Truss Calculators

Started by Medeek, March 12, 2013, 06:33:08 AM

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Medeek

Version 2.1.9 - 05.27.2018
- Replaced the 64 bit SketchUp check in the installation module to fix an incompatibility issue with SketchUp 2014.
- Added additional wall cladding materials in the sheathing tab of the global settings.
- Fixed a bug in the top level assembly method of the roof truss module.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.0 - 06.19.2018
- Sub-groups within roof and floor truss assemblies can be made persistent by naming these groups or component instances to (custom1, custom2, custom3, etc...), also all other user defined geometry (ie. faces, text, lines and dimensions) are also retained when the assemblies are regenerated by the plugin.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

I don't have a half hip (rafter roof) setup yet however there is probably a workaround by combining a gable with a hip and then using the trim tool to manually trim some of the rafters, however I haven't really tried this at least not for a real design.

I took about 10-15 minutes and tried creating a half hip with a gable and hip roof as primitives.  Using the trim tool made it fairly easy to clean up the rafters, see results here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/53ecdc04-98bc-4d73-a9b2-e27e3a24d409/Half-Hip-Test-Roof

Since the end result is not parametric you will want to be sure that you have all of your rafter depths, overhangs etc... set before you dive into the manual editing of such a roof.

This is obviously a painful and slow process.  Conclusion, I need to add in a half hip rafter roof.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.0b - 09.25.2018
- Fixed a bug so that structural outlookers can be enabled without utilizing a gable end truss.

Technically this should not be allowed since structural outlookers typically require a dropped top chord and currently the only way to achieve a dropped top chord is with a gable end truss (option enabled). 

However, since I am not strictly disallowing it I provided some logic so that the appropriate parameters are set so that this particular state is possible.  Previously, the gable end truss routine set some required parameters that the structural outlookers were dependent on.  Now the outlooker algorithm will set those parameters if they are not previously set by the gable end truss algorithm.

This is a fairly minor fix/patch.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.1 - 10.05.2018
- The trim tool now allows for multiple trim operations once a trimming plane is selected.
- Pressing the ESC key will reinitialize the trim tool during multiple trim operations, space bar will terminate.
- The trim tool will now trim components as well as groups.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Version 2.2.2b - 10.16.2018
- Updated the "Edit Truss Assembly" menu so that it properly loads default values when advanced options are expanded.
- Added a user definable name to truss assemblies that will be utilized in the future options and upgrades.

A number of other "under the hood" updates (to numerous to list) were also incorporated to bring the code more in line with the wall plugin and its more efficient and modular organization scheme.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.3 - 10.26.2018
- Added a Custom Material Library/Manager in the Materials tab of the Global Settings.
- Enabled custom materials for wall sheathing, wall cladding, roof sheathing and roof cladding in the HTML wall draw and edit menus for common trusses.
- Enabled the ability group materials and control which drop down menu they will appear in.
- Added an SKM file import utility to the Material Library.
- Default wall sheathing and wall cladding materials brought in line with options available in wall plugin.





Note the various wall sheathing options that are brought over from the wall plugin (ie. Tyvek, Zip Systems, Plywood, Densglass etc..) 

Also note that the custom and expanded materials selection is only available for common truss shapes (ie. common trusses, scissor trusses etc...).  I have not yet implemented the new system for other truss shapes and rafter roofs, that is work for yet another day.

There is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done with this plugin.  Many of the specialty truss shapes do not even have advanced options available to them yet.  All I can do is keep hacking away at it and maybe one day I will have the resources to really push this thing along.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.4 - 11.02.2018
- Enabled wall sheathing, wall cladding, ceiling gypsum and roof cladding for monopitch trusses.
- Enabled gutters and downspouts for monopitch trusses.
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for all monopitch trusses (imperial and metric units).



I still need to add a few more advanced options to the monopitch truss type:

- Roof Returns
- Battens
- Soffit Cut
- Heel Blocking

I'm also thinking about adding an insulation option for the ceiling for trusses and rafter roofs so that the truss plugin is up to speed with the wall plugin.  Some additional feedback in this regard would be helpful.

With monopitch trusses there is also the issue where the exterior wall corner is created by the truss and hence I need to apply some corner trim on these corners.  I will give this some more thought.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.4b - 11.08.2018
- Licensee name now appears in the License tab of the Global Settings when plugin is registered.
- Removed all advertising banners from the global settings.

