Stucsoft Solutions - MWF Pro Trussstrucsoftsolutions.net/mwftutorials/MWF_Pro_Truss_Manual.pdf4 Trusses can also be created using multiple roof elements. When creating a truss that

MWF Pro Truss User Guide

Last Updated on November 9th

2015

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Table of contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Things to Know Before Starting.................................................................................... 3

1.1.1 Revit Model ........................................................................................................... 3

1.1.2 Roof ...................................................................................................................... 3

2. Envelopes ........................................................................................................................... 4

2.1 General Envelope Creation .......................................................................................... 4

2.1.1 Creating a Truss Envelope Automatically .............................................................. 4

2.1.2 Creating/Editing a Truss Envelope Manually ......................................................... 7

2.2 Truss Profile Envelopes ............................................................................................... 8

2.2.1 Common Trusses ................................................................................................. 8

2.2.2 Valley Trusses ...................................................................................................... 9

2.2.3 Hip Trusses .........................................................................................................10

2.2.4 Ridge And Parallel Jack Trusses .........................................................................12

2.2.5 Perpendicular Jack Trusses .................................................................................13

2.2.6 Ridge Truss .........................................................................................................15

2.2.7 Half Trusses ........................................................................................................17

2.2.8 Gable Ladder .......................................................................................................18

2.2.9 Hip End ................................................................................................................18

3. Framing an Envelope .........................................................................................................20

3.1 Truss Designer Settings ..............................................................................................20

3.1.1 General Settings ..................................................................................................20

3.1.2 Webbing ..............................................................................................................21

3.1.3 Member sizes ......................................................................................................23

3.1.4 Physical Member .................................................................................................23

3.1.5 Designer Preferences ..........................................................................................24

3.2 Truss Designer ...........................................................................................................24

3.2.1 Assigning Properties of Element Lines .................................................................25

3.2.2 Generating Web Lines .........................................................................................25

4. Truss Properties .................................................................................................................26

4.1 Elements Visualization ................................................................................................26

4.2 Flip the Direction of a Web Member ............................................................................27

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4.3 Deleting a Member of the Truss ..................................................................................27

4.4 Adding a Member in the Truss ....................................................................................28

4.5 Adding a new Node .....................................................................................................28

4.5.1 Adding On Member Nodes...................................................................................28

4.5.2 Adding Off Member Nodes ...................................................................................30

5. Edit Instance ......................................................................................................................31

6. Labels ................................................................................................................................31

6.1 Edit Truss Label Mapping ...........................................................................................31

6.2 Edit Truss Label ..........................................................................................................31

6.3 Regenerate Truss Tags ..............................................................................................31

7. Drawings ............................................................................................................................31

8. Input / Output .....................................................................................................................31

8.1 BOM Report ................................................................................................................31

8.2 Global Settings ...........................................................................................................31

8.3 DXF Generator ...........................................................................................................31

9. Floor Trusses .....................................................................................................................32

9.1 Creating the Floor Panel .............................................................................................32

9.2 Floor Truss Properties ................................................................................................33

9.2.1 Changing Properties of Floor Truss Panel ...........................................................33

9.2.2 Floor Truss Cutback Options ...............................................................................34

9.2.3 Floor Truss Panel Openings ................................................................................34

9.2.4 Adding / Deleting Trusses ....................................................................................36

9.2.5 Editing a Single Truss Instance ............................................................................37

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1. Introduction

This manual highlights the features that can be used to create a truss project, based on standard commercial definitions. Each topic demonstrates tools that you can use to complete tasks that are common to an overall workflow. You will learn some of the practices that can help you efficiently design and develop a truss framing project, using a 3D Revit model as a start point.

1.1 Things to Know Before Starting

When starting a project and using MWF Pro Truss there are a few basic things one

should know before getting started with the software.

1.1.1 Revit Model

In general terms, you will need to have a complete and final Revit project consisting of,

at the least, a roof and its supports: walls and/or any other structural element that will

support or represent the support of the truss (beams or model lines).

1.1.2 Roof

Make sure layers, slope and overhangs of the roof are accurate; MWF Pro Truss will

use the geometry and position of these elements to generate the truss envelope.

