Medeek Wall Plugin

medeek · 19 Mar 2021, 20:57

The example shown is not dimensional correct per se, just representative at this moment.

medeek · 21 Mar 2021, 01:45

Version 1.9.9 - 03.20.2021

Added the ability to create custom "Log" wall cladding materials within the Material Library.
Enabled "3D" Log wall cladding for all wall types: Rectangular, Gable, Shed and Hip.

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 · 21 Mar 2021, 22:02

Here is an issue with half walls that tee into other walls. Notice how the gypsum is being cut:

Let's see if I can adjust the gypsum module to rectify this particular situation.

medeek · 22 Mar 2021, 01:57

Version 2.0.0 - 03.21.2021

Fixed a bug with the gypsum (cutout) where a half wall tees into another wall.

medeek · 27 Mar 2021, 15:20

Version 2.0.1 - 03.27.2021

Fixed a bug (introduced with Version 1.9.8 release) with wall presets for rectangular walls.

*** Critical Fix ***
I highly recommend updating to this latest release. A small typo in the 1.9.8 release essentially rendered the wall presets unusable. This fix rectifies that error and re-enables wall presets.

medeek · 31 Mar 2021, 07:52

Version 2.0.2 - 03.31.2021

Added a "Draw Molding" tool to the updated Blocking/Molding toolbar.
Added the ability to create base board, crown molding and chair rail with the "Molding" tool.
Added additional parameters into the General tab of the Global Settings as related to moldings.
Added an additional layer for moldings into the Layers tab of the Global Settings.

I will probably need to make a video on this new tool to help clarify its usage.

The user has the ability to add their own profiles for the various molding types, so this should make this tool fairly flexible.

Also note that the moldings are created independently of the wall panels so the tool can be used with any wall geometry, not just Medeek walls.

See model here:

3D Warehouse

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

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

medeek · 2 Apr 2021, 04:16

Tutorial 19 - Moldings (21:37 min.)

medeek · 2 Apr 2021, 20:55

I've had some clients ask me about positioning the cladding material/texture on the cladding group (or face to be more precise).

I just noticed that there is actually an API method for this operation:

Class: Sketchup::Face

Faces in SketchUp are flat, 2-sided polygons with 3 or more sides.

SketchUp Ruby API Documentation (ruby.sketchup.com)

A vertical offset parameter for the material/texture would come in very useful when walls are stacked in a multi-story scenario and you want the siding or some other cladding to line up across multiple vertically stacked walls.

I learn something new everyday.

medeek · 3 Apr 2021, 18:18

Version 2.0.3 - 04.03.2021

Removed all limitations on wall height in the trial version of the plugin.

I decided that it was time for this overly draconian measure to go away. I want people to enjoy using my plugins not add to their frustration levels. There is still a 30 day time limit on the trial version, so not all limitations have been removed.

medeek · 4 Apr 2021, 05:41

Version 2.0.3b - 04.03.2021

Added a vertical offset parameter for cladding materials for rectangular walls.
Added a vertical offset parameter for "Log" and "Shiplap" cladding materials for rectangular walls.

This parameter will allow the custom vertical positioning of the cladding material/texture so that multi-story structures can be properly rendered.

****** CAUTION ******
This update adds one new parameters to the rectangular walls and will require the user to delete and recreate any rectangular wall presets. This upgrade does not affect gable wall or any other presets (ie. windows, door, garage, gable wall, shed wall, hip wall).

medeek · 5 Apr 2021, 01:29

View model here for a demonstration of the cladding material (vertical) offset parameter.

3D Warehouse

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

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

Note that in this model I've adjusted the offset for both top and bottom walls. I first adjusted the bottom wall cladding so that the first run of siding started at the bottom of the wall as it should. I then adjusted the wall above it to match to the bottom wall. I also turned on the option in the general tab of the global settings which hides the cladding edges, so the two walls appear to blend together.

medeek · 17 Apr 2021, 00:23

Version 2.0.4 - 04.16.2021

Fixed a bug involving wall presets and the vertical material offset parameter for rectangular walls.

medeek · 17 Apr 2021, 20:14

Manual editing of an “assembly” has always been a can of worms for the plugins. The problem really is how does one actually track manual edits? I don’t think you can realistically do this.

When the Wall plugin adds a door or window to a wall it must essentially redraw the entire assembly from scratch in order to recalc the studs, insulation, blocking and a few other things like cutting holes in sheathing and cladding. When you delete an opening the same process occurs.

