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Solution · PLS-Pole to manufacturing

Transmission Pole
Design Automation

PLS-Pole says the pole passes. Now someone has to turn that analysis into 3D models, fabrication drawings, a BOM, and part numbers — by hand, for every configuration. We build automation that does it in minutes, on your CAD platform, to your standards.

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PLS-Pole to CAD 3D Models + 2D Drawings + BOMs Inventor · AutoCAD · SolidWorks & More 19 Years in Design Automation
Automated transmission pole design in Autodesk Inventor showing 3D model, 2D fabrication drawing with dimensions, and BOM table
One automated run in Inventor: the 3D pole assembly, its fully dimensioned 2D fabrication drawing, and the BOM table — all generated from the same PLS-Pole data, all in agreement by construction

The problem

PLS-Pole Finishes in Hours. The Documentation Takes Days.

The structural verdict comes fast. What follows doesn't: modelling the pole in CAD, detailing every fabrication drawing, building the BOM, assigning part numbers — all by hand, all repeated for every pole in every project.

Days of drafting per pole

Each pole design means days of manual modelling and drawing work. Multiply by hundreds of configurations across your projects and the drafting bill runs to thousands of engineering hours a year.

Errors that travel

A wrong part number or a stale dimension doesn't stay in the drawing. It reaches the shop floor as mis-cut steel, rework, and a delivery date you no longer control.

A bottleneck you can't hire out of

When volume rises, drafting becomes the constraint — and drafters can't be hired and trained as fast as orders arrive. Deadlines slip, and future contracts slip with them.

Our solution

Everything Between PLS-Pole and Manufacturing, Automated

We build the automation on the platform you already run — Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks — around your pole designs, your drawing templates, your part numbering, and the fabrication systems your data has to reach.

POLE PARAMETERS IN → COMPLETE 3D MODEL OUT

3D Models Without the Modelling

Enter the pole parameters once. The system builds the shaft, base plates, end plates, vangs, arms, hardware — the complete structural assembly. Move one parameter and the whole model rebuilds.

3D MODEL IN → FABRICATION DRAWINGS OUT

Fabrication Drawings Straight From the Model

Views, dimensions, annotations, weld symbols, and notes land on your own company templates automatically. Output arrives as IDW, DWG, SLDDRW, and PDF — fabrication-ready.

MODEL DATA IN → BOM · PART NUMBERS OUT

BOMs and Part Numbers Without Data Entry

Bills of materials, part numbers, and assembly numbers come straight from the model — nobody types them. Hardware pallet lists and ship loose items included, exported to Excel or your ERP.

DESIGN DATA IN → SHOP FLOOR OUT

A Straight Line to Fabrication

Design data flows into Tekla PowerFab, ERP, and cutting and welding systems without re-entry. When a parameter changes, every downstream output regenerates on its own.

Inside the tool

This Is the Tool, Not a Mockup

Production screenshots from a deployed transmission pole automation system: a custom ribbon, engineering dialogs an engineer fills in once, and one-click generation — all running natively inside Autodesk Inventor.

Custom Grid Structures ribbon toolbar in Autodesk Inventor with commands for pole properties, caps and plates, grounding, vangs, arms, drawing generation, and Tekla PowerFab export
The custom "Grid Structures" ribbon inside Inventor — pole properties, caps & plates, grounding, vangs, arms, drawing generation, and Tekla PowerFab export, each reduced to a single command
Pole Properties dialog in Autodesk Inventor showing shaft sections, taper, flange, and material parameters for a 69kV deadend H-frame tower
The Pole Properties dialog on a 69kV deadend H-frame — shaft section count, number of sides, taper, flange, and material entries are the inputs that drive the entire parametric model
Thru Vangs configuration dialog in Autodesk Inventor with vang type, angle, elevation, and hole geometry parameters and a live parameter table
Thru Vang configuration — vang type, angle, elevation, and hole geometry typed into the dialog once; the live parameter table shows what will be modelled and placed automatically
Complete 3D model of a 69kV deadend H-frame transmission tower generated automatically in Autodesk Inventor
The result: a complete 69kV deadend H-frame tower assembly, built end to end by the add-in — the drawings and BOM generate from this model next

The workflow

From PLS-Pole to Manufacturing Drawings in Minutes

STEP 1

PLS-Pole analysis

Run structural analysis in PLS-Pole exactly as you do today. Nothing changes upstream.

STEP 2

Input parameters

Carry the pole parameters into the tool — dimensions, materials, hardware selections.

STEP 3

Automated generation

The 3D model, 2D drawings, BOM, and part numbers generate in minutes, not days.

