3D Truss Models

juju

Version 1.7.1 - 12.08.2016

Enabled metal plate connectors for the common fink truss.

I enabled the connector plates in the settings, but it doesn't show up when the trusses are generated. I'm using version 1.7.1. I also noticed that the splash screen with all the various truss types icons seem to be different (window not resizing / icons running off of the page) to before I enabled the connector plates in the same version?

++++ EDIT ++++
OK, it seems to be working now, I double checked the settings, assigned user defined layers and saved them again. It seems to be working now. The battens are not being assigned to a layer other than Layer0?

EarthMover

Those timber trusses are amazing. Perfect actually for a job I'm working on. Thank you for making such a phenomenal plugin!

medeek

@Juju

Thanks for pointing out the non-layer assignment for battens, I will try to jump on that tomorrow, its a quick fix.

The layer implementation is far from complete, I only just started on it and I have numerous files to go through and add the layer logic in so please bear with me.

medeek

I'll see what I can do with the timber trusses, those should be a lot of fun to add in and with a decent html menu with preview screen should be fairly intuitive for the user.

I've updated my database and shopping cart programming so now you should be able to renew your plugin (license) for the $20.00 renewal fee. You always have the option of purchasing multiple licenses at the full price, and the renewal form allows one to pick which serial number they would like to renew if they have multiple licenses.

It took me about 4 hours to make this work, unfortunately the paypal integration complicated things, that was not anticipated. Now my arm is on fire, good thing I'm going into surgery Thursday, I really need it at this point.

Item #22 on the todo list should now be complete. Now I just need to go back into my foundation plugin scripts and database and do the same thing.

juju

@medeek said:

@Juju

Thanks for pointing out the non-layer assignment for battens, I will try to jump on that tomorrow, its a quick fix.

The layer implementation is far from complete, I only just started on it and I have numerous files to go through and add the layer logic in so please bear with me.

No problem, thanks for the work you put into this, it is appreciated and doesn't go unnoticed.

I suggested to the author of "Window+" (on EW) to implement something similar to what you have done with the custom layer assignments, he too thinks it a great idea and will probably implement it soon. Let's hope the idea spreads to more extension authors as it helps to save time when these can be pre-assigned as opposed to having to iterate through the entire model assigning groups / components to layers.

All the best with the surgery tomorrow! Godspeed!

medeek

@Juju

Which layer would you like the battens assigned to, roof sheathing or roof framing.

medeek

I need to review some of my old files (local residential designs) to get a better idea of timber truss designs but out of curiosity I attempted to manually create a sample timber truss to see how long it took me create one. About an hour into it I had come up with this:

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=355ab1aa-b040-4fca-a5c2-393f49bf71d8

Specifications:

King Post truss with 4:12 pitch, 12" overhang and 1/4" buttcut, span 28'
6x10 Timbers (TC, BC, King Post)
3/8" Thick Connector Plates
5/8" DIA. Heavy Hex Nuts and Bolts
2 Rows of Bolts
4.5" between rows of bolts
4" bolt spacing between bolts in a row
Plates offset from timber by 3/4"
Bolts offset from end of plates by 2"
Bolts offset from edge of plates by 1.5"
No washers

This particular connector plate configuration uses two additional bolts at the apex of the heel plates, many other variations are possible.

Please feel free to comment. This example is just a concept to give me a better idea of the design parameters and issues with this type of truss.

juju

@medeek said:

@Juju

Which layer would you like the battens assigned to, roof sheathing or roof framing.

I would prefer a separate custom layer, I use SKALP in the "by layer" manner, it also makes it simpler should I export a report on materials.

medeek

I will add in two new layers for roofs:

I will have to roll that revision post-op, off to Olympia for the neck surgery at 10:00AM

medeek

Out of surgery, sore.

Right arm feels considerably better with only a slight tingle. Neck brace has me nicely immobilized.

Swallowing is extremely painful, thank goodness for ice cream.

I'm probably going to lay low for about a week, no programming or significant computer time, that is what the Doctor suggested.

medeek

Version 1.7.2 - 12.16.2016

Enabled custom layers for roof returns, battens and counter battens.
License renewal enabled in Medeek Account Manager.

medeek

I like the new addition of the layers, it helps being able to hide certain aspects of the model. This has led me to think it might be useful to somehow implement materials (colors, textures), either at the layer level or based on the geometry (ie. specific color or texture for the I-joist web -> OSB wood).

