Could a plug-in like this be possible
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I was thinking a plug-in like the House builder plug-in would be really useful for people like me thats in the metal building industry! To use cold form instead of wood studs with options for the walls like bypass or flush. I think the posts would have to be done separate because they vary so much but could maybe add something for the locations. Same for the roof, just options for purlin size,type and spacings with the standard option for pitch and the rafters can be added after. The pic below is kinda what I'm talking about but alot more advanced. Just an idea.
Thanks Kurt
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It would be do-able, but probably would have to be done by someone who understands the industry pretty well. Or some really close colaboration between a plugin author and someone in the industry. Its a bit out of my league of things I'm familiar with for example, but it is do-able
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hi
have you had alook at http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/ it got lots of useful structural engineering type stuff.
john
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@driven said:
hi
have you had alook at http://sketchup.engineeringtoolbox.com/ it got lots of useful structural engineering type stuff.
john
Yeah I've looked at that and I have all the parts and pieces to put one together just not in a plug-in type setting like the house builder plug-in. I wasn't wanting to use just a lot of components, I was look for a menu type deal where you set your spacings for the wall girts, roof purlings and maybe the frame locations. With a couple clicks you have your building without the frames but with their locations. Then you could add the frames later. Maybe an option or to for openings like windows and doors but there again add the framing later. Sheets and trim maybe but I think you could add that later as well because it would vary so mush.
@chris fullmer said:
It would be do-able, but probably would have to be done by someone who understands the industry pretty well. Or some really close colaboration between a plugin author and someone in the industry. Its a bit out of my league of things I'm familiar with for example, but it is do-able
I was pretty sure it could be but like you said someone would have to have knowledge of both and I only have the knowledge of one. If things hadn't been so hectic here lately I might try it LOL! That was a joke but might commission someone to help me with it or write it for me.
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In a way you answered your question in the question...
House-Builder does the very same thing with rectangular timber sections - you just want a version that uses pressed-metal sections instead - e.g. Z or C or T shapes ?
A little more involved to get the right section-type, with the right sizes, in the right orientation and in the right location - BUT clearly it's doable...
So for a 'wall' you pick the x/z sizes [from which the 'orientation' is calculable] and a dialog asks for section-type off a drop-down list and a max.spacing in inches.
The parts are added to suit.
You could make each of your sections a 3d component 1" long, then x-scale them to suit the lengths required... then you could have a scheduling-method that would get the x-scale of each part taken as inches long for the 'cut-list'... So group 'wall#1' might have 5 number 'Z-2x8' horizontal rails at 55" c/c... -
@chrisglasier said:
Strangely I just wrote this post about this sort of thing yesterday. Of course it is not much use to you in the short term but it provided me with a much better link for the Sketchucation example here - so hopefully it might help in the longer term. Thanks for that!
Loner term cause its way over my head but thanks for the links maybe one day I'll try!
@tig said:
In a way you answered your question in the question...
House-Builder does the very same thing with rectangular timber sections - you just want a version that uses pressed-metal sections instead - e.g. Z or C or T shapes ?
A little more involved to get the right section-type, with the right sizes, in the right orientation and in the right location - BUT clearly it's doable...
So for a 'wall' you pick the x/z sizes [from which the 'orientation' is calculable] and a dialog asks for section-type off a drop-down list and a max.spacing in inches.
The parts are added to suit.
You could make each of your sections a 3d component 1" long, then x-scale them to suit the lengths required... then you could have a scheduling-method that would get the x-scale of each part taken as inches long for the 'cut-list'... So group 'wall#1' might have 5 number 'Z-2x8' horizontal rails at 55" c/c...I was pretty sure it could be done just like House builder but didn't have a clue how House builder worked. I was thinking that the plug-in pulled from a liberty of components and adjusted them to what you selected in the pull down menu and adjusted them again to what you did on the screen. Here again way over my head, it was just an idea I thought would help alot of metal building people like myself out. I really have no business even trying to write something like this, I think I would confuse myself to no end let alone the people that might want to use it!
Thanks Kurt
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Would "Profile Builder" have any relevance here? Or, is this about a parametric script, with predetermined components?
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something like dynamic components for walls and ceiling may be easier than scripts - setting the individual side and roof members then extending and positioning. maybe several sets to cover your bases.
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@gullfo said:
something like dynamic components for walls and ceiling may be easier than scripts - setting the individual side and roof members then extending and positioning. maybe several sets to cover your bases.
I thought about dynamic components as well but just not what I was looking for but may be what I end up with!
@mitcorb said:
Would "Profile Builder" have any relevance here? Or, is this about a parametric script, with predetermined components?
Yeah I think its just another way of using components or groups in "Profile Builders" case, still have to move,flip, and rotate in position something I was hoping the plug-in set up would Handel.
Thanks Kurt
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@mitcorb said:
Would "Profile Builder" have any relevance here? Or, is this about a parametric script, with predetermined components?
mitcorb, I actually asked Dale this very question of Profile Builder but it only works on faces; not edges...
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Thanks, utiler:
I only threw this in, maybe to offer food for thought.And, to humpmetwice: Interesting slip of the keyboard in your reply: "I was hoping the plug-in set up would {Handel}".
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I just thought it might be helpful to note (and let me know if I am wrong, Kurt) what Kurt may be getting at is these are pretty well standardized sorts of buildings. the same sort of girts and purlins will be used for many sizes of buildings. They generally go at the same heights and spacing. Even the building spans and bay sizes tend to be standardized. So the same doors, bracing headers and other components can be used in different arrangements. So the standardization should lend itself to programming generation of models, with a few presets. I say so, though I have no idea how to do the programming.
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@pbacot said:
I just thought it might be helpful to note (and let me know if I am wrong, Kurt) what Kurt may be getting at is these are pretty well standardized sorts of buildings. the same sort of girts and purlins will be used for many sizes of buildings. They generally go at the same heights and spacing. Even the building spans and bay sizes tend to be standardized. So the same doors, bracing headers and other components can be used in different arrangements. So the standardization should lend itself to programming generation of models, with a few presets. I say so, though I have no idea how to do the programming.
Yeah you got it,just maybe two sizes of girts and purlins (8"zee and 10"zee are standard) and the ability to arrange their spacings. Doors and windows sills/jambs/headers are pretty much the same 8" or 10" but use cees. You would want to be able to place them in any wall,any height and make them any width.
Thanks Kurt
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A DC will work then - rather like a 'paling-fence' DC but instead of pales it uses Z-pm sections - you could simply have two sorts for the different sizes - input the spacing and they stretch in the length and repeat in the 'height' to maximum c/c. It'd work for Roof OR wall...
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