A Tekla Structures detailing workstation needs plenty of RAM above all, commonly 64 GB and increasingly 128 GB for large models, paired with a fast multi-core processor, a professional graphics card, and a quick SSD, ideally driving dual monitors. Standard office PCs simply cannot keep up with big 3D steel models, so right-specced workstations are the core tool of a detailing practice. Bought and managed as part of your IT, they keep every detailer productive. For most firms IT is delivered at about £45 to £100 per user per month. Here is what matters.
The workstation is where a detailer spends every minute of the day, so getting the spec right pays back constantly. Here is what a Tekla machine actually needs.
RAM is the big one
Tekla models are memory-hungry, so RAM is the spec that matters most. Many detailing firms now run 64 GB as a minimum and 128 GB on machines that handle the largest models, so a detailer can keep a big model open and responsive rather than watching it crawl. Skimping here is the most common cause of a sluggish, frustrating Tekla experience.
Processor and graphics
A strong multi-core processor helps with the heavy calculation Tekla does, and a professional graphics card gives smooth, reliable 3D performance and is properly supported by the software. Workstation-class components, rather than consumer parts, are designed for this sustained, demanding use.
Fast storage and dual screens
A fast SSD speeds up opening and saving large models and general responsiveness, with enough capacity for local working files. Two monitors are close to essential for detailing, giving room for the model, drawings and reference material at once, which is a simple, cheap productivity boost.
Why office PCs do not cut it
An ordinary office laptop or budget desktop will technically run Tekla but will struggle on real models, costing hours of waiting every week across the team. Those lost hours quickly outweigh the saving on cheaper hardware, which is why proper CAD workstations are an investment that pays for itself.
Plan the refresh cycle
CAD workstations should be refreshed on a planned cycle, typically every few years, before they fall behind newer Tekla versions and start slowing the team down. Managing this as a rolling programme, rather than replacing machines only when they fail, keeps detailers on capable kit and spreads the cost predictably.
What to ask a provider
A specialist for steel detailers should be able to answer:
- Have you supported Tekla detailing practices and CAD firms, including their licensing, before?
- How do you keep our Tekla licences, workstations and model server running to a fabrication deadline?
- How do you let us share drawings and models securely with fabricators and contractors?
- What is your response time when Tekla is down and the whole team is stopped?
- Is the price clear and per user, with security included rather than charged separately?
Where to start
If you are not sure where your practice stands, a short review is the quickest way to find out: check that your Tekla licences are hosted reliably and not on a single neglected server, that your workstations and file server are sized for your models, that drawings are shared securely with MFA, and that your backups are tested. Those few checks show where a CAD-aware managed setup would pay off.
The bottom line
For a steel detailing firm, good IT is the difference between hitting a fabrication deadline and missing it. Tekla opens first time for every detailer, the model server stays fast even on the heaviest jobs, drawings reach fabricators securely, and the work is backed up so nothing is ever lost. The technology stays out of the way and the team gets on with detailing.
That reliability comes from a setup built around how detailers actually work, high-RAM workstations, properly hosted licences and models, and tested backups, rather than generic office IT. For a small practice whose whole output depends on a few CAD seats and one file server, a predictable per-user cost for that dependability is far cheaper than a day with the whole team locked out of Tekla.
Why steel detailers choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including engineering and design firms, and we understand how a steel detailing practice works: Tekla Structures, AutoCAD, Autodesk and Graitec licensing, high-RAM CAD workstations, large-model file servers, secure SharePoint project sharing with fabricators, and Datto backup for irreplaceable models. We support firms across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we have been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Want your CAD licences, workstations and models looked after properly? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT.