to the cut corners, the machine will drill a hole for each inside corner. This in turn reduces the amount of manual labor still needed to cut out the remainder material manually.
The machine can do the cut-out, but it takes too much time. Only drilling the holes for each inside corner of the cuts will reduce the time needed per cut.
When a cut is removed, this can result in excess material falling off the part when the last part of the cut is done. Care should be taken that this material does not fall on the moving drill/mill. Depending on the machine's programming for this situation, the machine operator may want to deal with this problem himself/herself. A way to avoid this issue entirely is to not cut out the material but to use this option to only add holes in the cut's corners.

Do note that this option will add holes on top of the corners of the cut, but the cut themselves will still be added to the Dstv file.
The machine operator will still have to instruct the machine to not process the cut if you want to use this option in the above scenarios 2 and 3.
In scenario 1, we are assuming that the machine will automatically warn that the cut can't be processed by the machine.

The following drill hole options are available :

Never - Drill holes are not automatically added
For fillet arcs - A drill hole is added only on top of fillet arcs
For corner arcs - A drill hole is added only on top of corner arcs
Fillet and corner arcs - A drill hole is added on top of both fillet and corner arcs

Consider this example 3D model :

This is the model as it is drawn in Parabuild

This is the end-result after generating the Dstv with the option Drill hole type For fillet arcs enabled.
Extra holes are added on top of the existing arcs.

Add DSTV information line with the theoretical corner of the notch (ON is according to DSTV spec) -
For inside corners, this activates the additional information line with the point at the theoretical intersection of the notch edges.
The DSTV specification contains this line, but it is not suitable for all machines.

Merged information line for sharp notch corners - Only for sharp corners of notches; instead of a separate notch information line the 't' or 'w' tag gets merged into the regular line of the corner point

An example of a sharp corner model's Dstv file with the merged line option enabled

The same example of a sharp corner model's Dstv file with the merged line option disabled

Compatibility settings

The DSTV settings explained in this topic can be accessed from the Document generation Settings : CNC tab : DSTVs tab

Scope of these settings

This topic explains the settings of a single DSTV configuration.
However the settings for weld contours and match lines are general settings that apply to all CNC files, not just the Dstv files.

You can read more about these general settings in these 2 topics :

The Check CNC contours when numbering parts settings influence the numbering of parts, so that the CNC filenames become shorter and simpler.
The CNC contour and matchline settings allow you to enable lines or punch marks in the CNC files automatically at the locations where parts need to be welded. This will greatly reduce time spent and mistakes made in the workshop.

The DSTV Settings dialog allows you to change the following settings which are explained below :

General tab

Generate DSTV for plates - When activated, DSTV files will be generated for plates.

Generate DSTV for profiles - When activated, DSTV files will be generated for profiles.

Annotate plates with the position number - The machine that supports this will engrave/write the position number on the plate.

Annotate profiles with the position number - The machine that supports this will engrave/write the position number on the profile.

Default view for this annotation - Here, you can choose on which side of the part the position number should be scribed.

Text height for position numbers - Set the text height for position numbers scribed on the part.

Add DSTV weld points to assembly drawings - For each weld point in DSTV Parabuild well draw a cross in the assembly drawing.

Add DSTV weld points to DSTV file - The drill of the machine can be used to create a dot to facilitate the welder. You can find out more about this in the DSTV weld points topic.

Circular section treatment - Select a treatment option for Circular hollow sections or circular bars.

Skip all circular sections - No Dstv files will be generated for CHS profiles or round bars.
Process end-cuts only - The circular profiles will be treated like any other profile. Due to the circular form, no holes can be described in the dstv file if this option is enabled. And only simple planar end-cuts will be described in the dstv file.
Process with wrap-around method - A wrap-around of the circular profile will be written in the Dstv file. This method writes a detailed description of the holes and cuts of the section in the Dstv file. Use the Curve choice option to configure the wrap-around calculation method.

These are the available options for the curve choice :

Inner cylinder - The curves of the inner cylinder are used (cylinder B in the illustration)
Outer cylinder - The curves of the outer cylinder are used (cylinder A in the illustration)
Minimum material - Parabuild will choose the inner or outer automatically depending on which would cut the most amount of material away. Perpendicular cutting is assumed.
Maximum material - Parabuild will choose the inner or outer automatically depending on which would cut the least amount of material away. Perpendicular cutting is assumed.

Contours and Match lines

The older DSTV WeldPoints (weld markings) are still available for adding markings to the Dstv file with the drill's tip. They can be activated on the general tab.
However we recommend to use the newer CNC contour settings instead, even if you only need markings with the drill tip. The new CNC contours allow this too, and they are to be set up once and then forget. The older weld points require you to choose the weld point manually per part in the properties.

Selecting 'No Preference' will allow Parabuild to select the most suitable position.

Draw offset polylines of contours that were stored in Dstv files - Same as above, but a larger offset around the contour will be drawn

Edge offset - Parabuild will trim the contour so that it does not come any closer to any edges than this offset value.