For now I don't think I will make the material assignment(s) customizable, in the global settings you will be able to turn it on or off, if it is turned on then I will have the plugin assign some fairly generic colors for lumber, pressure treated lumber and texture for OSB sheathing. Metal plates will be assigned a texture as well, this should be rather interesting.

juju

Thanks for the upgrades! I'm on holiday and am looking forward to this when I'm back at the grindstone in a few weeks time!

medeek

Version 1.7.3 - 12.17.2016

Added a "Materials" tab within the global settings; Auto material assigment (colors and textures) is now an option.
Enabled materials and custom layers for floor trusses and joists.
Enabled materials for common trusses: metal plate connectors, lumber, and OSB.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=d9b8fa16-5a7a-43f8-8da5-fc8b913bcba7

A big thanks to those on the SketchUcation and SU board who helped me with the custom materials part of the API, the SketchUp community is a great asset.

By default the metal plate connectors, custom layers and auto materials is turned off in the global settings.

medeek

Enabled metal plate connectors for floor trusses.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ec5402ad-0916-46f7-a84d-1bf7e57ed30f

The algorithm for the plate placement is fairly complex but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, just knocking out some low hanging fruit while I'm recovering. The painkillers have kept me a bit off my "A" game so I haven't tackled anything big yet, like the completion of the stepdown hip truss set.

medeek

Looking through some old plans I've managed to dig up I came upon a couple of designs by another engineering firm.

Typically when I've dealt with truss designs I always seen a scarf cut on the bottom chord with the top chord remaining un-notched. In this other example the bottom chord is kept intact and the top chord is scarf cut or notched, while still allowing a continuous section to extend for the overhang with a depth equal to at least 1/2 the top chord depth. I think the picture below explains this far better than I can with words:

For MPC trusses I am used to seeing a 1/4" butt cut, however for timber trusses what is more appropriate?

Which method above would go with (arch. and structural reasons)?

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=6d3633a4-3b5c-4b9f-9780-23be5230c66d

medeek

Plates applied to the top truss:

Specs:

Truss Type: King Post
6x10 TC, 6x8 BC, 6x6 kingpost
Plate thickness = 0.25"
single row of bolts with two bolts per row.
connector plate width = 4.0"
Bolt Dia. 3/4"
Bolt Edge Distance (timber) = 4.0"
Bolt Edge Distance (plate) = 2.0"
Bolt Spacing = 4.0"
Bolts and Washers not shown.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ed8f688c-a1a2-4c2a-b09a-8ee937060922

medeek

This particular joint on a gambrel attic roof I am finding particularly difficult to plate:

Luckily I have a few samples to use as guides. Given my web configurations at this joint this seems to be the most reasonable method to plate this joint. Note that the plate should touch the interior corner and the exterior of the lower top chord but at the same time not project past the lumber into the spaces. Also the plate is rotated so that it is parallel to the upper top chords pitch.

The algorithm I devised to do this is quite clever I think but can be boiled down to a few concise lines of code:

  # Plate 2 (Gambrel Left)

	x2 = @W2x2 - (mpcyy)/(sin(@Phi2))
	y2 = @W2y2
	m2 = tan(@Phi2)

	x1 = @X2
	y1 = @Y2
	m1 = tan(@Phi1)

	x0 = (y2 - y1 - m2*x2 + m1*x1)/(m1 - m2)
	y0 = y1 + m1*(x0 - x1)

	xoffset = (mpcxx/2.0)*(cos(@Phi2)) + (mpcyy/2.0)*(sin(@Phi2))
	yoffset = (mpcxx/2.0)*(sin(@Phi2)) - (mpcyy/2.0)*(cos(@Phi2))

	mpcx = x0 + xoffset
	mpcy = y0 + yoffset
	mpcrot = -@Phi2
	MedeekMethods.metal_plate mpcx, mpcy, mpcxx, mpcyy, mpcrot, "PLGL"


	# Plate 2 (Gambrel Right)

	mpcx = @X5 - mpcx
	mpcy = mpcy
	mpcrot = @Phi2
	MedeekMethods.metal_plate mpcx, mpcy, mpcxx, mpcyy, mpcrot, "PLGR"

This joint has been the most difficult so far, everything else has been cake.

medeek

Version 1.7.4 - 12.20.2016

Enabled metal plate connectors for gambrel attic trusses.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=5297dc32-fe7a-4bdc-bab2-ccadba5e5147

Frederik

Merry Christmas to you as well, Nathaniel!