3D Truss Models

medeek

I've been working on a Trim and Extend tool that will allow one to trim or extend a member (ie. rafter) to a face of another member (the face will define the plane). Since I don't yet have advanced roofs figured out this feature would come in very handy where roof primitives are initially used to generate the roof geometry and then some manual intervention is necessary.

I'm still not quite there yet and there may be some insurmountable problems ahead but the goal is to have the tool recognize the cutting plane and then the selected (solid) group and automatically trim the group to the plane inserting new vertices and faces as required to close the solid back up and also delete the appropriate geometry.

If I delete the vertices of the group that are on the "clicked" side of the plane that will also eliminate any of the unwanted faces. The algorithm will involve some tricky applications with vectors and line/plane intersections to try and sort it all out. I am quite impressed with the API and its geometry functions.

juju

@medeek said:

Version 1.6.7 - 07.21.2016

Battens (at peak) can be offset from peak.

Peak-to-Eave spacing option available when "battens at peak" option is selected.

I tested this, works as expected, thanks!

@medeek said:

This was a very small update so I just tucked it into the latest revision.

naughty naughty, revision history "paper trail", still thanks none-the-less

medeek

If a fix or correction is fairly minor and it is within the same 24 hour period as a new revision I like to bundle it into that revision otherwise it appears I am making leaps and strides with the development when I am not.

Garry K

Sorry Nathaniel,

I'm with Julu on this.

In my 34 years of programming - this type of short circuiting general accepted practice more often than not gets programmers into trouble.

I know I've done it myself - and sometimes I've gotten away with it - and sometimes I've created problems for users. Even alienating a single user due to frustration is simply not worth it !!!

So naughty naughty it is !!!

facer

Nathaniel,
I support the other posts but would not go as far as saying "naughty".

Within a 24 hr period a lot of downloads could have occurred.
Now you will have a group of users that may be out of step.
Not Good!

Best to keep to the rule of:
ANY CHANGE THAT IS ISSUED REQUIRES A NEW NUMBER DESIGNATION.

Having said that "Keep Going" you are on a roll.
I look forward to your "Manual" which could be released as a "Beta"
so you get feedback on how it is received.

medeek

Okay, you all have a point I will avoid this practice in the future. However I will note that the change log lists every modification to the plugin since I started.

On a different note I just started a new job and I'm living out of a suitcase right now so I probably won't be able to work on anything for at least a week or two. I would really like to test the trim function I've created but it will have to wait. Once i get my workstation back I will hit it full force.

juju

Congratulations on the new job! Uprooting/moving is always uncomfortable, so wishing you as little discomfort as possible.

Looking forward to the future development of both the truss and slab/foundation plugins.

medeek

I haven't had any time this week or even this weekend to dive back into it yet but the icons for the Medeek Tools Menu (trim and extend for now) will look like this:

medeek

The trim function is a work in progress. I had some help with a developer on the other board but it has a ways to go yet.

juju

How's the new job going? Have you settled in already?

medeek

Starting to get my bearings with the new job. Still haven't found a place to live yet, Airbnb has been interesting.

medeek

Version 1.6.8 - 08.20.2016

Added the Medeek Tools toolbar with Trim and Extend icons.
Added the trim function for (solid) groups and components.

Only the trim function currently works with this latest release. I'm also not completely satisfied with the trim function as it tends to break down when dealing with components that have tranformed instances. I am still working on this one. The main reason I've released it is for a few of my SketchUp mentors to have the ability to test the trim function and hopefully help me work the bugs out of it.

medeek

I've created a SketchUp model tonight using the truss and foundation plugins to further examine a structural design I am working on.

View and download model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=cb424537-7ad2-4afb-a53b-1ab547feec26

I think I will probably add a TJI roof that allows one to use two glulam beams with cantilevered rafters as shown in this model, this configuration seems to be fairly popular.

facer

Medeek,

What function do the Bracket - Fixings shown in attached jpeg serve?

I assume they are Simpson Strong-Tie HDU2-SDS2.5 (as noted in your Skp model - entity info)
but why so far from the bottom plate - bolts to be added later or in situ?

Good work, keep them coming

Brackets purpose?

medeek

The HDU5 at the corner is primarily for the lower shearwall, the HDU4 about 24" inboard is for the the portal frame load path in the wall above, notice the straps between floors that complete the load path. I have not shown the SB5/8X24 anchor bolts that will be placed in the forms before the concrete is poured. I showed the holdowns about 1-1/2" above the sill plate, actual height will be dictated by the extension of the anchor bolts above the sill plate and is not really critical. The holdowns could just as well sit directly on the bottom plate.

What I've shown in this window wall is a site built wood moment frame, what I have not shown is the required nailing patterns. I also forgot to add in the pad footings for the PSL posts, and possibly a few more A35 clips and straps, but overall it is mostly complete. I am still working on the lateral analysis of the total structure which may change the sizing of the straps and holdowns slightly. This is the typical work I do during my day job but its fun to throw together a 3D model to really look at how it all goes together.

Frederik

After having updated the plugin, I now get the following error, when I open SU...

Error Loading File C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial/medeek_load.rb
Error: #<NameError: undefined local variable or method pluginserial' for Medeek_Engineering_Inc_Extensions::MedeekTrussPluginModuleLoader:Module> C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial/medeek_load.rb:205:in module:MedeekTrussPluginModuleLoader'
C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial/medeek_load.rb:22:in <module:Medeek_Engineering_Inc_Extensions>' C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial/medeek_load.rb:20:in <top (required)>'
C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/Tools/extensions.rb:197:in require' C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/Tools/extensions.rb:197:in load'
C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial.rb:39:in register_extension' C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial.rb:39:in module:MedeekTrussPluginLoader'
C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial.rb:23:in <module:Medeek_Engineering_Inc_Extensions>' C:/Users/kim/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2016/SketchUp/Plugins/medeek_truss_ext_trial.rb:22:in <top (required)>'

medeek

I forgot to remove a "#" sign when I removed some debugging code in the trial version. Re-download and install again (Version 1.6.8). Sorry for breaking it.

Frederik

No problem...
Glad you've solved the issue...

Frederik

Hhhmmm... Although I've downloaded ver 1.6.8, installed it, re-started SU, I still have this issue...

medeek

Manually remove the plugin folder and files and then do a clean install, let me know if that doesn't fix it.