stud framed shed tutorial

[homelogicatl]

Im having a real hard time understanding the thought process needed to create a wooden shed project. Coming for f360 it was fairly straight forward to create the stud and just copy, past, and place them where i needed them on the same page. I would like to create the project like this video:

i want to be able to hide or show the different layers of the shed (siding/plywood/studs etc)
can somebody explain the easy way to do this. it seems like i would need to create each piece of wood and save it separately then go to the assembly page and put it together. that seems very clunky and i dont know how i would edit the parts inside the assembly if i had to cut a full sheet of plywood to fit around the windows.

any help would be greatly appreciated ....i have the expert version if that makes a difference


Im also not seeing many tutorials for wood workers. seems like this program is best for part design. so maybe somebody can start a woodworking tutorial collection

 

[HaroldL]

Although you can build/model houses with it, Alibre is more for machined parts and sheet metal.

it seems like i would need to create each piece of wood and save it separately then go to the assembly page and put it together. that seems very clunky and i dont know how i would edit the parts inside the assembly if i had to cut a full sheet of plywood to fit around the windows.

Yup, that's the process, model each piece of wood and put it in place. For the stud walls that would be a linear pattern of one stud. A cutout for a window or door may end up being an Assembly Cut.
A modification to one part would be an "Edit in Separate Window" or 'Edit Here" function.

Yes, your correct that there are not a lot, if any, tutorials for woodworkers. On person that could create some is the builder of Gingerbread Homes, https://www.alibre.com/customer-story-gingerbread-homes/ , if he is so inclined. There used to be a woodworker on the forum, but that was years ago and I think his business is closed now and all his forum posts are lost to a old version of the forum.

The closest I've come to making a wood working tutorial is a couple I did for @Runs With Scissors to explain the use of my part and drawing templates to get board feet on the BoM table for his deck. You can see them starting here: https://www.alibre.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-exactly-place-a-point.25921/post-178113

I have started a project to build a scale model of the first home my parents had. It burned down when I was in 2nd grade but I still remember some of its "scary" corners, like in the stairwell leading to the attic. I thought of using Alibre for the project but opted to go with Home Designer Pro 2025 by Chief Architect. Watching a couple of their videos convinced my to buy rather than rent for my project.

 

[HaroldL]

I went to YouTube and watched the first Shed Building video so I might be eating a little crow here. It is possible to create the Fusion 360 shed in Alibre by following the steps to Insert New Subassembly and Insert New Part into the main Shed assembly. This is actually my first attempt at Top-Down modeling and so far it has turned out okay. I was able to create the floor of the shed.



I don't think I'd attempt using Alibre for anything more complicated than a shed or deck though.

@Joseph_L created a video some time ago showing how to insert a sub assembly within an assembly using the Insert New Subassembly method. He only demonstrated adding existing parts to the subassembly and not creating new parts within the subassembly.

BTW, the new renaming feature for assembly parts will be great for this kind of project.

 

[BobSchaefer]

So, I'm a woodworker and set designer (both hobbies, not real life jobs) and use alibre and am kind of surprised by the people saying a house would be too complicated for alibre. There are people using it to design steam locomotives and massive machinery like that, that I consider way more complicated than a simple shed or house. I haven't had time yet to watch the video, but figure it would take me about a day or less to fully design that shed from scratch.

Now, you don't mention the level of alibre you're using so I can't offer a lot of suggestions, but I'll describe how I do things for sets (I have expert and an older version to boot). Now I know sets are different from houses and sheds, but there are things you can take from it, namely the use of standard parts. So, what I do is design a basic flat, a 4x8x0.25 sheet of plywood, and a 1x4 of varying lengths. Then I build that. Now, when I need a flat with a door in it, I start with the blank flat, assign a new configuration and build out whatever it is I need, so when I get to doing my set, I pick the flat assembly and then pick the configuration I need.

So, in the shed design, I'd create a 2x4 and make a variety of lengths and a couple different end configurations (flat and angled). Next, I'd create a 4x8x0.75 (or 0.5, whatever size siding you're using) and then make configurations to match each needed wall.

Unfortunately, right now I don't have time to do it, have a show that I have to design that's taking my time.

Basically, what I would say, is take it slow and when you get frustrated, step away for a little bit and then come back to it. That shed design is very doable in alibre.

Bob

 

[HaroldL]

use alibre and am kind of surprised by the people saying a house would be too complicated for alibre.

And who said that?

 

[Ken226]

I designed a shed using Alibre. It seemed plenty adequate to me.








To hide various components, from within the assembly environment, I just shift/select all of the components then right click/hide. It's pretty easy.

 

[HaroldL]

any help would be greatly appreciated

I recorded the steps I took to model the floor of the Fusion 360 Shed. For the most part the steps are very similar to what is shown in the Fusion video but still doable. I didn't do any of the walls since I figured this video would get anyone started.