By default, the truss envelope (lines created on the outermost boundary of the truss's

top chord, bottom chord and heels) is created aligned to the outer face of the roof. An

offset distance can be added to adjust the truss to the project needs.

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Trusses can also be created using multiple roof elements. When creating a truss that is

spanning multiple roof planes, MWF Pro Truss will consider the outmost face of the

roofs to create its envelope.

2. Envelopes

The first step towards the creation of the truss project is to create the truss envelopes.

The envelope is a group of model lines create at the boundaries of the truss elements

(when in elevation) and it is centred in the middle of the truss (when in plan view). It will

represent the truss until the final creation of its members.

2.1 General Envelope Creation

We will consider the ‘General Envelope’ as being the result of using a section of the roof

and its multiple planes to generate the truss envelope, or any other non-standard truss

outline.

There are two methods to creating truss envelopes: automatically and manually. The

automatic route is fastest and it will create the envelopes solely based on the roof’s

geometry, distributed along a specific length of the roof, usually limited by its supports.

The manual way of creating a truss envelope is a freehand method of creating any

desired shape, not necessarily bound to a specific roof’s geometry. This can be used for

the creation of more complex shapes, or in any other scenario independent of a roof

element.

The next few topics in this guide will explain the possible ways to achieve these.

2.1.1 Creating a Truss Envelope Automatically

Select the roof element and click the Create command in

MWF Pro Truss.

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You will then be prompted to pick the roof supports. Click the 'Supports' button in the

Create Envelopes dialog box and select two parallel walls that will support that area of

the roof. Please note that beams and representative model lines can also be used as

supports.

Once you are done selecting the walls, click the 'Finish' button on the top of Revit's

drawing area.

The Support Alignment dialog box will pop up. There you can select the alignment

options based on the roof element.

The Layer Align option will create the envelope at

the layer selected in this drop down box.

The Wall Align option will be used for the

alignment of the truss's heels. Far would

represent furthest from centre of truss.

If you select a beam as a support, you can

choose the alignment in the Beam Align area.

With the Cantilever Offset option

you can add an offset value for

the heel positioning from the

layer alignment that was chosen.

Click Ok to continue with the

envelope creation.

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The Create Envelopes dialog box will pop up once again. This time you can add options

for the truss Spacing, placement of Offset From Outer Face for the chosen roof layer

and to Add Additional Truss At End of roof.

If you need to space the trusses along a specific path, you can add an offset value to a

picked location. You will see a green reference line that you can use to select the offset

point by clicking Pick in the Offsets area, or you can use any other model line in the

project to use as reference.

Note that the truss distribution is limited by the

length of its shortest support. Click Ok in the

Create Envelopes dialog box to add the truss

envelopes and repeat the process by choosing

new supports to complete your roof project.

Model lines representing the truss

envelopes will be created and grouped as

Model Groups. They will be distributed

along the roof based on the spacing

previously chosen.

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2.1.2 Creating/Editing a Truss Envelope Manually

You can simply create a single truss envelope manually by using Revit commands.

First, create the profile of the envelope using Revit Model Lines, in a section or

elevation view of your Revit project.

Then, select all the newly created lines and use Revit's Create Group command to

group the lines into a model group.

MWF Pro Truss will be able to use any model group to create a truss. Keep in mind that

the truss will be created where the model group is, which may not be the desired

location, if this is the case it is advised that you move it and copy the model groups to

create new envelopes.

You can also edit the model groups created (automatically or manually created

envelopes) to adjust the lines to the needs of your project.

→

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2.2 Truss Profile Envelopes

Depending on the shape of the roof and the truss project requirements, you might need

to create extra standard truss profiles in some parts of the roof, sometimes not

achievable with the general automatic creation that was previously explained in this

guide. For that, you can use the available standard Truss Profile commands in the MWF

Pro Truss menu.

These tools will also generate envelopes that will

later be used for the truss creation.

2.2.1 Common Trusses

The Common Trusses tool will generate trusses that will be distributed

along the whole length of the truss ridge, independent of the length of

the roof supports (walls and/or beams). In the example below you can

see that even when one of the support walls is shorter than the ridge's

length, truss envelopes are still created.

