Development and Updates for the Medeek Truss Plugin

[Medeek]

I still need to come up with a good porch module for wrap around porches and the like, but in the meantime with some careful use of the SUBTRACT function one can get pretty close:





The model can be viewed here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/64c6616c-bbfb-4323-98da-e6c60fa3a522/Wrap-Around-Porch

[Medeek]

Version 3.3.6 - 10.20.2023
- Sheathing Vertical Offset parameters added for attic trusses.
- Cladding Vertical Offset parameters added attic trusses.
- Wall Cladding Gap parameter added for common, monopitch and attic trusses.



The wall cladding gap parameter was added to bring the Truss plugin inline more with the Wall plugin.

[Medeek]

Version 3.3.7 - 10.29.2023
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for symmetric cathedral trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Added ceiling gypsum for symmetric cathedral trusses.
- Fixed a minor bug with parallel chord trusses.

[Medeek]

Version 3.3.9 - 12.30.2023
- Updated and improved the license verification module.
- Disabled redundant logging to improve plugin performance.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.0 - 01.11.2024
- Added a "Primitive" option to the roof framing parameter within the Draw and Edit menus for the following rafter roofs: Gable, Shed, Shed (with ledger), Hip.
- Added lower pitches to the draw menus for the following rafter roofs: Gable, Shed, Shed (with ledger), Hip.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.1 - 04.18.2024
- Fixed a compatibility bug with SketchUp 2024 while maintaining compatibility with previous versions of SketchUp.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.2 - 04.23.2024
- Fixed a compatibility bug with SketchUp 2024 (Fixnum & Bignum) while maintaining backward compatibility with previous versions of SketchUp.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.3 - 04.30.2024
- Added ceiling gypsum for tray and coffer trusses.
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for tray and coffer trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled labels for tray and coffer trusses.
- Updated the license verification system with a more secure and improved algorithm.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.4 - 05.02.2024
- Added ceiling gypsum for cambered and mono cathedral trusses.
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for cambered and mono cathedral trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled labels for cambered and mono cathedral trusses.
- Fixed some minor bugs for mono cathedral trusses.

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.5 - 05.10.2024
- Enabled ceiling insulation for shed rafter roofs: Batt, Blown-in.
- Enabled ceiling insulation for gable rafter roofs: Batt, Blown-in.
- Enabled ceiling insulation for hip rafter roofs: Batt, Blown-in.
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for all flat trusses (imperial and metric units).

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.6 - 05.16.2024
- Enabled sheathing, cladding, ridge cap and labels for dual pitch trusses.
- Updated the polynesian truss so layers and materials are properly assigned.
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for dual pitch trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for polynesian trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for bowstring trusses (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled the "Edit Truss Assembly" function for bow barrel trusses (imperial and metric units).



The edit and regen functions have now been enabled for all active truss types within the plugin.  However I still have four truss types that need to be setup and activated. Those four truss types are:

- Clerestory
- Barrel Vault
- Studio Vault
- Double Inverted

The squeaky wheel gets the grease and that is the reason I have not circled back to complete these additional truss types but they are on my radar, just not the highest priority.

Enabling the full parametric ability of each truss and rafter roof type probably should have been top priority once I determined how to achieve that functionality however other plugins and other items always seemed to gain higher priority. Either way this is a bit of milestone for this plugin, finally glad to get this monkey off my back. Granted I still need to work on the advanced options for many of these truss types, the work never seems to end.

I'm 52 this year, since I started to code this plugin in 2015 I've been through a neck and a back surgery (2016 and 2023), but somehow I'm still going and I am very much back in the saddle. Looking at my rather lengthy todo lists for each plugin (including the Floor plugin) I've probably got enough development stuff to keep me gainfully occupied for the next 8-10 years.

[Medeek]

Here is what the configuration menu will look like for each roof "connection":



This will allow for independently adjusting the trimming for each attached roof.  By default the connection will trim everything on the primary roof but it can be adjusted as needed.

I now have the basic system in place and working for the rafter roofs but if you look closely you can see there is still some refinement necessary.  The example shown is two gable rafter roofs that are connected, with the trimming of the primary roof limited to only framing, cladding, gutters and soffit/fascia.  Note that the insulation, gypsum, rafters and sheathing is not trimmed on the primary roof:







The tricky part with the refinement is how best to generate the cutting solid to subtract away the unwanted portions of the roof(s).  Currently the way I am doing it is using the hidden roof primitive and the roof outline.  I basically take the roof outline, extrude it vertically down and then union this solid with the roof primitive above.  The resulting solid is then used to subtract against the geometry of any attached roofs.  This seems to work reasonably well in most cases but as you can see with the soffit and fascia (and the gutters) there is some overlapping and other minor complications.  The insulation also gets a little carved out in places but it is mostly acceptable.







Thoughts or suggestions?

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.7 - 05.23.2024
- Enabled Roof Connections between complex roofs, rafter roofs, truss roofs and solid groups.
- Added the "Configure Roof Connection" feature to the edit menu for complex, rafter and truss roofs.

This is not a completely new feature however the configuration capability introduced (and the level of granularity achievable) is new and somewhat experimental at this point.  I'm sure it will take a few updates and versions before all the issues are worked out and all the necessary refinement is achieved.

Also note that that not all rafter roofs and not all truss types have this feature enabled yet.  The following rafter roofs have been enabled:

- Gable
- Shed
- Shed w/ Ledger

The following truss types have been enabled:

- Common
- Monopitch
- Scissor
- Attic
- Tail Bearing
- Symmetric Cathedral
- Cathedral
- Parallel Chord

More to come soon...

[Medeek]

Version 3.4.8 - 05.25.2024
- Enabled Roof Connections for the following additional truss types: tray, monocathedral, cambered, monoscissor and coffer.
- Enabled Roof Connections for hip and dutch gable rafter roofs.
- Enabled the "Edit Roof Assembly" function for dutch gable rafter roofs (imperial and metric units).
- Enabled the following 3D roof cladding material for dutch gable rafter roofs: Metal.

[Medeek]

Tutorial 30: General Roof Connections (16:54 min.)



Please email me any feedback or suggestions on this new feature.