Medeek Wall Plugin

medeek · 16 Jun 2023, 04:49

Tutorial 35 - Inclined Walls (15:10 min.)

The model used in the tutorial can be found here:

3D Warehouse

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

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

medeek · 28 Jun 2023, 02:26

Version 3.1.8 - 06.27.2023

Enabled FIS notation for framing (elevation view) dimensions for rectangular walls.
Enabled FIS notation for plan view dimensions for all walls.

FIS stands for Feet-Inches-Sixteenths, a common notation method used in the truss industry. This update per customer request.

medeek · 12 Jul 2023, 15:28

Version 3.1.9 - 07.12.2023

Added an "Edit Dimension" tool to the Medeek Wall Tools toolbar (editing of plan dimension only).
Enabled editing of plan dimensions for all wall types (door, window, garage, wall length).
Fixed a bug with plan dimensions (in 2D Mode).

Note that this new tool can only be used to edit "plan" dimensions. Framing dimensions are currently not editable. This update was per customer request.

medeek · 12 Jul 2023, 16:31

Tutorial 36 - Editing Dimensions (7:55 min.)

medeek · 15 Jul 2023, 12:54

Version 3.2.0 - 07.15.2023

Enabled editing of plan dimensions for tee intersections of all wall types.

When you modify the dimension of a tee intersection it actually invokes the plugin's "move wall" tool behind the scenes, which then moves the target wall as well as adjusts any connected walls and finally it regens the primary wall. A lot going on here.

Larry Belk specifically requested this feature, and I was considering it once I began making the dimensions interactive for windows and doors. To be perfectly honest I knew it would make things a bit more complicated and involved with dimensions and their editing, however I'm glad I've managed to check this box and it seems to be working as it should.

This is actually a fairly substantial upgrade to the plugin and a increase in functionality and efficiency, I will probably make a new tutorial video explaining the details shortly.

medeek · 16 Jul 2023, 04:33

Tutorial 37 - Moving Walls (16:03 min.)

medeek · 18 Jul 2023, 15:36

Here is a todo list for the Wall Plugin, some ideas that I am currently floating:

1.) Global Settings Import/Export
2.) Wall Numbering Tool
3.) Wall Corner Tool
4.) Adding more dimensions and additional details to the framing dimension option.
5.) Max. wall panel length option

This list is not in any particular order. The wall numbering tool would be quite easy to implement and quite useful in my opinion. Currently one can change the wall numbers/labels however it is a bit laborious since the edit menu must be accessed for each wall panel that needs updating.

medeek · 25 Jul 2023, 00:44

Version 3.2.1 - 07.25.2023

Added the Medeek Wall Tools II toolbar.
Added the Wall Numbering tool to the Medeek Wall Tools II toolbar.
Added the Edit Corners tool to the Medeek Wall Tools II toolbar.

This update is for Mike and Larry, but I think it will prove useful to many others as well. I will need to make another tutorial video explaining these two new tools.

medeek · 25 Jul 2023, 01:42

Tutorial 38 - Wall Numbers and Corners (12:05 min.)

medeek · 27 Jul 2023, 01:03

Version 3.2.2 - 07.26.2023

Enabled the use of custom materials for sheathing, cladding and gypsum within the Sheathing tab of the Global Settings.
Enabled the use of custom materials for cavity insulation within the Insulation tab of the Global Settings.

This update per customer request.

medeek · 28 Jul 2023, 13:50

Most of the most recent updates to the Wall plugin have come from the users of the plugins but this morning after sitting down for a quick breakfast and just pondering the wall drawing process, in particular the usual method of drawing external walls, I came to a sudden realization of sorts.

Most of the time the designer/architect has already figured out the basic outline of the structure (ie. the polygon or polyline that will determine the placement of the external walls). In SketchUp a closed polyline can be represented as a face.

The current draw wall tool is very similar to the polyline stemwall tool in the foundation plugin, the user carefully picks the points that constitute the wall perimeter, one point at a time. Overall this method is not bad in my opinion and is reasonably speedy however what if one could simply click a face (of a polygon that is perpendicular to the z-axis) and then the wall plugin simply traced around the polygon and drew all of the walls automatically.

This tool would achieve two things:

1.) It would be quicker than picking one point at a time and for a complex perimeter would be a significant time saver.
2.) It would also help eliminate errors in picking the points one by one.

Thoughts?

P.S.
Along the same lines I've also thought about a similar algorithm for drawing interior walls however the issue there becomes which way does the wall face (ext vs. int) when it is drawn. This is where the designer has to make some decisions and I don't really have a good way to automate this or somehow predict what the designer would do in each case.

P.P.S
This same "Face" algorithm will also be used in the new Floor plugin, so rather than having to pick each point to create a new floor assembly the user can alternatively just pick a pre-constructed face.

medeek · 31 Jul 2023, 02:29

Version 3.2.3 - 07.30.2023

Updated the stats logging for all wall types in order for the estimating module to provide more granular data for wall top plates.

medeek · 2 Aug 2023, 20:58

Version 3.2.4 - 08.02.2023

Fixed a minor bug with the SW module and SW materials.

medeek · 6 Aug 2023, 08:32

Version 3.2.5 - 08.06.2023

Added two parameters to the Walls tab of the Global Settings for Wall Panelization.
Enabled wall panelization for rectangular walls.

medeek · 7 Aug 2023, 04:43

Version 3.2.5b - 08.06.2023

Added a hotkey (Up key) to toggle wall panelization ON or OFF within the Draw Wall tool/menu.

medeek · 7 Aug 2023, 05:37

Tutorial 39 - Wall Panelization (8:52 min.)

medeek · 9 Aug 2023, 08:46

Version 3.2.6 - 08.09.2023

Fixed a bug with stacked openings and plan dimensions.
Added "Subtractive Framing" to the Wall tab of the Global Settings.
Enabled "SUBTRACT_FRAMING" custom boolean subtraction for all wall types.

This now gives us a workaround for non-aligned stacked windows and doors. This update per customer request.

medeek · 9 Aug 2023, 08:47

Tutorial 40 - Stacked Windows (10:40 min.)

medeek · 26 Aug 2023, 02:11

Version 3.2.7 - 08.25.2023

Updated steel studs and plates for all wall types.
Fixed a bug in the statistics module for the gable walls.

Previously the steel studs and plates were merely cosmetic, now the are modeled a bit more realistically (however less attractively in my opinion). This update was specifically requested by users who specialize in steel stud framing and who wanted a more accurate model (stud length and channels for top and bottom plates) when it comes to steel framing. The plugin was never initially designed for steel framing and because of that I still consider the steel framing option more of a cosmetic model than an actual realistic model, but this latest update gets us a little closer to that objective.

medeek · 26 Aug 2023, 20:57

Version 3.2.7b - 08.26.2023

Minor updates to the window and door framing modules with regards to steel framing.