To create a common truss envelope, select the roof and click the Common Trusses

command under the Truss Profile menu. A dialog box will pop up so you can select the

Main Ridgeline and the parallel Supports of the roof. Adjust the options for offsets and

spacing as explained in the previous topics of this guide.

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2.2.2 Valley Trusses

When you have a "T" shape roof, you can generate trusses that will gradually change

their size using the roof's valley lines as supports. For that, you can use the Valley

Trusses tool. These trusses will be distributed along the ridge line of the roof.

Before using this tool, you will need to have at least one

common truss created in that "T" part of the roof. This

truss will be used to limit the distribution of the valley

trusses.

To start, click the command Valley Trusses under the

Truss Profile menu.

A dialog box will pop up. Select the Main Ridgeline, Valley Lines and Last Truss as

shown in the image below. Set the values for offsets and spacing as needed.

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Once you click Ok, the Valley Trusses envelopes will be

generated.

2.2.3 Hip Trusses

When you have a hipped roof, you can generate trusses that will gradually change their

height using the roof's hip lines as references. For that, you can use the Hip Trusses

tool.

To start, click the command Hip Trusses under the Truss Profile menu.

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A dialog box will pop up. Select the Supports and Hip Lines as shown in the image

below. Set the values for offsets and spacing as needed.

The Support Alignment dialog box will pop up so you can change settings for the wall

and layer alignments.

Once you click Ok, the Hip Trusses envelopes will be generated.

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2.2.4 Ridge And Parallel Jack Trusses

When you have a hipped roof, you can generate ‘Ridge Truss’ and ‘Parallel Jack Truss’

envelopes in one shot. For that, you can use the Ridge and Parallel Jack Trusses tool.

These truss envelopes will be distributed under (ridge truss) and along the hip line of

the roof (parallel jack trusses).

Before using this tool, you will need to have at

least one common truss created at the

ridge/hip intersection or in the portion of the

roof after the ridge. This truss will be used as

support for the ridge truss and to limit the

distribution of the jack trusses.

To start, click the command Ridge and

Parallel Jack Trusses under the Truss Profile menu.

A dialog box will pop up. Select the Support, the roof Face where the jack trusses will

be placed and the Last Truss as shown in the image below. Set the values for offsets

and spacing as needed.

Once you click Ok, the Ridge Truss under the hip and Jack Truss envelopes will be

generated.

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Tip: Use this command to complete parts of the roof that require a truss under the hip

line and additional half trusses on one side of the roof connected to the truss under the

hip line (i.e. 'L' shaped roofs). If you need to create a complete truss system in a

symmetrical hipped roof, you can use the tool Hip End that will be described later here

in this guide.

2.2.5 Perpendicular Jack Trusses

Once you have created the Ridge Trusses and Parallel Jack Trusses as described in

the previous topics of this guide on both sides of a hipped roof, you can complete the

rest of the roof by creating Perpendicular Jack Truss envelopes. For that, use the

Perpendicular Jack Trusses tool. These trusses will be distributed along the hip lines of

the roof and in the area between both hip lines, perpendicularly to the support truss.

Before using this tool, you will need to have at least one common truss created at the

ridge/hip intersection or in the portion of the roof after the ridge and the ridge trusses

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created in the previous topic. The last 'common' truss and the ridge trusses will be used

as support for the perpendicular jack trusses.

To start, click the command Perpendicular Jack Trusses

under the Truss Profile menu.

A dialog box will pop up. Select the Support (wall/beam), the Ridge Trusses, Hip Lines

and Last Truss as shown in the image below. Set the values for offsets and spacing as

needed.

Once you click Ok, the envelopes for the Perpendicular Jack Trusses will be generated.

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2.2.6 Ridge Truss

In a hipped roof, you can generate a single ‘Ridge Truss’ envelope under the hip line of

the roof. For that, use the Ridge Trusses tool.

Before using this tool, you will need to have at least one common truss created at the

ridge/hip intersection or in the portion of the roof after the ridge. This truss will be used

as the support and limit of the ridge truss.

To start, click the command Ridge Trusses


A dialog box will pop up. Select the Supports and Hip Line as shown in the image


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Once you click Ok, the Ridge Truss envelope will be generated.