STEP 4

Review and release

Your engineers check the outputs, adjust where needed, and release to manufacturing.

STEP 5

Fabrication data

Tekla PowerFab, cutting schedules, and welding instructions receive the data directly.

Want the full breakdown of the manual workflow, its cost per pole, and how automation replaces each step? Read the guide: How to Automate Transmission Pole Drawings: PLS-Pole to CAD.

Typical results

The Numbers Transmission Pole Manufacturers See

80–90%Faster design — days per pole become hours or minutes
Near ZeroDrawing errors — rule-based validation stops mismatches at the source
99.9%BOM accuracy — manual data entry is out of the loop
60%Capacity freed — engineers back on engineering, not drafting

Run the Numbers for Your Pole Volume →

Proven results

Deployed with US Transmission Pole Manufacturers

"The automation reduced our design cycle from weeks to days. Drawing errors dropped to near zero. Our engineers now focus on engineering, not repetitive drafting." Engineering Manager · US-based Tubular Steel Pole Manufacturer
  • Design-to-fabrication cycle reduced from 2 weeks to 2-3 days
  • Zero fabrication errors from drawing inconsistencies
  • 60% of engineering time freed from repetitive documentation
  • Direct data flow to Tekla PowerFab eliminated manual re-entry

See the Full Case Study →

Custom built

No Two Pole Shops Work Alike. Neither Do Our Builds.

The automation is shaped around how you already design and fabricate — not the other way around. Every one of these is configured to your shop:

Pole types

Tubular steel, tapered, stepped, multi-sided

Connection details

Base plates, end plates, vangs, splices

Drawing templates

Your title block, annotation standards, view layouts

Part numbering

Your existing numbering system and conventions

Hardware libraries

Your bolt, nut, washer, and hardware catalog

Material standards

ASTM A572, A588, weathering steel, your specs

Output formats and integration

IDW, IPT, DWG, SLDDRW, SLDPRT, PDF, Excel, ERP

How we work

From Audit to Production in 8-16 Weeks

1
Workflow auditWe map your PLS-Pole to fabrication workflow end to end. Free, no commitment.
2
Solution designArchitecture, parameter flow, and output integrations are agreed before code is written.
3
DevelopmentThe add-in is built on your CAD platform, with your team reviewing it as it grows.
4
TestingValidated against your real pole designs — not sample data.
5
DeploymentHandover with source code, documentation, and training. It's yours.

Why FDES

Why FDES Technologies

  • 19 years building design automation and CAD customization
  • Fluent across platforms — Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and more
  • Autodesk Developer Network member with deep API expertise
  • In production today with US-based transmission pole manufacturers
  • Custom engineering, not a generic product that almost fits
  • One team, end to end — from workflow audit to production-grade automation

FAQ

Asked on Nearly Every First Call

Does this work with PLS-Pole output?
Yes — that gap is exactly what the system exists to close. It takes your PLS-Pole structural analysis output and drives model, drawing, and BOM generation in Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or another CAD platform.
What CAD platforms do you support?
Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and other platforms. Our most mature transmission pole deployments run on Inventor, but the automation is built for whichever CAD platform your team already uses.
How long does implementation take?
Typically 8-16 weeks, depending on how complex your pole designs are and how many pole types need covering. We build iteratively, so you see working automation early rather than waiting for a final delivery.
Will this work with our specific pole designs?
Yes. Nothing here is off the shelf — each deployment is built around your pole types, connection details, drawing standards, and part numbering conventions.
Do we own the source code?
Yes. This is custom engineering, not a licensed product. You own the system outright, operate it independently, and pay no per-user licensing and no annual subscription.
What about our existing drawings and standards?
We build with your drawing templates, title blocks, annotation standards, and numbering conventions — generated outputs are indistinguishable from drawings your team produced by hand.
What does it cost?
It depends on scope: how many pole types, how complex the designs, and what integrations are required. The free workflow audit comes first and produces a detailed proposal with real numbers.
Can we try it before committing?
Yes. The free workflow audit analyzes your current PLS-Pole to fabrication process, identifies what's automatable, and gives you a detailed assessment — no cost, no commitment.

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Free assessment · no commitment

The Analysis Is Already Done. Stop Redrawing It.

Bring us your PLS-Pole to fabrication workflow. We'll map what automates cleanly, flag where the risk sits, and show you what a production-grade system would look like for your pole designs — free, with no commitment.

  • Your current workflow, mapped end to end
  • Automation opportunities, ranked
  • Risk and feasibility, assessed honestly
  • Projected results, in your numbers