Medeek Wall Plugin

medeek · 15 Sept 2021, 12:09

I've been giving the "wall sandwich" thing some serious thought the last couple of days and I think I can implement a workable system however it will drastically change the way I am currently doing things as well as break any sort of backwards compatibility with previous versions of the plugin and their models.

In the global settings I will probably have a select number of options you can choose from to build your custom wall sandwich (I will also have some standard ones pre-defined). Interior and Exterior walls will be different in that you cannot use wainscot and cladding with interior walls. Interior walls can be asymmetric with this new system so you can have different layers specified on each sides of the wall, unlike the current system which limits interior walls to symmetric configurations only.

Exterior Walls:

Ext. Side:

Wainscot
Cladding 1
Cladding 2
Airgap 1, 2, 3 etc...
Sheathing 1
Sheathing 2
Insul 1

Int. Side:

Gypsum 1
Gypsum 2
Gypsum 3
Airgap 1,2, 3 etc...
Sheathing 1
Sheathing 2
Insul 1

Interior Walls:

Ext. Side:

Gypsum 1
Gypsum 2
Gypsum 3
Airgap 1,2, 3 etc...
Sheathing 1
Sheathing 2
Insul 1

Int. Side:

Gypsum 1
Gypsum 2
Gypsum 3
Airgap 1,2, 3 etc...
Sheathing 1
Sheathing 2
Insul 1

The actual layering can be in any order except for wainscot which will always be the outermost layer on an ext. wall. I'm not sure that two layers of cladding are really needed for an ext. wall but I'm just throwing it out there for now and see what sticks.

As far as the framing/wall solid is concerned I only plan on having one layer for framing, if I were to change that up to a variable number of framing layers things would get very complicated with regards to corner configurations so it is best to not get too ambitious.

The items shown are all of the possible layers for each side of the wall in question, one could theoretically enable all of them or none of them, and the number of air gaps is probably not limited.

Am I missing anything? Thoughts?

Your feedback now is important, once I install/implement a new wall sandwich system it will be more difficult to fundamentally change it from the form it originally takes.

medeek · 25 Sept 2021, 23:45

Version 2.4.2 - 09.25.2021

Enabled a boolean union option for window and door trim.
Added a "Union all Trim" parameter to the Door Trim Options within the global settings.
Added a "Union all Trim" parameter to the Window Trim Options within the global settings.

For presentation purposes (ie. elevation views) some designers and architects would prefer to show the window and door trim without each board delineated.

medeek · 27 Sept 2021, 14:21

I had some requests for "header" trimmers lately:

Thoughts?

medeek · 27 Sept 2021, 16:04

Version 2.4.2b - 09.27.2021

Enabled a boolean union option for garage door trim.
Added a "Union all Trim" parameter to the Garage Door Trim Options within the global settings.

Somehow I failed to consider that this same feature might also be needed for garage doors on the first go around.

medeek · 3 Oct 2021, 00:58

Version 2.4.3 - 10.02.2021

Fixed a minor bug within the subtractive geometry module.

medeek · 4 Oct 2021, 00:13

Tutorial 23 - Wall Corners (15:41 min.)

medeek · 5 Oct 2021, 02:35

Version 2.4.3b - 10.04.2021

Fixed a bug with pocket doors.

medeek · 10 Oct 2021, 06:12

medeek · 13 Oct 2021, 02:14

Version 2.4.4 - 10.12.2021

Fixed a minor bug with trapezoid and pentagon windows when utilized with the "No Framing" mode.
Enabled an option for "zero" start and end wall studs for all wall types.

medeek · 18 Oct 2021, 23:00

First look at a couple of multi-ply stud walls:

Now I just need to do some further testing to make sure all of the other algorithms work correctly with this type of stud configuration (ie. windows, doors, insulation, blocking).

medeek · 19 Oct 2021, 07:59

Version 2.4.5 - 10.19.2021

Added a "Stud Ply" parameter to the Walls tab of the global settings.
Enabled double and triple ply studs for rectangular walls.]

