3D Truss Models

medeek · 28 Mar 2016, 20:05

A breakdown of the configurations for the Cathedral 4/X family:

medeek · 29 Mar 2016, 04:32

Version 1.4.7 - 03.28.2016

Added Cathedral truss type, configurations: (4/X, 6/X).
Metric input enabled for cathedral truss type.
Added gable end trusses for cathedral truss type.

Note, that not all configurations have webs enabled however the top chords, bottom chords, gable end trusses and all advanced options are enabled.

juju · 29 Mar 2016, 15:24

Thanks for the continued development Nathaniel.

In case anyone missed it, the plugin price went up from $20 to $30.

Sorry for you if you've been holding out to get it...

medeek · 29 Mar 2016, 16:33

Just as a word of warning this plugin is far from a polished or finished product. There are still a lot of loose ends that need tying up. Case in point I have not yet enabled gable end trusses for the attic truss type. The reason is the complication of dropping the top chord for structural outlookers where the attic truss has a spliced top chord. Below is an example of a attic truss with a dropped top chord that I have encountered in the past but I don't know if this is the best method of handling this situation.

I would like to enable structural outlookers for attic trusses in the next few days just to wrap this up. Any thoughts or suggestions or examples of similar configurations are very much appreciated.

Postscript: It may not be totally clear but the gable end truss is the one with all of the vertical members (nearest the viewer) in this isometric view. Note that the outlookers are oriented vertically in this particular case, partly due to an approx. 4' backspan over a stairwell. If the same top chord depth is maintained over the diagonal portion of the attic then the dropped top chord will be lower than the other common trusses in this segment of the attic. This will complicate the framing of the end wall slightly but should not prove to be an insurmountable problem.

medeek · 30 Mar 2016, 06:09

To further clarify the framing details with regards to attic trusses and structural outlookers I've created a sample model with a proposed dropped top chord gable end attic truss:

Please download and review the model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

I've also included the infill wall framing to help put everything into reference (light green).

Is this the appropriate way to frame an attic truss (gable end) with structural outlookers?

medeek · 30 Mar 2016, 15:20

The reason I provide the full attic opening at the gable end truss is so that the framed in wall can be the nominal ext. wall thickness of 5.5 inches and allow for R-21 insulation. I've had some truss plants provide the typical vert. webs for nailing off the sheathing over this space but then one has to fir it all out anyways to get the appropriate wall thickness for the insulation.

If the wall below the gable end truss is sufficient for bearing then the gable end truss really does not need to have any structural capability so all of the diagonal webs can go away. One could also get away with a 2x4 dropped top chord with the stacked top chord at the eaves as shown. It would make sense to have the same depth at the bottom chord though so that the floor sheathing has a convenient nailing surface right to the edge of the building.

Alternatively one could do away with the gable end truss entirely and just balloon frame the wall from the ground floor up or from the attic floor up.

The question is which method should be employed within the plugin. I would prefer to use the most commonly employed solution.

medeek · 30 Mar 2016, 20:51

The gable end truss as shown is structural, just to clarify. I will probably go with what I have shown as modeled unless there are any objections.

medeek · 31 Mar 2016, 07:17

Six possible end details for a flat truss (Pratt 4 panels), there are probably others but these seem to be the most common:

1.) Mansard w/ Parapet
2.) Parapet
3.) Mansard
4.) Overhang
5.) Cantilever
6.) None

Both Mansard configurations can also have an optional overhang as shown. The Parapet configuration should allow for customizing the thickness of the parapet wall.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

This truss type with its many end configurations would work well with an HTML UI, that is the direction I will be going with future user inputs and interfaces since the ability to customize is unlimited.

With the flat trusses I will initially offer both Howe and Pratt with the ability to utilize a low slope or zero slope.

medeek · 1 Apr 2016, 17:14

Version 1.4.8 - 04.01.2016

Added Mod Fan common truss type.
Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Common (Mod Fan) truss type.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

With the addition of the Mod Fan (Triple Fan) the line up of common trusses is complete. I still need to add in raised heels and structural outlookers for some of the configurations.

Theoretically I could add in additional configurations of the Fink and Howe truss types for extremely large roofs but the largest I've ever seen is a raised heel Quad Fink (10/9). Large spans beyond 70'-80' are probably not practical as far as a single span common truss roof. At that point you pretty much go with large flat roofs with interior columns and girders and all steel construction (think Walmart or Cosco).

medeek · 3 Apr 2016, 06:56

Tray truss algorithm:

A more complex algorithm would be required for a non-centered tray.

medeek · 4 Apr 2016, 07:54

Tray Trusses working now I just need to enable gable ends and advanced options:

Note the three large trusses are all 36' span with different tray widths and different web triangulations.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

medeek · 4 Apr 2016, 19:04

More configurations:

medeek · 5 Apr 2016, 05:24

Version 1.4.9 - 04.04.2016

Added Tray truss type, configurations: (AUTO).
Metric input enabled for tray truss type.
Added gable end trusses for tray truss type.

The next truss type I would like to add is the coffer truss but I don't have a lot of good examples or shop drawings of this truss type. Any examples of a coffer truss would be most welcome.

medeek · 11 Apr 2016, 15:16

Version 1.5.0 - 04.11.2016

Added Mono Scissor truss type, configurations: (2/2, 3/3).
Metric input enabled for mono scissor truss type.
Added gable end trusses for mono scissor truss type.
Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Mono Scissor (2/2, 3/3) truss types.

When the raised heel option is selected the pitch of the bottom chord may equal the top chord creating a half vaulted parallel chord truss.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

Raised heels are also enabled for this truss type, the combination of structural outlookers (vert & horz.) with the raised heel (wedge, slider, vert) makes for some interesting combinations and for some challenging logic/programming in order to get it all right.

medeek · 14 Apr 2016, 05:55

Updating the hip roof module so that an appropriate wireframe is displayed while using the roof positioning tool:

I will roll a revision once I've finished updating all of the rafter roof types with updated wireframes (preview graphics).

juju · 14 Apr 2016, 07:13

thanks!

medeek · 17 Apr 2016, 07:12

Version 1.5.1 - 04.16.2016

Added Dutch Gable Rafter Roof (all advanced options enabled).
Added wireframe (temporary) graphics to the roof positioning tool for rafter roofs.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

I still need to setup ceiling joists for hip and dutch gable roofs.

medeek · 17 Apr 2016, 19:52

A nested dutch gable roof created with the plugin. The roof is initially generated by creating three dutch gable primitives and then deleting and trimming certain elements. The most time consuming is the creation of the two valley rafters. I think it might be helpful to have some sort of valley rafter tool if I can figure out a good way of doing that.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

medeek · 18 Apr 2016, 04:43

Looking at the half hip roof next. Fairly cut and dried but I'm a little undecided how to handle the birdsmouths cut of the hip rafter where it intersects the discontinuity of the gable wall. I will probably use the same birdsmouth cut on the half hip rafters as the other common rafters of the roof.

View model here:

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

pilou · 18 Apr 2016, 08:58

Remember this