TOP DOWN SHED FLOOR ASSY.mp4

World's leading screen capture + recorder from Snagit + Screencast by Techsmith. Capture, edit and share professional-quality content seamlessly.

app.screencast.com

 

[HaroldL]

I designed a shed using Alibre. It seemed plenty adequate to me.

Is this something that you built or was it just a modeling exercise?
There's no doubt that Alibre can be used to model a building, houses, barns, or anything architectural. How is it at creating all the necessary drawings, part lists, electrical, plumbing and heating-a/c ducts, etc. that are needed to be signed off for a build project? I think Alibre is kind of like early AutoCAD when it was being used for architecture. There were a lot of add-ons created to make it work in that discipline, and that was only 2D. I don't see that happening for Alibre, it has some machining apps though.

 

[Ken226]

Is this something that you built or was it just a modeling exercise?

Yes. But, the version of the plans pictured above has been modified from original to move the door location and increase the size. The original version I built to meet the local code/rules for size, property line setbacks, etc.






I modified my own design recently. Its the same as the one I built here, just bigger. It will be built when I retire and move home, sometime roughly 1 year, 3 months 19 days and 22 hours from now. It'll just be a slightly scaled up version of my current shop.

How is it at creating all the necessary drawings, part lists, electrical, plumbing and heating-a/c ducts, etc. that are needed to be signed off for a build project?

None of those things have been required for the permitting process for the garages I've built, which were in residentially zoned areas. At least not anywhere I've actually done it. The plans you give the city for permitting purposes are pretty general and not very detailed.

I've never built my own house. Only my shop building, so far.

They only need to be detailed enough to show that the final product meets code for size, layout, construction type, snow load and wind rating, general location of doors, windows, outlets, etc.

It's the on-site inspection where they look for the details. Even then, they aren't concerned with the design being built to the plans, they are mstly making sure it's built to certain construction norms and standards. Things like stud spacing, truss spacing, window and door headers, jack studs under headers, engineering stamps on trusses, etc.

I've been in line to get a permit behind farmers who were dropping off hand drawn plans on notebook paper. Just a side view and front view and a note that said "made of wood".

I suppose it all depends on your local government.

 

[BobSchaefer]

So, what I think Harold is referring to are the drawings necessary to have an architect sign off on them and give them off to a builder. Not, something that we're drawing then building ourselves. Which if true, then I misunderstood your comment about not wanting to build a house in Alibre, I thought you were referring to the complexity of the design itself. I would agree a full house design with electrical, HVAC and things like that would be crazy, but I would think it should be doable in Alibre.... But then again, I'm not a home builder or architect...

 

[HaroldL]

So, what I think Harold is referring to...

Yes, that's the point I was trying to make, apparently not so well worded though. Not that Alibre couldn't handle the task it just doesn't have all the tools needed. Most all the addons/libraries are geared toward mechanical design and drafting. As I mentioned before, it's kind of like AutoCAD in its early days. It didn't really get a foot hold in the architectural market until someone created specific addons to design 2D floor plans and then the models for 3D. A big deal was made of its 256 layers assigned to match architectural drawing requirements. IF someone were to create the same thing for Alibre that could be a game changer, or not. But I think it's a bit late for Alibre to enter the architectural design market with all the other programs that have had years to develop. That's why I am using Home Designer Pro for my little project cuz it creates an entire model just by drawing a few lines. I can't image the amount of programming that went into creating that program.

As an example, here's the "shed" modeled in Home Designer Pro, took about 20 minutes...

This floor plan...



Generates this 3D view - in one click.

 

[Ken226]

to be signed off for a build project?

Yes, that's the point I was trying to make, apparently not so well worded though.

I think the reason I misunderstood what you asked was that I took "signed off" to be referring to the permitting process. But I see what you meant now.

But, yea, you're 100 percent correct. I used AutoCad in school. A mid tem test in the last year required me to design the ductwork for a commercial building with AutoCad. It was a really complex collaborative project, where other students designed the electrical, fire suppression system, plumbing, etc.

I couldn't even imagine trying that with a solid modelling program like Alibre. For a stud framed shed, Alibre is more than enough.

 

[evandene]

Im having a real hard time understanding the thought process needed to create a wooden shed project. Coming for f360 it was fairly straight forward to create the stud and just copy, past, and place them where i needed them on the same page. I would like to create the project like this video:

i want to be able to hide or show the different layers of the shed (siding/plywood/studs etc)
can somebody explain the easy way to do this. it seems like i would need to create each piece of wood and save it separately then go to the assembly page and put it together. that seems very clunky and i dont know how i would edit the parts inside the assembly if i had to cut a full sheet of plywood to fit around the windows.

any help would be greatly appreciated ....i have the expert version if that makes a difference


Im also not seeing many tutorials for wood workers. seems like this program is best for part design. so maybe somebody can start a woodworking tutorial collection

Forget working with layers, think and work in terms of parts, sub-assy's and assy's.
Layers are born around 1980 and introduced by autocad I believe.
Relations between parts and assy's are created with constrains.
I have attached some kind of shed. Maybe it will help to understand the setup.
Have fun.