TrussMaker ( Can it be this limited? )

[Gerald Hoffman]

I don't normally use TrussMaker but I am doing some condo projects with
Steel roof framing and thought I would give it a try. I started doing my 1st girder truss which has a W 12x35 bottom chord and TS 6x6 Top chords and webs. I have looked at the manual which was a little thin on this but I don't seem to be able to select these different steel sections in the same truss window.

Anyone know if I am just missing something or if this is possible in a workaround.

Thanks in advance.

[Gerald Hoffman]

Steve thanks for doing all that work. I could do that as well and do make objects in this fashion if required but the point of this thread question was to eliminate all of those steps and be able to use TrussMaker for what it was designed for. My point is that it seems to be quite limited. If you have trusses with different section types it does not seem possible to do it in one process.

If I had one or two trusses like this I would just do it like you did although it is not really BIM. Sections would not show properly etc. This project has over 50 different truss configurations this just being one of them.

[Steve Jepson]

Yes, I understand your question. Yes, I think it is very limited.

I wanted to illustrate why I think the truss tool is not worth it.
Same goes for the Stair Maker. Not worth it.

Setting the a slab thickness and using the magic wand is far less steps than you need to do in making the truss maker work, and the end result you get from the truss maker is seldom exactly what you want.

Another advantage to modeling the trusses is that you can get the welds to show up exactly where they are. In sections your truss will be perfect. Even weld lines will show up if you model it.

It is totaly BIM. The object/truss will have an ID and will show up in a schedule. I use the same ID that the truss has on the truss diagram.

I don't think I have ever managed to create a truss using the truss maker that was perfect. Even on very simple trusses.