Version 1.5.4 - 04.21.2016
- Added a graphical user interface (GUI) for the selection of the truss type in the "Draw Roof Truss" sub-menu.
- GUI can be toggled with previous drop down menu within global settings.








As you can see there is only one global setting at the moment but now that I have the interface and back end properly setup it won't take much to add in a number of other global values.  At some point I will probably have enough parameters that I will need to enable some sort of tabbed html front end for the global setting menu.


With html web dialog boxes I am not sure how well they work on a Mac, the whole sync vs. async issue is a real problem for web dialogs and Macs.  I only test on a PC so I can't guarantee 100% compatibility on a Mac.  So far I haven't had too many complaints.

Version 1.5.3 - 04.20.2016
- Added Mono Cathedral truss type, configurations: (2/2, 4/4).
- Metric input enabled for mono cathedral truss type.
- Added gable end trusses for mono cathedral truss type.
- Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Mono Cathedral (2/2, 4/4) truss types.
- Added Mono Scissor truss type, configuration: (4/4).



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=2ba29c11-a7b2-4913-a758-c005eb1288f9

I manually modeled this truss type about two months ago and I have been meaning to add it in, finally got it done tonight.

Manually created model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u5c030ac2-f2e4-4c8d-8d9b-67bfa780ee7f

Per user request:

Version 1.5.2 - 04.18.2016
- Added energy/raised heels for small span attic trusses (less than 24 ft.), 1 variant: vertical w/ strut.
- Added some additional logic to improve the triangulation of the upper attic of attic trusses.



When I get some more time I will add in slider and wedge raised heel options for the attic truss type but at that moment it is low priority since most users seem to favor a fairly tall raised heel when utilizing it with attic trusses.

Looking at the half hip roof next.  Fairly cut and dried but I'm a little undecided how to handle the birdsmouth cut of the hip rafter where it intersects the discontinuity of the gable wall.  I will probably use the same birdsmouth cut on the half hip rafters as the other common rafters of the roof.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ce1dd25e-7674-4625-981e-52a4e07b9997

A nested dutch gable roof created with the plugin.  The roof is initially generated by creating three dutch gable primitives and then deleting and trimming certain elements.  The most time consuming is the creation of the two valley rafters.  I think it might be helpful to have some sort of valley rafter tool if I can figure out a good way of doing that.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=2676e970-a79e-40a3-8c77-63208c9d93ef

Version 1.5.1 - 04.16.2016
- Added Dutch Gable Rafter Roof (all advanced options enabled).
- Added wireframe (temporary) graphics to the roof positioning tool for rafter roofs.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=614d542d-8dcc-4f2f-bbdc-fd4bc4c1f1e7

I still need to setup ceiling joists for hip and dutch gable roofs.

Updating the hip roof module so that an appropriate wireframe is displayed while using the roof positioning tool:



I will roll a revision once I've finished updating all of the rafter roof types with updated wireframes (preview graphics).

Version 1.5.0 - 04.11.2016
- Added Mono Scissor truss type, configurations: (2/2, 3/3).
- Metric input enabled for mono scissor truss type.
- Added gable end trusses for mono scissor truss type.
- Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Mono Scissor (2/2, 3/3) truss types.



When the raised heel option is selected the pitch of the bottom chord may equal the top chord creating a half vaulted parallel chord truss.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=8e90b148-e241-4c88-b8b4-83c21ec12a3d

Raised heels are also enabled for this truss type, the combination of structural outlookers (vert & horz.) with the raised heel (wedge, slider, vert) makes for some interesting combinations and for some challenging logic/programming in order to get it all right.

Version 1.4.9 - 04.04.2016
- Added Tray truss type, configurations: (AUTO).
- Metric input enabled for tray truss type.
- Added gable end trusses for tray truss type.

Tray Trusses working now I just need to enable gable ends and advanced options:



Note the three large trusses are all 36' span with different tray widths and different web triangulations.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ub0bbdf3a-4749-4e8a-8016-758869f692b6

Tray truss algorithm:



A more complex algorithm would be required for a non-centered tray.

Version 1.4.8 - 04.01.2016
- Added Mod Fan common truss type.
- Structural outlookers (vert. & horz.) enabled under advanced roof options for Common (Mod Fan) truss type.



View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u3cf3d051-4d02-4490-af81-5693296cca33

With the addition of the Mod Fan (Triple Fan) the line up of common trusses is complete.  I still need to add in raised heels and structural outlookers for some of the configurations. 

Theoretically I could add in additional configurations of the Fink and Howe truss types for extremely large roofs but the largest I've ever seen is a raised heel Quad Fink (10/9).  Large spans beyond 70'-80' are probably not practical as far as a single span common truss roof.  At that point you pretty much go with large flat roofs with interior columns and girders and all steel construction (think Walmart or Cosco).

Six possible end details for a flat truss (Pratt 4 panels), there are probably others but these seem to be the most common:



1.) Mansard w/ Parapet
2.) Parapet
3.) Mansard
4.) Overhang
5.) Cantilever
6.) None

Both Mansard configurations can also have an optional overhang as shown.  The Parapet configuration should allow for customizing the thickness of the parapet wall.

View model here:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=ude4e9b15-f67e-40de-a99f-97d2044182ad

This truss type with its many end configurations would work well with an HTML UI, that is the direction I will be going with future user inputs and interfaces since the ability to customize is unlimited.

With the flat trusses I will initially offer both Howe and Pratt with the ability to utilize a low slope or zero slope.

To further clarify the framing details with regards to attic trusses and structural outlookers I've created a sample model with a proposed dropped top chord gable end attic truss:





Please download and review the model here:


https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u8c3afc5c-482a-41ea-b223-988b1cccd8bc


I've also included the infill wall framing to help put everything into reference (light green).


Is this the appropriate way to frame an attic truss (gable end) with structural outlookers?

Just as a word of warning this plugin is far from a polished or finished product.  There are still a lot of loose ends that need tying up.  Case in point I have not yet enabled gable end trusses for the attic truss type.  The reason is the complication of dropping the top chord for structural outlookers where the attic truss has a spliced top chord.  Below is an example of a attic truss with a dropped top chord that I have encountered in the past but I don't know if this is the best method of handling this situation. 





I would like to enable structural outlookers for attic trusses in the next few days just to wrap this up.  Any thoughts or suggestions or examples of similar configurations are very much appreciated.