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2.2.7 Half Trusses

You can quickly place Half Truss envelopes in your project by

using the Ridge Trusses tool. To use this tool, you only need a

roof and its support.

To start, click the command Half Trusses under the Truss Profile

menu.

A dialog box will pop up. Select the Supports and Hip Line as shown in the image




Once you click Ok, the envelopes for the Half

Trusses will be generated.

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2.2.8 Gable Ladder

IN CONSTRUCTION

Gable Ladder trusses can be placed in the project by using the Gable Ladder tool.

Before using this tool, you will need to have at least one common truss created that will

be used as support and limit of the gable ladder truss.

To start, click the command Gable Ladder


A dialog box will pop up. Select the Supports and xxxxxx as shown in the image below.

Set the values for offsets as needed.

INSERT IMAGE

Once you click Ok, the Gable Ladder Truss envelope will be generated.

INSERT IMAGE

2.2.9 Hip End

When you have a hipped roof that has parallel supports on its sides, you can generate a

complete group of truss envelopes in one shot (Ridge, Parallel and Perpendicular Jack

trusses). For that, you can use the Hip End

tool. These truss envelopes will be distributed

under (ridge truss) and along the hip line of the

roof (parallel and perpendicular jack trusses).

Before using this tool, you will need to have at

least one common truss created at the ridge/hip

intersection or in the portion of the roof after the

ridge. This truss will be used as support for the

ridge truss and to limit the distribution of the

jack trusses.

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To start, click the command Hip End under the Truss Profile menu.

A dialog box will pop up. Select Hip Lines, Side Supports, End Support, and Last Truss

as shown in the image below. Set the values for offsets and spacing as needed.

Once you click Ok, the Ridge Trusses envelopes under the hip lines and Jack Trusses

envelopes will be generated. The Hip End tool will align trusses according to the

selected spacing. It will also place a truss in the intersection of the ridge truss with the

last common truss.

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3. Framing an Envelope

Once the truss envelope is created, you can create the truss by clicking the Create command.

MWF Pro Truss will use the envelope as a boundary for the truss elements. MWF Pro Truss uses a Truss Designer engine to create and place all members according to the user's needs.

In the truss creation process, you will have options to select the truss types, member types, designer settings, webbing settings and many other features. We will review what is involved in this process in the next few topics of this guide.

3.1 Truss Designer Settings

When you have an envelope selected and you click the Create command, the Create

Truss dialog box will open.

3.1.1 General Settings

In the General area you can set the display units of the truss designer, the Truss

category and truss type.

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3.1.2 Webbing

When you click the Webbing option you can find settings for the diagonal and vertical

members of the truss.

Diagonals Orientation:

In tension

Diagonal members will be distributed in one orientation.

Left-Right

Diagonal members will be distributed in double orientation, starting from the ends

towards the centre of the truss.

Verticals Only

Diagonal members will not be placed.

Nodes Only

Nodes will be shown in truss designer. Neither verticals nor diagonal members will be

placed.

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Verticals Positions:

Equal Intersection

Vertical members will be equally distributed considering the values for Top and/or

Bottom Maximum Spacing

Fixed Width

Vertical members will be distributed using a fixed spacing, starting from the ends

towards the centre of the truss. If the distribution of the members creates a bay smaller

than the required value, the vertical member will not be placed unless the option 'Extra

Vertical at Chase' is selected.

The option Minimum Chase will set the limit for the value of a diagonal member.

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3.1.3 Member sizes

Select the member sizes to use in the truss by clicking the option Member sizes. You

can pick different member sizes for top chord, bottom chord, webbing members and

heels.

3.1.4 Physical Member

In the Physical Member area you can add extra tolerances for the Top and Bottom

Tracks insertion and also choose a configuration for the end of the elements.

Chord Pitch Break - Open: Chord Pitch Break - Lapped:

Chord End Cut - In: Chord End Cut - Out:

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3.1.5 Designer Preferences

Some extra settings can be found in the Designer Preferences area. These are

configurations for the elements that we will see once the truss designer is opened.

3.2 Truss Designer

Once you click Ok on the configuration dialog box, the Truss Designer will open.

The Truss Designer is an advanced tool that allows the free creation of a truss with any

possible shape and various configurations. If you started this process by using the

Create command to create a truss from an envelope, you will see the basic elements of

the truss - Top Chord, Bottom Chord and Heels - in the truss designer area.