!!! WARNING !!!
This update will require that the user delete and recreate their wall presets for rectangular walls. This update does not affect other wall presets or door and window presets.

medeek · 21 Oct 2021, 22:45

Previously I was issuing educational licenses for the mdkBIM suite at no charge however the shear volume of licenses has begun to overwhelm me and take up too much time (manual license creation).

I've now created an easier system to manage which allows me to quickly issue an educational discount code to the student or educator after receiving their credentials or verification.

The new discount code will allow students or educators to purchase the entire mdkBIM suite (permanent license - $280.00) at 10% of the regular cost: $28.00 USD

medeek · 22 Oct 2021, 21:27

Version 2.4.6 - 10.22.2021

Added two additional advanced options for in-wall columns: Top Plt. Cut, Btm Plt. Cut.
Added two additional parameters into the Columns tab of the global settings.
Fixed a critical bug with the wall copy tool that was created with the prior update.
Added error checking code into the rectangular wall edit menu for sheathing, cladding, and gypsum materials.
Added error checking code into the window edit menu for the shutter material.

With the in-wall columns I've also changed the draw and edit tool so that the columns can be drawn at the end of the walls, there is no longer the one-stud limitation, not even sure why I added that in originally.

medeek · 25 Oct 2021, 04:33

Version 2.4.7 - 10.24.2021

Fixed a bug with shed walls for the following end configurations: Inside Corner, Inset Inside Corner.

This fix should resolve the issues we were seeing with the shed wall. I probably missed these bug(s) initially because the inside corner with a shed wall is not very common and sometimes I don't test every possible permutation even though I should.

I may need to go back into the gable and hip wall modules and test them a bit further.

medeek · 25 Oct 2021, 17:18

Version 2.4.7b - 10.25.2021

Added the following additional Wide Flange (W) beams to the beam module: W10X22, W10X26, W10X30, W10X33, W10X39, W10X45, W12X26, W12X30, W12X35, W12X40.

medeek · 30 Oct 2021, 11:29

Version 2.4.8 - 10.30.2021

Added an end cripples option for all window types.

I will probably also need to add in this option for doors and garage doors.

!!! WARNING !!!
This update will require deleting and recreating any window presets. This update will not affect any other preset types (ie. wall, door, garage door etc...)

medeek · 1 Nov 2021, 02:04

Version 2.4.9 - 10.31.2021

Added an end cripples option for all man doors.
Added an end cripples option for all garage doors.
Fixed a bug with exterior trim for arched garage doors when the "trim union" option is enabled.

!!! WARNING !!!
This update will require deleting and recreating any door and garage door presets. This update will not affect any other preset types (ie. wall, window etc…)

medeek · 6 Nov 2021, 09:49

Version 2.5.0 - 11.06.2021

Added a rainscreen option for rectangular walls (vertical furring strips).

!!! WARNING !!!
This update will require deleting and recreating any rectangular wall presets. This update will not affect any other preset types (ie. gable wall, shed wall, hip wall, door, window etc…)

This feature has been requested multiple times lately so I thought I might try and get a rudimentary rainscreen feature put together. Note that the current rainscreen module is fairly simple and does not trim around openings. If you want the furring strips to line up with the studs you can set the offset value to 1/2 of the stud spacing (or any other value for a different alignment).

I consider this feature more representational at this point but please give me additional feedback with regards to future improvements or additional options/requirements.

medeek · 14 Nov 2021, 10:09

Version 2.5.1 - 11.14.2021

Added a horizontal rainscreen option for rectangular walls (horizontal furring/girt boards).
Added an option for top and bottom furring/girt boards for horizontal rainscreens.

If you set the top or bottom sizes to "zero - 0.0" then it will eliminate that respective option.

medeek · 14 Nov 2021, 23:29

In recognition of the overwhelming support I have received from the SketchUp community during 2021 I will be immediately offering 35% off of the mdkBIM bundle price (permanent license) using the coupon code GIVETHANKS21 . (promotion ends Dec. 1, 2021).

This will reduce the bundle price from $280.00 USD to $182.00 USD. This promo code does not apply to any of the extensions purchased separately or to the electrical plugin. The offer also ends on Dec. 1 and no rain checks will issued thereafter.