Truss roof generator

[DoTheBIM]

I'd like to see a pdf or something of how people are using the generated geometry in there documentation. schedules, views, detailing, etc. I supect this would be a bit of a pain and tedious at the same time to set up views and such if you have both floor framing and roof framing in close proximity of each other.

I'm attaching some shots of what came out of the tool by default for me. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I only ever get 2 trusses on any roof I pick and the truss grids get defined above my roof. Maybe the 2 truss thing is by design and you always have to copy/array last truss as needed (used to a another program filling the area for me). but the truss above the roof thing I don't understand. On simple roofs I can see by the videos that tool appears to work, but apparently we'd have to modify our modeling methods in order to make any use of the tool at all. Which would be a catch 22 as the current method is set up so that we can have an accurate take off of roof covering.

[gintaris.aksomitas]

Hi DoTheBIM,

1. You can send me roof with walls and I frame it for you.
2. You must use some roof modelling rules if you want to get right framing
Revit Roof instances parameters :Rafter or Truss = Truss (see pictures in Revit Help)
3. Two trusses: You must use AutoCopy function as in e-training video.
You must have web adrress if you have registered software
4. We have released 2009.2 week ago.

All works fine.
Please send me roof with walls and I make special video for you

br
Gintaris
gintaris@aga-cad.lt

[gintaris.aksomitas]

I have had the oppurtunity to play around with the software itself now for the last 2 months and I am really starting to like the program. I especially like the new version that has been released. It is much easier to make the trusses do what I want than it was previously.

Although there is very little documentation and the actual video's have no sound, I am finding that I can grasp most of what I need to do in order to achieve things. I would also like to thank Gintaris for all the help he has given me so far on getting around problems and finding solutions to interesting roofs.

Hi Elmo,
thanks
Revit 2010 come. Menu, toolbars and other things will changes.
Sound in e-training and e-help demos will be available for Truss+ 2010.

br
Gintaris

[gintaris.aksomitas]

Hi DoTheBIM

I have some questions.
Is your roof model logical based?
How do you want to frame roof with higher ridge (second picture)?
Which roof (roof part) is the main one?
From first and second pictures it looks like:
Roof with lower ridge is the main one. It must be framed with standard trusses along all length of roof.
For roof with higher ridge and triangle cuts partial valley sets are required.
Only complete Valley Set is included in current version of Truss+
In current version of Truss+ ridge of roof part with Valley Set can‘t be the highest ridge of roof.


br
Gintaris

[DoTheBIM]

I sent the model as you requested.
Not sure what you mean by logical based?
My main roof is the higher one, but I'm not sure what main roof means to your program as I don't see it defined anywhere. Main roof to a computer program may not mean main roof to a human.

My roof represents the coverage on top of the trusses or rafters (i.e. sheathing & shingles), it does not include the structural framing thickness in it's type definition. I found it to be too messy for modeling to include that information in the roof object, so I omitted it and set up or company process to do the same. Maybe thats what your asking about logical?

The real way we'd design and manufacture this roof is rafter for the higher ridge, trusses for the two sides including the valleys. but it shouldn't make a difference if I wanted to frame all of it with common trusses or some other method.

[gintaris.aksomitas]

Hi DoTheBIM,

Thanks. I got your roof.

Hi all,
New good next thema for this Thread - Roof modeling rules or standards!
What is roof? I think roof is not only sheathing & shingles.
Must include structural framing thickness.

br
Gintaris

[DoTheBIM]

Rules and guidelines for you tool would be very helpful to new users.

If your tool requires the structure to be included in the roof type then we would have to create/maintain/coordinate yet another roof object for each piece of roof.... becuase including the structure in residential roofs is not pratical for us unless it's 2x6 or less. If you have a 2x12 rafter system included in your roof definition then you have a 2x12 gable overhang too... which is quite unsightly in most conditions. This is why I choose to make our office standard to model the sheathing/shingles only as the structure isn't typically seen anyway except in section. Plus you had to model a seperate ceiling object anyway in order to place your lights. which kind of created that thickness for the structure without having to model it.

[gintaris.aksomitas]

How many Revit users work in this way?
We can add switch - structure included :ON/OFF

[DoTheBIM]

We had 7 at one time but are down to 3.

[gintaris.aksomitas]

Economical situation is not so good as we want