Using the truss designer's commands, you will need to adjust the properties of the

existing lines and create the webbing elements.

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3.2.1 Assigning Properties of Element Lines

Every line in the Truss Designer represents one type of truss element. It is important to

match the line properties with the real type of element so the truss can be properly

created. These are the different element types in the Truss Designer:

-Top Track

- Bottom Track

- Heel

- Diagonal Web

- Vertical Web

- Oddball

When you select any of the existing lines and 'double-

click' or press 'enter' in your keyboard, the Line

Options dialog box will open. Select the option that

represents the use of the selected element line. You

can also change the size of the element.

3.2.2 Generating Web Lines

To generate the truss webbing, click the tool Generate

Web in the Truss Designer.

Nodes will be created in the top and bottom chords and spaced based on the existent

settings of the Truss Designer's Web configuration tab. They will be used to represent

the intersection of vertical and diagonal web lines with the top and bottom chords. The

lines representing the web elements will be created, connecting the nodes.

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Click Ok in the Truss Designer dialog box to have the

truss created in your project. The model group will be

deleted and a new 'Assemblies' element will take its place.

4. Truss Properties

To change any properties of the truss using the Truss Designer, simply select the truss in your drawing and click the command Properties in MWF Pro Truss.

Many different possibilities of changes in the properties of the truss will be discussed in this topic.

4.1 Elements Visualization

The model lines created in the Truss Designer represent the outer boundary of the

heels, top, bottom chords, and the centre line of the webbing.

In the 'View' tab you can change the visualization settings so you can see the Physical

Model representation.

Choose Analysis View to see the analytical lines of the truss' elements.

You can see both physical and analytical representations by clicking the option Physical

and Analysis.

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4.2 Flip the Direction of a Web Member

You can select any of the diagonal web lines and click the spacebar in your keyboard to

have the line flipped.

Once you click Ok in the Truss designer, the truss will be updated.

4.3 Deleting a Member of the Truss

A member of the truss can be deleted when working within the truss designer. Open the

properties of the truss by clicking Properties in the MWF Pro Truss when you have the

truss selected in your project. In the Truss Designer, simply select the line that

represents the element you want to delete and hit the delete button in your keyboard.

The element will be deleted and the truss will be updated once you click Ok in the Truss

Designer.

Nodes can also be deleting using the same process. If a node is deleted, the lines that

are connected to this node will also be deleted.

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4.4 Adding a Member in the Truss

A member of the truss can be added to the truss by adding new lines in the Truss

Designer. A new line can only be created between two nodes.

Open the properties of the truss by clicking Properties in the MWF Pro Truss when you

have the truss selected in your project. In the Truss Designer, hover over the first node

that will connect the line and left-click. Hover over the second node and right-click with

your mouse to create the line.

A new line representing a member will be created.

Make sure you 'double-click' the newly created line to

give a proper representation of its use in the Physical

Members Settings.

4.5 Adding a new Node

To create lines (and subsequently elements) you will need first to create the nodes (or

points) that will represent the intersection or end of the element.

Two types of nodes can be created: On Member and Off Member.

4.5.1 Adding On Member Nodes

In the Truss Designer interface, select the option On Member Point under Element

Creation.

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Click a line that will be the host of the new node. The areas L1 and L2 will show the

node numbers that represents the limits of this line. Select a node in this line that will

serve as reference for the new node.

Tip: An On Member Point can

also be created outside the

limits of the host line, but in its

same direction.

Add the value for the horizontal or vertical distance from the reference node. In this

example, the new node will be 5 feet distant from the reference node (6), measured

horizontally.

Once you click the option for

orientation - Horizontal or

Vertical - the new node will be

created.

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4.5.2 Adding Off Member Nodes

To add an off member node you will use the option Off Member Point under Element

Creation. Add true coordinate values and click Coord Node to have the new point

created.

Tip: You can pick an existent node and use its coordinate values as a reference for the

creation of the new one.

You can also create a new node using coordinates relative to existent nodes. For that,

pick an existing node and insert the values for the new node relative to the existent one.

Click the option OS Node to create the node.