In a nutshell what I am doing is deleting all of the geometry within the assembly (Group) and then completely redrawing it all. I do have a system in place whereby certain sub-groups can be retained within the main wall group/assembly. This is done by including the keyword “CUSTOM” in the sub-group’s entity name. When you do this any group having this keyword will not be deleted (upon a regen) and will retain it’s geometry, position and any properties and entities it contains.

So additive manual editing (ie. adding specific blocking, hardware etc…) can be accomplished with the plugins as they currently are. This is actually how the Electrical plugin is able to work with the wall, truss, and foundation assemblies. When you regen a wall you will notice that the electrical components/groups within that wall assembly do not disappear (the keyword for electrical components is different than CUSTOM).

You will also notice that if there is any un-grouped edges or faces inserted into a wall assembly those will also be retained by default, no key words necessary. The reason for this is that everything I place into the primary assembly is a group or component, so when I regen I only need to look for those entities (sub-groups) and delete them.

I will need to give manual edits some more thought. There is a possibility that I could employ some sort of comparative type of check that looks at every sub-group created and then compares it to any existing sub-group. The first problem that jumps out at me with this type of system is that it would be very computationally expensive and hence performance would take a hit (who wants a slow and sluggish plugin?).

I’m sure other developers have also given this some thought, but so far I have not found a satisfactory solution that will allow subtractive or modified manual edits within the plugin geometry while maintaining the parametric ability of the plugins.

medeek · 17 Apr 2021, 21:23

Some really nice work using the plugins by Carlos Pose (Spain):

Framing ISO:

Renderings:

medeek · 17 Apr 2021, 22:09

There seems to be some interest in a "raised" header for windows and doors:

If there is enough interest it probably wouldn't be that hard to provide another option which allows these openings to be framed in this manner. My only questions are:

1.) What to do with stacked windows or stacked windows and doors?

2.) What if the opening is in a shed or gable wall? How should the raised header be framed, or is it even applicable?

medeek · 19 Apr 2021, 00:17

Version 2.0.4b - 04.18.2021

Added missing HTML files to the plugin distribution for the custom beam library.

****** Critical Update *******
I added the custom beam library on Mar. 1st, however I must have forgotten to move the HTML files for adding and editing custom beams when I released Version 1.9.2. No one noticed or at least did not notify me until yesterday.

medeek · 20 Apr 2021, 04:14

First look at a couple window configurations with raised header:

Note that with the stacked windows it only really makes sense to raise the header with the top windows, so that is the way I will set it up with the stacking algorithm. Basically you only assign the top opening with a raised header and leave the rest of the openings below it as the other options for the built-up header (NO, BTM, TOP, or BOTH).

Also, if you turn off the sill trimmer option it will also turn off the header trimmers.

The raised header method of framing an opening (door and window) has its advantages especially if an opening height needs to be increased to account for a larger window or door. The bottom line is both methods are commonly used so I need to make both available to the user.

I don't plan on making this option available for garage doors unless there is further call for it.

P.S.
I'm also going to make the option available for "zero" king studs, sometimes that option may come in handy when you have large window walls with PSL in-wall columns next to your openings.

medeek · 20 Apr 2021, 21:53

First look at windows openings with raised headers and insulation:

medeek · 21 Apr 2021, 03:39

Version 2.0.5 - 04.20.2021

Added a raised header option for windows and doors installed in rectangular walls.
Enabled the option for "zero" king studs for windows and doors.

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 · 22 Apr 2021, 20:49

I've been tossing around the idea for including trapezoidal and triangular windows in all of the wall panel types:

Here is an example of a trapezoidal window within a gable wall.

Note that the slope of the header is less that the slope of the top plate, hence the top cripples are vary in length, if the header matches the top plate slope then the cripples will all be the same length or zero length if the header is pushed right up to the top plate.

In order for this to work I need to add two additional parameters to the window module:

1.) Pitch/Slope of header
2.) Direction of Slope: Left/Right

I will also need to create new functions/methods for trimmers, headers, top cripples and cavity insulation.

Additionally new methods within the window advanced options for handling the window casing and trim as well as the actual window installation. I've only every seen picture or fixed windows used when this type of geometry is specified, so for now only a fixed windows type will be made available.

Setting up this window type involves a lot of updates to all of these modules since it changes and impacts all of them. Is it worth the trouble? Will this window type be used enough to justify the time and effort?