Leg length for contour corners : The length of each leg of the contour corners

Cuts / Notches

These options allow you to automatically :

Add chamfers to cuts/notches
Add fillet arcs to cuts/notches
Add corner arcs to cuts/notches
Swap fillet arcs for corner arcs
Swap corners for drill holes
Swap arcs for drill holes

This will allow you to match the Dstv files generated by Parabuild with the machine's capability.

These options will also require less modeling in 3D, as arcs can simply be skipped because they can be added by the Dstv export automatically.

The following options drive these capabilities :

Corner cuts - Cuts that cut away a corner at the end of the profile (AK block in DSTV)

Example of a corner cut

Outer cuts (all but corners) - Cuts at an edge of the member's material, except corner cuts (AK block in DSTV)

Example of an outer cut

Inner cuts - Cuts that do not reach the edge of the material, forming a hole in the material (IK block in DSTV)

Example of an inner cut

Notch corner type - The type of arc that should be inserted at notch locations that do not have an arc yet:

None - No arc is added and no hole is drilled at the corner
Fillet arc - A basic fillet is added to the corner (arc with angle < 180°)
Corner arc - An arc with its center at the corner of the cut (arc with angle > 180°)
Corner hole only - No arc is added, only a drill hole is created centered at the corner of the cut

Consider the following Dstv end-results that are generated automatically from the same 3D model:

This is the example 3D model that incorporates the 3 different cut types. This is the original unmodified model thus generated with the notch corner type None

The example 3D model generated with the notch corner type Fillet arc enabled

The example 3D model generated with the notch corner type Corner arc enabled

The machine can't cutout the current cut type. By adding holes to the cut corners, the machine will drill a hole for each inside corner. This in turn reduces the amount of manual labor still needed to cut out the remainder material manually.
The machine can do the cut-out, but it takes too much time. Only drilling the holes for each inside corner of the cuts will reduce the time needed per cut.
When a cut is removed, this can result in excess material falling off the part when the last part of the cut is done. Care should be taken that this material does not fall on the moving drill/mill. Depending on the machine's programming for this situation, the machine operator may want to deal with this problem himself/herself. A way to avoid this issue entirely is to not cut out the material but to use this option to only add holes in the cut's corners.

Never - Drill holes are not automatically added
For fillet arcs - A drill hole is added only on top of fillet arcs
For corner arcs - A drill hole is added only on top of corner arcs
Fillet and corner arcs - A drill hole is added on top of both fillet and corner arcs

Consider this example 3D model :

This is the model as it is drawn in Parabuild

An example of a sharp corner model's Dstv file with the merged line option enabled

The same example of a sharp corner model's Dstv file with the merged line option disabled

Compatibility settings

Some software programs do not follow the DSTV standard, or are based on an old version of the DSTV standard.

The DSTV standard itself has short and sometimes ambiguous descriptions which leaves many important agreements open to interpretation.

That is why some compatibility settings are necessary in order to support as many machines as possible. Only change these settings if you are experiencing problems with reading the DSTV files in your CNC software program.

File name extension - Some programs expect a nc1 file extension, so you can change the extension here.

Planar cuts correction tolerance - This settings filters out small planar cuts using a tolerance. Thanks to this option, the machine will not block on double saw cuts on one end of the profile if one of the cuts is negligible.

Add filename as remark - Some programs expect this, and it does no harm either.

Skip coordinates with value 0 - Some machines do not expect any values with value 0 in the DSTV file.

Skip AK contour blocks for simple cuts - Some machines always need the AK block, others don't support the AK block at all.

Skip AK contour blocks when the part has no cuts - See above

Skip AK contour blocks for rectangular plates - See above

Add length to the name of plates - Normally the plates receive a name such as PL150x10. But some machines also expect the length in this name, so it will become PL150x10*200.

Thickness first in plate name - Some machines will require this

Allow profile to be rotated in the DSTV file so that the perpendicular side is set at the origin - When 1 end of the part is perpendicular and the other is not, then the perpendicular end will always be on the origin point inside the Dstv.

Orientation of the part in DSTV is determined by the position shop drawing settings - When enabled the orientation of the part in the Dstv file will always be the same as the orientation of the part as it is configured in the views of the shop drawing.

Threaded holes - Threaded holes can be replaced with a smaller hole for machines that do not have a tool for the thread

Compatibility for machine - These are a collection of changes to the standard that some old machines need

Tag orientation for top view (v) - This option needs to be changed when you are having orientation problems of the texts with a Chinese software program

Tag orientation for back view (o) - This option needs to be changed when you are having orientation problems of the texts with a Chinese software program

Reverse loop direction on back plates - This option should be activated for Voortman machines

Make weld contours clockwise - This option needs to be changed when you are having read problems with a Chinese software program

Reverse the radius sign on back plates for outer contours - This option needs to be changed when you are having read problems with a Chinese software program

Reverse the radius sign on back plates for inner contours - This option needs to be changed when you are having read problems with a Chinese software program