HumbleChief

Whoa that's exciting. Please share the spec's when you can.

Hey Perry, Do you think that a really fast video card is important for ConDocs? 2D? I'm asking because I was going to upgrade my vid card but only for faster rendering not thinking it would help with 2D Con Docs. Thanks

Interesting point of view Ian and it seems you have found something that works for you and your business. I, on the other hand, would probably find that system under powered for my needs. It seems it would be fine for smaller models but larger models would slow down a bit with the on-board graphics card versus an "a special purpose, "Gaming" graphics card" which I find far from an ego boost and a must for rendering (not RayTracing) larger Chief models. I haven't tried the system you're describing but before others choose the same, first understand your business and the size and complexity of your Chief models. If you have time to wait for RayTraces, and rendering large models is not in your business model, then perhaps the system you've described will work fine. For me it looks under powered but like I wrote I haven't tried it so hard to say with any certainty. Either way it's an option I hadn't considered so very much appreciate your posting.

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Very slow here too with a pretty fast set-up. Must be the number of walls and I would also find that unbearable to work on but would not have suspected a model with simply a lot of walls would be so slow. Let us know what you decide to speed it up.

jtcapa1, I'm curious (insert your name here) which mini-laptop are you using? Thanks

Randy, Change your roof pitch defaults by either double clicking the roof icon or g into your defaults and change it there.

Yeah kinda just like that, though none of the operations are inherently hard IMO, just hard to learn.

I wonder if the strength of Chief's smart objects isn't also its greatest weakness?

Always enjoy your challenges Johnny and the responses as I learn a lot from them. The ability to lasso points in a shape, then move those lassoed points, is the defacto standard in many, many applications. It would be something I would expect in almost every CAD environment and I think the expectation that Chief would behave the same is not unwarranted, but, and it's a big but, Chief works differently and if someone wants to become proficient in using Chief that someone needs to learn how Chief works instead of bemoaning the fact that it doesn't work like it 'should'. Chief is singularly the most unintuitive program I've ever used and this is a perfect example even although IMO there's nothing really 'intuitive' about learning any new software program function. Having said that I've learned most all the tools and am very comfortable using Chief's different set of tools but the learning curve is tough when expecting Chief to follow a standard of some kind that really doesn't exist.

Love those articles Richard, really help clarify things.

In this case the framer used rafter ties which are basically ceiling joists tied to the rafters at the lap over the top plate. Perfectly valid method to brace a roof in lieu of engineered collar ties. In this case the framer just threw them in and didn't nail the ends enough. I think my engineer recommended 10 10d nails per lap?

Interesting articles Richard. I've installed engineer designed collar ties with no rafter ties or ceiling joists but they were engineered carefully and installed properly. Always use the metal straps over the ridge. My current house had a concrete tile roof with 2 x 6 rafter ties every 4 ft. O.C. They were probably enough to keep the rafters in place, the ridge board from sagging and the walls from splaying outward but the framer only used a couple or 3 16d's at the lap with the rafters. That wasn't enough and over time that nailed joint began to fail and the ridge sagged, the walls moved and the fascia bowed under the stress. I talked to my engineer and learned that the connection of the rafter ties to the rafters where they lap was very important. I jacked up the roof over a couple weeks, nailed the cr@p out of the rafter/rafter tie lap, and created a truss system with plywood gussets. Held fine until we tore it off for a second story addition.

Amie, Remember that when you RayTrace your CPU is spiking to 100% usage (your video card is not involved int he process) and if you have an older, slower CPU it just plain takes a long time to RayTrace. What are your computer spec's? That might help track down the speed issue but sadly there's no cure for a slow CPU when RayTracing. And what is your name? That won't help with the issue but will help us address you in a more personal manner. EDIT: Found it on your web site, Amie.

Amazing response Dermot - much appreciated!!

Doing a container home in Sketchup is much different than building a container home on your building lot. WAY more involved than initially meets the eye.

I designed, permitted, and built a second floor container structure in San Diego because the homeowner was infatuated with them so it can be done in Chief. At first look they seem like a great idea and maybe in some states/countries (where you don't need a permit to build things) they are, but the most important thing to remember is once you cut a hole in them the structural integrity basically falls apart and they need to be re-engineered to meet current seismic/wind loads etc. That includes either interior or exterior bracing that you will see if you look closely at any real world container structure. If you choose to really open them up to make them useful in a real world living space, the added bracing systems can be quite expansive and expensive AND you need an engineer willing to calc each panel etc. Again, not for the faint of heart, but possible. If you insist it's doable, but IMO they are best left in the pictures you see of them in foreign countries or as a shed out back. As a house? Do a LOT of research before you jump, the water is cold and very deep.

Ouch. Tech is working on a fix, must be a pretty high priority.

+1

That's the best strategy of course and it's rare that I do as well but found a need in a couple plans - please beware.

Ouch, thanks for that test Michael.

Sorry Joe, not going to try copying and pasting a windows schedule again - in any plan in any way. Too much at stake.

Your call, but if this is the only issue then you could update and just not copy/paste window schedules and/or you don't really need any of the improvements/fixes then waiting makes sense.

Please note - this will disappear your second floor!! Just had it happen in another plan file.

This is repeatable - and fatal! NOT trying to be dramatic but I just tried it again (please don't say it) and it deleted the second floor - again. Back to the archives. I like to copy and paste my window schedules because I have a couple custom things I don't want to do over again but not going to happen again. Will create from scratch..