Version 0.9.0 - 07.10.2025
- Created the Medeek HVAC Plugin, utilizing SketchUp's Ruby API.
- Added tools to create ductwork, fittings, and HVAC appliances (AC, furnaces, and heat pumps).

The BETA version is out, you can now download the trial version here:

http://design.medeek.com/calculator/sketchup/medeek_hvac_ext.rbz

Please be advised this is the very first release of the extension and there will be many fires to put out.

Tutorial 1 - Extension Overview (20.18 min.)

I've added a manufacturer parameter to the appliances menus since the number of part numbers is going to be so large I think it only makes sense to break these drop down boxes up a bit by "type" and "manufacturer". There will also be a "generic" option for those parts/appliances that do not have a manufacturer's logo affixed.



Modeling these various HVAC appliances is a bit tedious since I first have to find somewhat detailed literature or documentation so I can at least get them mostly dimensionally accurate.  Some of the features modeled are my best guesses based on images found online since not everything is dimensioned within the manufacturer's documentation. 

I also try to keep the models fairly low poly but typically there is not more than one or two of these appliances within a given model (for residential projects), so I am not as concerned as I am with HVAC fittings.

The following toolbar will be added for HVAC Appliances:



The HVAC Appliance tool will be for adding AC units, furnaces, fans, VAV's, boilers etc... Essentially any preconfigured HVAC equipment that is not duct work.

The will be simple stand alone assemblies that one can reposition using the native tools.

When you say random can you give more details?

Turn on the Ruby Console in SketchUp and then duplicate the error, copy and paste any error codes and send them to me.

If the plugin encounters and error it will usually abort mid-draw and simply abandon any geometry it has created up until that point at or near the origin of the model.  This is because each wall is initially draw at the origin of the model and then translated and rotated into place as one of the final steps of the draw process.

Turn on your axis in your model, does the geometry appear at or near the origin of the model?

The error could be a simple user error (ie. an incorrect value entered into one of the parameter fields) or it could be a legitimate bug.  The only way to tell is nail down what the error is and then investigate further.

Oval, round and rectangular are now up and running:

Offsets now seem to be working, now lets turn to rotations, no pun intended:

The next few days will be spent checking and double checking that the transition algorithms are robust and can handle all of the adjustments that get thrown at them. Overall they aren't too complicated, however when you start adding in offsets and rotations things can change very quickly.

This morning I started with offsets and size differences for a RECT-RECT transition, which is by far the simplest of all the transition permutations.  There are three different duct profiles which then yield six different possible combinations at any given transition, and each one needs to be tested and checked:

RECT-RECT
RND-RND
OVAL-OVAL
RECT-RND
RECT-OVAL
RND-OVAL



(The text labels shown are just my temporary debugging markers so that I can track my points)

Adding a rotation to a duct segment is probably going to be the worst case scenario in all of this, but I'm sure I can figure it out eventually.

Transitions and Tees are next:

Version 4.0.3 - 07.03.2025
- Fixed a long standing bug (06/27/2023) with the edit dimension tool for framing dimensions (rectangular walls).

Drawing Fittings:



Editing Fittings:



The library is similar to the Electrical plugins system so one can simply add in as many pre-built custom fitting components as you like.

It would be really nice if I setup my fittings menus similar to the UK outlet and switch menus in the electrical plugin, so that they give you a small preview image. The question is how much work will this be to create.

I'm debating whether to model the collar as shown. It does make the fitting more realistic but it does add some volume to the overall solid, which may affect my volume calcs if needed. I suppose I could figure out a clever way to calculate this out of the volume if it ever becomes an issue.



Thoughts?

Here is the start of the "boot" library:

4", 5", 6", 7", 8"

The naming convention is:

BOOT90_4X10X6_2

The last number indicates the vertical rise of the register box.



I think I have a enough now to start testing the component insertion logic.

I have no idea if there is an industry standard with these measurements.  Typically boots are call out by the inlet duct size (ie. 4", 6", 8" RND) and and angle and then the register size (rectangle - ie. 10x4).

However the other dimensions shown are a bit of a mystery to me.



In particular the 4" throat length and the 2.5" vertical rise of the register box (my best guestimates).  These dimensions will actually control the location of the register and/or the duct.  How do I get more info or data on these measurements?

To specify this boot completely my part number would probably be:

BOOT_10X4_90_RND_6

Additionally one could orientate it any rotation within the round duct so there is a rotational parameter.

Is it better to pre-model various sizes and configurations or provide parameters and generate the geometry on the fly?

The same duct assembly switched to round and oval profiles:





I don't really see any other duct profiles being used than these three (Round, Rectangular, Oval).

In the next week I will be adding the "Edit Segment" and "Edit Node" menus/tools. Once those are complete I will need some beta testers to provide feedback and feature suggestions. If you are interested and can provide high quality feedback then I would be willing to issue you a license. Please be aware that this plugin is in no way ready for a production environment. I still need to clean up the global settings (borrowed from the Floor plugin) and a number of tools are still needing to be added.

Please email me (nathan@medeek.com) if you are interested. I probably will only issue about 10 licenses for BETA testers, I don't want too many voices at this point. My preference is that you are familiar with HVAC and you do some of this modeling within SketchUp.

First look at the main assembly edit menu:



It seems like these menus always start off simple but then get overloaded with parameters. I will do my best to keep it simple but feature requests will ultimately dictate what form it evolves to.

Rectangular duct appears to be working as far as corners that "bend". I've still need to add in round and oval ducting, both of which should not be too much more difficult than square or rectangular ducting.

A few more editing tools to add (ie. segments, nodes, edge editing etc...). My youngest soon suggested that I also include a copy or eye drop tool similar to what is in the Wall plugin. I think this makes sense since it will be quite tedious to edit a bunch of segments or nodes and have to update them all separately.

I think it might also be useful to create a tool(s)which allows one to join or split an assembly into different assemblies.

After that I need to start adding in options for the nodes (ie. registers, boots, transitions etc...)

When creating a new duct assembly from a bunch of edges currently one has to select each edge by clicking on it. I think it need to update the tool so that one can drag a window and select the edges this way if desired. I've actually never programmed a "window selector" in any of my tools thus far so that should be interesting and maybe a little challenging.

Besides the segments we also need to the nodes as part of the primitive assembly:



Now that I have the primitives established I can develop system of configuring the segments and nodes that make up the duct network.