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.