Even though this may appear to be a minor revision it is actually a critical fix/upgrade for users running on Mac and Windows 10.

The advertising banners would only load intermittently and hence would cause the HTML menus to not render (blank white browser window).  After giving this some more thought and deciding that the advertising revenue generated by the plugin was not a significant amount, and a less cluttered look is always more appealing, it just made more sense to remove all of it completely.

I've also updated the license tab to be up to date with the Wall plugin's license tab.

This same issue with the advertising banners in the global settings also plagues the Wall plugin.  I will be issuing a new revision for it in short order, that strips the advertising from the plugin.  I appreciate everyone's patience in this regard.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

#810
Version 2.2.5 - 12.08.2018
- Added Trim 2 icon to the Medeek Tools toolbar.
- Added the trim 2 function for (solid) groups and components. This trim function allows the user to select two trimming planes.



This additional trim function will be helpful in trimming more complicated geometry like hip rafters and triangular pieces of roof sheathing or cladding.

Similar to the regular trim function this tool can also be utilized on any non-plugin geometry so long as it is a (solid) group or component.

View video here:

https://youtu.be/PFzD1xFiCa0
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.5b - 12.10.2018
- Added the Extend function for (solid) groups and components. This function allows the user to extend a member to a single plane/face.



The tool also has the ability to handle fairly complex, prismatic beams etc...

A huge shout out to ThomThom and John (John_DrivenuptheWall) from the SketchUp forums for helping me sort some of the issues out with the algorithm and code. 

Tutorial 10:

https://youtu.be/UE3SFPppWmY
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

#812
Version 2.2.5c - 12.13.2018
- Added the Trim 3 icon to the Medeek Tools toolbar.
- Added the Trim 3 function for (solid) groups and components. This trim function allows the user to select three trimming planes.
- Enabled the ability to invert your selection within the Trim 2 and Trim 3 tools using the "CTRL" key in Windows.



Tutorial 11:

https://youtu.be/dA3M5xfDRt8

Note that the planes in either advanced trim tool do not need to be orthogonal.

When using the Trim 3 tool the suggested order of selecting the cutting planes/faces is:

Vertical - Vertical - Horizontal

On an outside corner like that I'm not entirely sure how a skilled roof framer would cut that birdsmouth, but at least with the Trim 3 tool you have the option to cut it so it fits tight to the wall as I've shown in the video.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

In order to round out the selection of tools available and also per suggestion from a respected colleague it would seem prudent that I also include a mitering tool in the grab bag that is the Medeek Tools.

This can take shape in a few forms however the most important configuration in my opinion would be a tool that can take two solids and miter both of their ends at a common plane, while retaining the solid status of the group or component and retaining all of their properties and meta-data.

This would involve selecting the faces to extend/trim on each solid and then selecting two (non-parallel) edges that intersect at a point, so four pick points in total. 

I haven't searched very much yet to see if such a tool/plugin already exists and I don't really want to recreate the wheel on this one.  Please let me know if you are aware of such a tool, that can work for any (non-plugin specific) solids.

Would there be a need/demand for this proposed tool?
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer


Medeek

#814
Version 2.2.6 - 12.16.2018
- Added the Miter Cut icon to the Medeek Tools toolbar.
- Added the Miter Cut function for (solid) groups and components.
- Enabled temporary (construction) dimensions for trusses, roofs and floor assemblies.
- Added a section in the General tab of the global settings for configuring construction dimensions.





Tutorial 12 - Miter Cut: 

https://youtu.be/0EUhEKX64co
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

I'm a little burned out right now with the addition of all these extra tools to the Medeek Tools toolbar, but I still feel like I need to add one final addition to the mix.

This one will be called the split tool and similar to the trim tool the user will select a single face (or three points, toggle with the control key?) to define a plane which will then be used to cut a solid group or component in two.

The slightly tricky part with this is to make sure that the copied group/component is nested in the same overall group(s) as the original and retains all of its properties. 

This tool would be useful where you've used the followme tool to create some geometry but want to break the resulting solid into separate segments (groups).
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

#816
Version 2.2.6b - 12.18.2018
- Added the Split icon to the Medeek Tools toolbar.
- Added the Split function for (solid) groups and components: split plane via one face or three points.



When you first click on the tool it defaults to the user selecting a face for the cutting plane however if you hit the "CTRL" key in Windows it will toggle to the three point mode.

https://youtu.be/eIerx294HE0
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.6c - 12.18.2018
- Addressed a bug in the Split function regarding nested groups and components.

