topic Length of Rafters in Modeling

Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Tue, 23 May 2023 15:22:50 GMT

Lazlo,

I need the length on the slope of my rafters to show up in my Framing Schedule.

Is there any option in the Calculation fields to do this?
I didn't find any fields in the calculation setup that will give you the actual length of a rafter or inclined beam. Is there one?

It seems like an easy piece of information to include in the objects properties.

How do you do tweak the GDL script for the object to show actual length instead of length on the run.

The other function that I would like is for the program to summarize the combinations of all lengths into units of 2' multiples starting with 8'. Its the number of 12', 14', 16' ect... that I need to know, as well as the individual lengths, and total of all lengths combined.

Surely one of you GDL gurus can make and add-on to do that. It would be a very valuable tool.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:27:25 GMT

Does anyone besides me try to use ArchiCAD to make a List for rafters? How do you do get true rafter length with ArchiCAD? I dont want to do jobs like this by hand if I dont have to.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 08:39:21 GMT

I can even show in my rafters list the size and location of the vent holes in the rafters but it can not tell me what the actual lenght of the rafter is? There must be some way to do this very important thing.

Re: Length of Rafters

Ralph Wessel — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 10:59:50 GMT

Steve wrote:
I need the length on the slope of my rafters to show up in my Framing Schedule.
The other function that I would like is for the program to summarize the combinations of all lengths into units of 2' multiples starting with 8'. Its the number of 12', 14', 16' ect... that I need to know, as well as the individual lengths, and total of all lengths combined.
Surely one of you GDL gurus can make and add-on to do that. It would be a very valuable tool.

Steve,

Take a look at our FrameWright Pro add-on - it has been designed in partnership with framers for comprehensive timber scheduling, including curved or custom-profile shapes. It also takes the extra length for jointing and specified timber increments into account.

Cutting lists can either schedule timber on a piece by piece basis, or grouped according to bounding sizes.

You can find more information at: http://www.encina.co.uk/framewright_pro.html

For information about FrameWright's scheduling: http://www.encina.co.uk/timber_schedule.html

You can run FrameWright as a demo or request a 1 month free trial. Go to our software download page for more information: http://www.encina.co.uk/software.html

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:08:32 GMT

I have looked at FrameWright Pro before. It looks good.
I am waiting for ArchiCAD's new Framing Manager add-on.

There are lots of programs that will do a good job of making a roof framing cut list. I want to use my ArchCAD. It seems like not being able to list rafters by their actual length is a someting that needs to be fixed badly. I still think there must be some way to do it with ArchiCAD. I guess I will have to learn GDL programing and fix the problem my self.

Re: Length of Rafters

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:55:48 GMT

I do have some GDL objects that will provide a lumber list and/or a cut list. It will give you the actual size of lumber needed to produce a rafter, hip or valley (so if a rafter is 10'6" you need a 12' piece of lumber). It will even figure out hips and valleys of intersecting roofs of differing pitches. It uses 2D symbols but haven't bothered to do 3D parts to go along with them.

woodster

Re: Length of Rafters

Ralph Wessel — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:58:22 GMT

Steve wrote:
I have looked at FrameWright Pro before. It looks good.
There are lots of programs that will do a good job of making a roof framing cut list. I want to use my ArchCAD. It seems like not being able to list rafters by their actual length is a someting that needs to be fixed badly. I still think there must be some way to do it with ArchiCAD. I guess I will have to learn GDL programing and fix the problem my self.

Steve,

Pleased to hear you liked the look of FrameWright. The good news is that it isn't a stand-alone product - FrameWright is an ArchiCAD add-on and is fully integrated with with the ArchiCAD user interface. For example, you saving timber schedules through the standard ArchiCAD 'Save As...' menu.

It also adds a new tool to the standard tool palette, and all the framing tools are accessed through a menu appended to the standard ArchiCAD menus: http://www.encina.co.uk/fwpro_tools.html

We developed this product in direct response to the problems you described - ArchiCAD is a fantastic product, but can't cater for the particular needs of professional framers. Beyond scheduling, FrameWright addresses the entire process of modelling framing effectively (which presents a real challenge for ArchiCAD): http://www.encina.co.uk/virtual_framing.html

Timber has to be handled in a very specific way which doesn't suit all users, and that's what FrameWright is for. And we are actively developing the product in response to our user's requirements. If you are looking for someone to develop to your specifications, then jump on board

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 13:25:58 GMT

Steve wrote:
Lazlo,

I need the length on the slope of my rafters to show up in my Framing Schedule.

