3D Truss Models
-
I've been giving some thought to framed openings in floors, see image below:
Generally, at least from what I've seen most holes in floors are either rectangular, L-shaped or U-shaped, but I guess any outline is possible.
What I've shown in the image above is LSL or LVL framing out the opening however the actual framing might be significantly different depending on what is supporting the floor below.
In some cases the rectangular opening might not be supported by bearing walls from below, in that case the two LSL boards running parallel to the joists would probably be larger beams and the headers would be hangered from these beams and would also probably be more substantial.
The point is how to make this feature flexible enough to accommodate most framed openings but at the same time keeping it as simple as possible so the user is not overwhelmed with parameters.
View model here:
3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.
(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I am also going to make this feature editable so that the actual hole can be altered after the fact. This should be an interesting programming challenge.
-
Alternatively that same opening could be framed as below:
For the size of the opening one would probably use some PSL Beams rather than a couple of I-Joists but the concept is the same, compare with the previous example where the opening would probably be supported from below by bearing walls.
-
Here is an example of a L-shaped opening in a floor to allow for a stairway.
Probably not the best example but I think it helps get the idea across.
Note the bearing walls supporting perimeter of the opening.
-
Version 3.1.7d - 03.14.2017
- Addresses a minor bug with the UI menu for common trusses. The overhang of the truss could be rounded to an integer value upon recreation of another truss set.
I wonder why no one else has noticed the overhang rounding issue. I just realized it is an artifact from when I had it setup to use a integer value for the overhang, which I eventually changed but I must have forgot to update the rounding function (or remove it) so that non integer values could be input.
It appears this bug only affected common trusses but I will need to go through and check each truss type to make sure the same issue was not replicated elsewhere.
-
I am trying to get my hands on some shop drawings for a dutch gable truss set. I would like to work on adding this truss set into the plugin this weekend if possible.
-
Two different ways to truss out a dutch gable roof:
The first method involves a wailing plate attached to the side of the girder truss. This appears to be the preferred method of construction in Australia.
The second method employs vertical studs on the gable end portion (upper half) of the girder truss. What is not entirely clear to me is how the joint comes together at the top chord where the horizontal member (at the top of the jacks) meets the vertical and diagonal web of the girder truss.
I could really use a shop drawing (2D) of this particular configuration.
-
Version 2.1.8 - 03.18.2018
- Enabled the "Edit Floor Assembly" function for all I-Joist floors (imperial and metric units): TJI, BCI, LPI, Red-I, PKI.
Now I just need to get the floor framed opening feature working and then this module might actually be useful.
Realize that any manual edits made to the floor assembly are blown away when you use the edit function. It is essentially re-drawing the entire floor assembly, the same goes for the roof truss assembly edit feature.
-
Spending some time the last couple of days thinking about the floor module (floor trusses, I-joists, solid sawn joists).
The obvious 800 lbs gorilla is the ability to easily add openings into these floors. The other missing element is the ability to create a polygon shaped floor (something beyond a rectangle outline).
With regards to polygon shaped geometry I've already done the heavy lifting when I programmed the foundation plugin to generate polygon shaped layouts (slab and stemwall). The details in trimming the joists is also mostly figured out since my rebar and mesh routine for slabs utilizes a function that will form the basis for this function. It is really just a matter of finding the time and then digging into the code deep for a solid 12+ hour period (uninterrupted).
These two issues are my main focus the next week or two. If I can address both as well have the edit function work seamlessly with both then I will have created an actual functional floor module.
-
I have a lot of people recently asking me about features that are or are not included in the plugin. Granted my documentation is still in disarray, especially the manual, but I would strongly suggest doing a search in the Changelog if you are interested in a particular feature and would like to check if it has been implemented yet:
Medeek Design Inc. - Medeek Truss Plugin Changelog
Medeek Design Inc. - Medeek Truss Plugin Changelog
(design.medeek.com)
-
I've been looking at adding in the ability to handle dual pitch hip roofs:
View model here:
3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.
(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)
The first thing that jumps out at me is the jack rafters do not line up when the pitches are different. Also if the overhang is the same and the fascia is the same height then the top plate will be a different height for the different pitches.
-
Yeah irregular pitch roofs are kind of tricky. They occur nevertheless.
-
@medeek said:
I've been looking at adding in the ability to handle dual pitch hip roofs
That'll be neat! Just a quick question (or two), are all existing options/functions (as relevant) ready and implemented across all truss types? Manual?
-
I am still adding advanced options and the edit function to each truss type and floor type. Some are further along than others, but progress is steady.
The manual is currently way down on the todo list, once the plugin matures further it will rise to the top.
With dual pitch hip roofs technically one could have a different pitch for all four sides (the most general case). I should probably try to code this most general case then all the rest simply fall out of it.
View model here:
3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.
(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)
-
It is certainly an interesting puzzle. Calculating the commons, jacks and hip rafters is not a problem, I can figure that out. The one item that has me though is the fact that if each pitch is different and assuming the same overhang all the way around and the same birdsmouth cut then the top plate of each wall will need to be slightly different. Again I can make that adjustment for each side of the roof. The real question then is what to do with the birdsmouth cut of the hip rafters? Which wall height does one use?
-
Not exactlly truss house but...
-
Version 2.1.9 - 05.27.2018
- Replaced the 64 bit SketchUp check in the installation module to fix an incompatibility issue with SketchUp 2014.
- Added additional wall cladding materials in the sheathing tab of the global settings.
- Fixed a bug in the top level assembly method of the roof truss module.
-
Version 2.2.0 - 06.19.2018
- Sub-groups within roof and floor truss assemblies can be made persistent by naming these groups or component instances to (custom1, custom2, custom3, etc...), also all other user defined geometry (ie. faces, text, lines and dimensions) are also retained when the assemblies are regenerated by the plugin.
-
I don't have a half hip (rafter roof) setup yet however there is probably a workaround by combining a gable with a hip and then using the trim tool to manually trim some of the rafters, however I haven't really tried this at least not for a real design.
I took about 10-15 minutes and tried creating a half hip with a gable and hip roof as primitives. Using the trim tool made it fairly easy to clean up the rafters, see results here:
3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.
(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)
Since the end result is not parametric you will want to be sure that you have all of your rafter depths, overhangs etc... set before you dive into the manual editing of such a roof.
This is obviously a painful and slow process. Conclusion, I need to add in a half hip rafter roof.
-
Version 2.2.0b - 09.25.2018
- Fixed a bug so that structural outlookers can be enabled without utilizing a gable end truss.
Technically this should not be allowed since structural outlookers typically require a dropped top chord and currently the only way to achieve a dropped top chord is with a gable end truss (option enabled).
However, since I am not strictly disallowing it I provided some logic so that the appropriate parameters are set so that this particular state is possible. Previously, the gable end truss routine set some required parameters that the structural outlookers were dependent on. Now the outlooker algorithm will set those parameters if they are not previously set by the gable end truss algorithm.
This is a fairly minor fix/patch.
-
Version 2.2.1 - 10.05.2018
- The trim tool now allows for multiple trim operations once a trimming plane is selected.
- Pressing the ESC key will reinitialize the trim tool during multiple trim operations, space bar will terminate.
- The trim tool will now trim components as well as groups.
Advertisement