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5. Edit Instance

Command under construction.

6. Labels


6.1 Edit Truss Label Mapping


6.2 Edit Truss Label


6.3 Regenerate Truss Tags


7. Drawings


8. Input / Output


8.1 BOM Report


8.2 Global Settings


8.3 DXF Generator


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9. Floor Trusses

Floor trusses can also be created in a floor. For that, it is necessary to have a MWF

Floor Panel existent in your Revit project so the trusses can be placed as joists

members.

9.1 Creating the Floor Panel

To create a floor panel boundary, you can either use a Revit Floor as base, or create

the boundaries by using model lines. Select either the floor object or the group of model

lines and click Create in MWF Pro Floor menu.

A dialog box to select a template will show up. The

following two templates are designated to create

floor trusses:

LGS - Floor Trusses - B2B

LGS - Floor Trusses - Wall Truss

Select one of them to create the floor panel.

Changes can be made to any of the floor panels by

modifying its properties.

Select any of the components of the floor boundary (Label, Icon, Nodes or model lines)

and click the command Regenerate to have the truss members created in the floor.

For more information on how to create and/or modify floor panel boundaries, please

refer to the MWF Pro Floor Tutorial.

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9.2 Floor Truss Properties

Once the floor panel is created you can change its properties by selecting any member

of the panel and clicking the Properties command in MWF Pro Floor.

The access to the properties' options of a truss floor panel is similar to the one of a joist

floor panel (please refer to MWF Pro Floor Tutorial to learn how to change floor

properties). The main difference between truss floor type properties from common joist

floor type properties is the user interface that opens when you click End Joists or Joist

under the Member Properties tab.

9.2.1 Changing Properties of Floor Truss Panel

Double-clicking the Joist properties icon will show up the truss Joist Settings dialog box.

Set the value for Truss Depth in the designated area. All Truss

elements will be created with this height (top chord to bottom

chord).

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All other options from the Joist Settings dialog box are similar to the options of a roof

truss. Please refer to the topic 3.1 - Truss Designer Settings of this tutorial to have more

information on how to change these properties.

9.2.2 Floor Truss Cutback Options

Double-clicking the Cutback icon will show up the truss

Cutback dialog box.

A cutback distance can be added between end of trusses and the profile line that

originated the floor panel.

9.2.3 Floor Truss Panel Openings

Just as in a common floor panel, Truss Floor panel openings can be

created automatically by having an opening in the floor object during

the creation of the floor panel, or by placing 'model lines' at the

desired location for the opening, selecting these model lines and

clicking the command Create Opening in MWF Pro Floor menu.

More information on how to create or modify floor openings can be

found in MWF Pro Floor tutorial.

The properties of the truss floor opening members can be accessed by clicking the

Manage Opening Types command in the MWF Pro Floor menu.

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Select the desired opening type and click

Modify in the Opening Types Manager to

modify its properties.

In the General tab the values for Tolerance for the opening boundaries and Minimum

Partial Joist Length can be added.

The tabs Header, Trimmer and Supporting Joist will open the truss designer settings

interface and members properties can be changed just as described previously here in

this tutorial.

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In the Cutbacks tab values for offsets between members of the floor opening can be

adjusted.

9.2.4 Adding / Deleting Trusses

Trusses can be added to a panel and can also be deleted from it. To add a truss to a

panel, copy an existent truss (or create one from scratch by using MWF Pro Truss

commands), select it and click the command Add Member from the Panel dropdown

menu.

Select any existent member of the panel. A dialog box will pop up to add a Floor Truss

tag to the new truss. Click Add and the truss will be added to the panel.

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To delete a truss from a panel simply select the truss to be deleted and click Delete

Generated from the Panel dropdown menu.

9.2.5 Editing a Single Truss Instance

Trusses can be edited individually. For that, select the truss to be edited and click

Properties in the MWF Pro Truss menu.

The Truss Designer interface will open. Please refer to topic '4. Truss Properties' in this

tutorial to learn how to modify truss members and properties.

Stucsoft Solutions - MWF Pro Trussstrucsoftsolutions.net/mwftutorials/MWF_Pro_Truss_Manual.pdf4 Trusses can also be created using multiple roof elements. When creating a truss that

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