Is there any option in the Calculation fields to do this?
I didn't find any fields in the calculation setup that will give you the actual length of a rafter or inclined beam. Is there one?

It seems like an easy piece of information to include in the objects properties.

How do you do tweak the GDL script for the object to show actual length instead of length on the run.

The other function that I would like is for the program to summarize the combinations of all lengths into units of 2' multiples starting with 8'. Its the number of 12', 14', 16' ect... that I need to know, as well as the individual lengths, and total of all lengths combined.

Surely one of you GDL gurus can make and add-on to do that. It would be a very valuable tool.

Hi Steve,

I guess your original question was addressed to me.

I looked at the Property Script of the object 'Rafter2_'.gsm', one of the Rafter objects of RoofMaker.

I can see some components there which are defined. It looks this this:

L=(A+O)/COS(P)

database_set "RoofMaker 2.1"

ref component "001", "RM 2.1", L ! Length
ref component "002", "RM 2.1", B ! Width
ref component "003", "RM 2.1", H ! Height

DRAWING

The first one will return the length of the Rafter.
If you create a List Scheme and list these components that should work.
Unfortunately I can only give you the theory, because actually making would take a couple of hours until it is workable.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:57:32 GMT

Thanks Laszlo,
I knew you would have the answer I needed.
Thank you.

L in the dimension I want (length on the slope) if A+O = length on the run and P= theta (rafters angle).

Length on the slope = length on the run/cos of the angle.

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 19:47:01 GMT

Yes, that's it.
I was thinking this one formula is not always accurate because if the end of the rafter is cut vertically, it must be longer than in case it is cut perpendicularly (see attached image).
So the beginning of the Property Script of the Rafter object might be modified in such a way:

If R= "Perpendicular" THEN
L=(A+O)/COS(P)
ENDIF

If R= "Vertical" THEN
....
ENDIF

If R= "Rectangular Cut" THEN
....
ENDIF

I don't want to take from you the joy of doing the math in the other two cases

Then, when you have L, you can round it up to the nearest available timber length (which you can define in an array), and then list THAT value.
This way you will have a pretty good estimation on the amounts.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:24:35 GMT

This is what my Interactive Schedules to look like.

I select the components by layer (studs, plates, rafters, etc...) I like using the Interactive schedules because it lets me tweak the objects in the schedule and it will update my model.

The problem with using the interactive schedule is that I couldn't find a field to select that would give me the rafter length I want.

What I need figure out is how to create a new "field" to select for use with the interactive schedules I like to use.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:14:05 GMT

Where can i find info about how to creat custom parameters for the interactive schedules ?

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:19:23 GMT

Step 1:

You can list any of the additional parameters of a Library Object.

Open the Rafter 2_1.gsm file and create a new parameter called L.
Add the following line to the Parameter Script:

PARAMETERS L=(A+O)/COS(P)

What this will do is based on the values of parameters A, O and P, it will set the value of parameter L. See attached image.

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:21:09 GMT

Step 2:

Create the Rafter List IS Setting.

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:26:58 GMT

Step 3:

Now, in the Fields Tab Page, click the Additional Parameters button, and in the upcoming subdialog, find the Rafter 2_1 object in the list of objects within Object Library 9.lib.
Select only the Length Type parameters from the Show Parameter Types field on the right of this subdialog.
Check the name (description) of the L parameter you created in the Rafter 2_1 object (Slope length of rafter in my case)
Click OK.
The parameter will appear in the Parameters to List field.

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:29:57 GMT

Step 4:

You can now list this parameter.
In the attached image you can see the list I created. Just for comparison, I listed the length (A) parameter as well (which is the horizontal length of the rafter). Its value is negative it is shorter than the eaves overhang, positive, if longer.
I hope that will do it.

Of course, if you want the lengths rounded up to the nearest available timber size, you have to do it in the Parameter Script so when you set the value of L with the PARAMETERS command, it has the value you want to see listed.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:40:34 GMT

WOW!

Re: Length of Rafters

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:41:26 GMT

So you made it work, I assume

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 22:02:55 GMT

Almost, I know it will work great.
I am still setitng up my test.
I will post the results latter.

Thank you very much for your great help.

Re: Length of Rafters

Steve Jepson — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:58:50 GMT

one more glitch... I was able to tweak the Rafter2_1 to include the "Slope length of rafter" but when I try to select Additional Parameters for listing the new dimension type is not available because it is still looking at the old library part. How do I get the tweaked library part into the ArhciCAD library? When I save the changes it puts the new part in a different library and I cant make it save to the main ArchCAD library or select objects from different libraries.