Question on TF Rubies capability?

I am trying to draw in Sketchup a small kingpost timberframe from a set of plans I have. I was able to draw the post to beam, and girt to post joint and have the create joint function work properly. However when I try to create the rafter to Kingpost joint, and also the rafter to Beam joint it doesn't seem to work?

Question?

Does the TF rubies create joint function work on odd geometry joints?

Yes it does. But it really depends on how you model the joinery and how the joint is oriented to the other timber. Can you post the file or an image of the joinery?

The 'cut plane' must be oriented correctly in the joint and positioned where the surface of the adjacent timber is to be.

Sometimes I've found it easier to model directly that to work up a subcomponent that relies on the rubies.

And soemtimes it requires more than one "joint" component to get it to cut on all the surfaces you want. If you post an example, we'll help you figure it out. CB.

Here is a link to my blog where I just uploaded a jpeg of the bent.

http://16x24kingpostcabin.blogspot.com/

The joints I can't seem to get too work are on the rafter. The ones in the post to beam worked without a hitch. In the joint between rafter and beam,I went on and cut the notch to accept the rafter.

Is there a separate component for the KP joint and the rafter foot? I don't see a line denoting that the timber contains multiple pieces. Each end that needs to do the cutting should be a component within the main 'timber'. These are then denoted as 'TF Make Joint'. When building this component the orientation of the cutting place should coincide with the face of the timber to be cut, as I've sketched in the attached image. You should have 2 (or more) components living within the main 'timber' component.



This is a great guide, if you haven't found it already:
http://tfguild.stores.yahoo.net/tifrdeusgosk.html

Here's an example for you with joinery:
KingTrussExample.skp

Here's a preview:

Thanks for the info. Rather than bother you with additional questions, I will wait till the booklet arrives, and see if it helps me.

Thanks Again.....

No bother, and good luck.

Have had a couple of hours today, to read Clark's book, and try the TF Rubies. I used the recommended directory structure, and started a new 3D model of the building.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0qOS6mLyI_4/TJ...+with+tenon.jpg

This is a link to a jpeg of where I am. I have the post with joints working in the beam of the bottom chord of the King Post Truss. However I can't get the rafter foot to cut the mortise. I manually drew the notch, and I am guessing that it has something to do with the gluing axes? In this instance would you need to make this two components for it to work?

Also another question? Does anyone know of an easy free place to host my .skp file so I can share it.

Thanks
Mike

The place to share .skp files is the 3d warehouse, but you could just email it to me, and I'll take a look. When I do a rafter foot like that, I make the "notch" as part of the joint on the rafter, so you don't have to manually create it on the tie beam. CB.

Daiku

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that if I get stumped, but I will keep plodding along for now. I did get the tie beam and now the bird's mouth notch, and tenon to work in the tie beam.

While reading the booklet, I think I found one of my problems. I had never been using the control key to pull an additional face when I started constructing tenons. I had noticed sometimes when I would create joints some faces would disappear. I am working on the kingpost rafter joint now.

Thanks again.

Daiku and I model with very different styles.

I like modeling my joinery right over the top of my timber components. I work outside of the 'container' - and just draw on the ends of timbers. When the joinery is complete (without pegs) - I create the component.

To get the TFJoint exactly back in its proper place I Edit>Cut the component, open the timber components, and then use Edit>Paste in Place.

This is especially helpful when working on compound joinery, as I've found lining up things with odd angles in the midst of complex models can be tricky. To do this I usually make a copy of the component I want to add joinery to and drag it over to the side. I'll draw on the joinery, create the component, and then 'copy' and 'paste in place'.

After getting it inside the timber component I'll then 'TF Create Joint' and add pegs as needed.



I've found this method to simplify things... especially when teaching someone new to SketchUp and TF. It solves some of the problems of being sure to only select specific faces / lines while inside a complicated timber.

I guess you're never too old to learn new tricks! I was not aware of the "paste-in-place" feature. Very useful! Thanks, Mike. CB.

My pleasure.
I've started a list of plug-ins and tips / tricks.
Will start a thread here when I get it assembled.

I think my problems have been with the joints within a timber. I thought I understood the component within a component, but I just can't seem to make it work. Question?

What is the basics of clicks :-)

Single click?
Double Click
Triple Click?

By the way, I followed your advice Mike, and started with a simple 2X10 board, saved it as a component, then imported while the rafter was selected. I then formed the Rafter King Post tenon, and put it in it's proper position on the Rafter. I now have the rafter King Post joint working... Woo Hoo!

Here's a video:



1 click - just the entity you select
2 clicks - geometry immediately touching the primary object you select
3 clicks - all 'loose' geometry that touches the primary object you select

It's slightly different if the object under you mouse is a component:

1 click - selects the component
2 clicks - "opens" the component
3 clicks - "opens" the component, and..

• if your mouse is over a sub-component, selects that sub-component
• otherwise, selects all teh 'loose' geometry touchign teh face your mouse is over.

ran out of time to shoot another vid, but yes - thats true for components.

Finally got some time this weekend, to use the software. Here is my completed model with all joints functioning.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0qOS6mLyI_4/TK...X24+working.jpg

Technique question?

When you are ready to publish the shop drawings do you keep them in a separate directory as skp files? I notice when I generate the shop drawing the dialog box "type file" is blank.

I give each project a folder - in it are subfolder - Architectural and Timberframe. Within the TF folder I use Engineering and Shop Drawing sub folders to keep everything sorted.

Depending on the size of the frame you could end up with lots of part drawings - which will clutter up your files so I keep these sperate and uniquely named.

A '.skp' file is no different than a Word, Excel, or PDF file - they can live anywhere convenient to you.

Out of convenience Clark suggests building a unique folder / location for your TF joint and timber components. This allows you to easily find and reuse common parts... Some of these may be the same as the parts in your current project - so be sure to have a good naming system so you an find things on the next project - or 5 projects down the road.