This is a critical fix for this tool.  I strongly suggest that everyone upgrade from 2.2.6b to 2.2.6c.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

There has been some call for a tool that is similar to the split tool but rather than selecting just one face you would select two faces and a section could be removed from the solid object (imagine two infinite planes cutting a slice out of your solid object).  I'm not exactly sure what to call this possible tool (section cut?).

The other question is whether to have the tool break the solid into two separate groups or components like the split tool or just leave the resulting geometry as one group/component?   I suppose I could always enable an option that would allow the user to toggle between these to behaviors offering some flexibility to the user.

Similar to the split tool I could allow the user to define the cutting planes but either selecting two faces or selecting six points, or a combination of three points and a face or a face and three points.  Lots of permutations here... just makes the code a little more fun.

With regards to the cutting planes, they could be parallel or they might not be, it doesn't really matter.  Just as I am doing in the split tool I will need to include logic that checks to see that the cutting planes actually do intersect the solids otherwise no action will be performed.  The two cutting planes cannot be perpendicular to each otherwise a valid solution cannot be obtained, or at least that is what I initially thought.  I will need to give that possible solution some more thought.  If a solution can be obtained there is no reason to discard it.  There may be some overlap with the Trim 2 function, but that tool does not have the ability to separate the solid into different groups.

Any thoughts or suggestions with regard to this potential addition to the tools?

Also just a reminder that even though I am including these tools within the Truss plugin they are designed to work with any solid geometry created in SketchUp, it doesn't need to be plugin related geometry.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

ChugiakTinkerer

Excise tool?

I'm not thinking Sketchup-specific here, but it seems that there could be solutions that are valid even though you have two perpendicular planes.  A simple example would be an elongated body rotated 45 degrees.  You could cut the body with two planes that are perpendicular to each other but both parallel to the axis of rotation.  It at least seems like a valid solution based on my undeerstanding of the problem.

I really need to upgrade my plugin!  :)
My cabin build thread: Alaskan remote 16x28 1.5 story


Medeek

I've been thinking about labels for truss and rafter roofs and I would like to add in some sort of labeling system like the Wall plugin.

With a typical gable roof I will have a label on each side of the roof aligned with the roof plane but offset vertically so it does not Z fight with the sheathing or cladding (shingles).  The label will be similar to the Wall plugin where the user can customize the prefix (eg Roof1, Truss1, Rafter1 etc...)

Each side will be designated a letter, so Roof1-A and Roof1-B.  Hip roofs will have four roof planes so A, B, C and D.

If the framing callout is enabled then beneath the label will show the area for that roof plane (sheathing):

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.7 - 12.27.2018
- Roof and Floor labels option added to the General tab of the Global Settings.
- Roof and Floor label prefixes can be customized in the General tab of the Global Settings.
- Roof labels enabled for common trusses.
- When framing callouts are enabled the area of each roof plane will be shown below the roof label (currently only common truss assemblies have this feature available).
- Added a customizable color for roof and floor labels within the Material tab of the Global Settings.
- Added additional layers for dimensions, annotations, 2d geometry, building code and engineering.

Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.7b - 12.29.2018
- Enabled roof labels and framing callouts for monopitch truss assemblies.
- Added stats (roof sheathing) for common and monopitch truss roofs which can be analyzed within the Medeek Estimator (Wall Extension) module.

In order to use this new feature you must also have the Wall plugin installed and upgraded to Version 0.9.9v, See Wall plugin thread for further details.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Version 2.2.7c - 12.30.2018
- Enabled roof labels and framing callouts for all rafter roof assemblies: Gable, Hip, Dutch Gable, TJI, TJI w/ Glulam, Shed etc...









I've also been thinking about how to best handle holes or cutouts in the roof sheathing and cladding that are not only parametric but can be properly reported by the estimator (ie. net area vs. gross area).  I think I have a system worked out, I just need to implement the prototype and test it out.

The cut out or hole tool will have a few options.  One of the options will allow the user to specify whether to cut the cladding, sheathing or framing or all of them.  If the framing is cut then another option for framing in the opening.

I may also provide another option to provide a skylight to cover an opening or other construction elements (eg. vents, whirlybirds etc...)
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer

Medeek

Another basic piece of information of any roof is the pitch or angle in degrees for the metric side of the house.  I'm updating the framing callout for roofs to also include this information:



Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, P.E.
Designer, Programmer and Engineer