3D Truss Models

facer · 30 Jul 2017, 08:38

Medeek Office - sliced open to show structure
using Zorro2 plugin

Sketchfab LINK:
https://sketchfab.com/models/7dd005d09e6040e181ac2319b6dc4cfa

facer · 30 Jul 2017, 13:55

Medeek Office - Rendering in Thea for Sketchup

medeek · 31 Jul 2017, 03:02

This afternoon I began to put together the HTML for the timber truss GUI (what I have so far):

I think I've reduced a metal plated (bolts) timber truss down to twenty (20) parameters.

Hopefully the preview panel will help simplify the entry of these parameters and give the user instant feedback on what each one does. With these sort of trusses the look and feel of the truss is every bit as important as the structural aspect so a preview is very important.

The preview panel will not only show the timbers but also the metal plates and exact position of each bolt.

Once the user submits "go", the timber truss module will draw one (1) timber truss with all of the timbers, metal plates, bolts, nuts and washers.

In the global options the user will be able to specify the bolt standard and the washer standard as well as set the material (color) for the plate and hardware.

As usual the design and programming is a little more involved than I originally anticipated but in the end it should be quite dramatic to be able to create a fully bolted and plated timber truss.

pbacot · 31 Jul 2017, 14:59

I like seeing the 2d display! Looks great! What a productive afternoon!

medeek · 1 Aug 2017, 08:14

Visually, not a lot of progress:

But what you can't see is the algorithm to efficiently position and display the bolts.

For larger trusses I'm a little worried that the display is too small to show the bolt details, but I'm not sure what else to do about it.

juju · 1 Aug 2017, 08:18

Looking good! Maybe have the view automatically scale down to fit the larger trusses, equipping the window with a zoom tool / widget / whatever is probably asking too much...

medeek · 1 Aug 2017, 14:30

There seems to be some confusion regarding the licensing for the plugins. Just to be clear when you purchase a license it is permanent, it will work forever. There is no need to renew your license for continuous functionality.

Renewing your license gives you access to the latest version of the plugin(s) within the Medeek Account Manager. The primary reason to renew your license is so that you can upgrade the plugin(s) to the latest version and take advantage of any new features and bug fixes.

I may update the plugin(s) pages to better explain what I have written above.

Hopefully this clarifies the Medeek licensing policy. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions.

juju · 1 Aug 2017, 14:45

Thanks for the clarification Nathan, maybe download access to the last version a licence qualifies for is needed? I've only seen upgrade options (when licence has come to expiration date) and no alternate link to last qualifying version.

Having said that, upgrades are quite affordable, thank you.

medeek · 1 Aug 2017, 19:09

I agree that I should probably have a page with the ability to download any of the previous versions. I have resisted this slightly though since earlier versions did not implement any licensing system and in my mind some of the earlier versions are such crude and flawed attempts that no one in their right mind would want to use them over the current versions.

dpaul · 1 Aug 2017, 19:37

It is a pleasure to watch the remarkable development of this plugin (and the others).
A question: might it be possible to control the overhang of the roofing layer only so we can add as much
detailed fascia work as we require (say using PB) to complete the roof details?
Thanks.

facer · 1 Aug 2017, 21:24

MEDEEK PLUGINS - PRICING POLICY ($)

Posting by Medeek at:
by medeek » Wed Aug 02, 2017 12:30 am
https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=63133%26amp;p=623551#p623551

There seems to be some confusion regarding the licensing for the plugins. Just to be clear when you purchase a license it is permanent, it will work forever. There is no need to renew your license for continuous functionality.

Sample Model - view on any web device and in VR using iphone with cardboard viewer or headset
Sketchfab LINK:
https://sketchfab.com/models/7dd005d09e ... 19b6dc4cfa

medeek · 2 Aug 2017, 14:30

@dpaul said:

Might it be possible to control the overhang of the roofing layer only so we can add as much
detailed fascia work as we require (say using PB) to complete the roof details?
Thanks.

I have given this some thought previously since I am only really modeling the sub-fascia and not the entire fascia treatment. By the way what does PB stand for?

Should both the roof cladding and sheathing layer have this ability for an additional overhang or just the rood cladding? I am thinking about adding this setting into the global settings where you set this additional offset for the roofing/sheathing.

juju · 2 Aug 2017, 14:39

PB = Profile Builder

Profile Builder 2 out now, much improved from original Profile Builder.

dpaul · 2 Aug 2017, 16:30

I think just the roof cladding. Our trim can go up under the cladding and hide the
roof sheathing and sub-fascia.
Thanks.

medeek · 2 Aug 2017, 19:34

The order of operations here is important since it will generally determine how or what overlaps what.

The order of installation as I see it (correct me if I'm wrong).

1.) Trusses, rafters
2.) Sub-Fascia
3.) Sheathing (OSB, Plywood)
4.) Fascia/Trim
5.) Roof Cladding

I was thinking one could install the Fascia/Trim last but thats assuming the drip edge (flashing) is already installed and if there is any thickness to the fascia/trim this does not seem like a possibility.

In any case it seems to me that one would want to probably cover up the edge of the sheathing if there is no drip edge.

dpaul · 2 Aug 2017, 19:51

You are right, or course, about the order of installation on a site (and in how you are organizing the plugin).

However, in terms of my modelling and rendering, I will not necessarily be showing any drip cap on the gables themselves, just the top portion of the trim assembly (fascia plus bed moulding ,etc.) right under the roof membrane---or shingles.

This trim assembly will cover the thickness of the roof sheathing. (1/2" ply, say?)

If you can give us the option in the global settings to extend the roofing itself, can you also give us an option for the gable drip cap as well? Certainly on any hip we will put in a drip cap to take the water over into the gutter.

Thanks.

medeek · 4 Aug 2017, 02:07

Talking with some other users about the timber truss module I think it may be useful if the module could generate a separate detail with dimensions etc... for each plate.

I don't know how to do this in layout so I will probably use SVG and html.

juju · 4 Aug 2017, 06:14

@medeek said:

Talking with some other users about the timber truss module I think it may be useful if the module could generate a separate detail with dimensions etc... for each plate.

I don't know how to do this in layout so I will probably use SVG and html.

That is quite a niche use, probably a "pro version" or "engineering version" item?

medeek · 6 Aug 2017, 07:02

Progress is slow but steady:

Now I just need to add the bolts to the peak and heal plates...

Full on calcs would be nice too, but I'm just getting ambitious again.

glro · 6 Aug 2017, 08:24

@juju said:

@medeek said:

Talking with some other users about the timber truss module I think it may be useful if the module could generate a separate detail with dimensions etc... for each plate.

I don't know how to do this in layout so I will probably use SVG and html.

That is quite a niche use, probably a "pro version" or "engineering version" item?

what is the niche use?

is it the engineering version?
or is it the hobby version?

hobbyist don't make money with sketchup
so hobbyist won't pay for the extension

maybe the engineering version is the one that could bring to the developper the resources needed to developp the extension

possible to create a scene for each plate and add dimensions directly in sketchup

just ideas ...