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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

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    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Looks like an excellent idea :bigsmile:

    I wonder whether they just do flat-pack style furniture or can they produce neo-chippendale or whatever?
    • CommentAuthorBeau
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Wonder when this will appear over this side of the pond?

    Hopefully never as it could put me out of job.:cry:
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Start making contingency plans then - definitely coming.
    •  
      CommentAuthorJSHarris
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    True. Some friends of mine make wood boat kits (and completed boats) and they have a big CNC machine that cuts all the bits of wood out for a big'ish boat in an hour or two. The precision is such that it's all virtually self-jigging and goes together quickly and easily with little or no skill needed. The Germans make house panels the same way, I believe.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012 edited
     
    And following on from/parallel with CNC, is 3D printing of parts, on a mass production (or rather, mass customisation) basis - already widely happening.

    'Customisation' because no two items need be the same - if the computer model of the item (or its dimensional parameters on a spreadsheet) can be altered to individual order, the item is CNC'd or 3D printed accordingly at no production cost penalty.

    People are testing 3D printer rigs capable of 'printing' a complete house shell (or panels, modules etc) using a variety of materials incl insulation, internal and external finish.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Posted By: fostertomPeople are testing 3D printer rigs capable of 'printing' a complete house shell (or panels, modules etc) using a variety of materials incl insulation, internal and external finish.

    Was that the Nasa project for building on the moon. Great if you want a concrete house, still good airtighness, better than testing at 50hPa. :wink:
  1.  
    Its the logical extension of BIM design. Since 10 years all my work is Building Information Modeling using 3D architectural design, which means that projects are built as a computer model using the components as it will be built in reality. This model is then used to take off quantities, plans, construction drawings, energy studies, 3D presentations, sun studies, direct connect to Google Earth, geo localisation, altitude, wind and snow loads, every thing. Everything can be entered into the model. The only thing missing is a 3D printer to print out the building

    Industrial Revolution 2.0 is coming. We will design things where ever we are in the world, we will be able to buy and sell "blueprints" for various objects over the internet, and can then have them printed at the local "factory".
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    The guy who sent me the link already produces the bulk of his work with CADCAM and the quality of manufacture is superb, virtually all made to commission and each job unique. He's based in Nebraska, but makes stuff for customers all over the US. Maintains part of the shop as a traditional cabinet-making shop for small local work, more for sentimental reasons than anything else - and to keep his hand and eye in.

    Incredibly complex curves and a LOT of laminate work, producing things like bespoke desks and matching office furniture for film producers and bankers; also shop fittings for top-end Hollywood jewellers. The price of the stuff brings tears to my eyes.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012 edited
     
    Posted By: bot de pailleall my work is Building Information Modeling using 3D architectural design
    What software?

    Architects are printing models of their buildings, for presentation, consents etc purposes.

    You can get a 3D printer with 150x150x200mm max build volume for $1200 now.
  2.  
    Archicad, invented the concept of BIM in the 80s
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhvQs1wRdm4&feature=related

    At the moment there is no need to print models, as 3D images and walk through with clients on a projector screen is enough. I was thinking more about printing actual building itself!
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Perhaps worth thinking outside the envelope? Got this off a cabinet-maker mate on another forum...

    Are you actually talking about the E-cabs programme itself!!!

    If so, then it is awesome and serious software , I've used it for a few years now, since Build 2.12... and its up to 6. something... even without a CNC the fact it sorts out nesting on sheet material is brilliant...

    Something in a similar vein over here (if UK software)? Well I was quoted £17K.... and i got the E-cabs for free, providing I purchase at least 1 item per annum from one of the linked in online retailers.... average cost has been about $11 each year!!! LOL!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012 edited
     
    Posted By: bot de pailleArchicad, invented the concept of BIM
    Well I'm at the point of moving ahead from Acad 2006 2D, considering Archicad amongst the other BIMs. However, plain Acad 2012 is top option at present as it has full featured solid 3D with Boolean etc - and comes with Fusion, latest 'direct modeller' with SketchUp-like push-pull etc. I cd model everything with that in 3D, within the familiarity of Acad.

    My Q, if you can help, is - what does BIM provide, really, beyond that?

    OK walls etc installed with all layers (as pre-defined) at a click, windows inserted with all healing automatic. But I can do that with cut n paste, as I do in 2D. I'm aware that almost every wall, window etc is ever so slightly different from the last, so wd spend ages creating special-case definitions. True 'components' are very few - a washbasin doesn't need drawing out anyway, a doorset is stupidly simple to draw, a joist or sheathing is a cuboid that gets Boolean'd to size on installation ...

    Quantities - I leave that to the tenderer.

    Plans, construction drawings - here maybe there are tools for showing elements ;'above' and 'behind' having made the section cut, also having section views update themselves with the model? Maybe BIM's good for that.

    Energy, sun studies - inbuilt in Archicad? I'd hope a solid model cd be dropped into a standalone energy modeller - but if incuded in BIM that might be a reason ...

    Etc

    Another possibility wd be to run Acad Architect on top of Acad 2012/Fusion, for these kind of clever tricks - again the familiar Acad interface - even tho that one is the poor relation of Revit, within the Acad stable.

    Comments gratefully received.
    •  
      CommentAuthorJSHarris
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012 edited
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: Joiner</cite>
    Something in a similar vein over here (if UK software)? </blockquote>

    There are quite a few UK software systems around that will do this, including nesting. The pic below is of a boat kit CNC routed on neat, nested, marine ply panels. The bits all interlock and get bonded together with epoxy to make this: <url>http://www.swallowboats.co.uk/content/view/170/134/</url>

    Several kit boat companies now offer CNC cut panels like this, with an accuracy that means little in the way of wood working skill is needed to put them together. It's almost like assembling something from Lego.........
    •  
      CommentAuthorjoe90
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    My brother-in-law owns a motorhome conversion company and all his furniture is CNC cut/kit form and it has enabled him to cut the van conversion time by nearly 40%.and he says it is extremely accurate.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    Used to make camper van roofs for Fiats, not one fitted except the first one, was 30+ years ago though. I am sure someone will be along to tell me about the panel fit on a Fiat soon :wink:
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2012
     
    I wrote: "I wonder whether they just do flat-pack style furniture or can they produce neo-chippendale or whatever?"

    I guess this answers my question

    http://www.thermwood.com/header/wood_carving_examples.htm :bigsmile::bigsmile::shocked:
  3.  
    Archicad 16 coming out this month and very interestingly now integrates energy study capabilities.

    Also introduced is a new modelling method called "Morph" that is very similar to Sketch-ups push/pull intuitive approach.

    Looks very promising, cant wait to start using it.

    http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/green.html
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeMay 28th 2012
     
    VERY impressive!
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMay 28th 2012
     
    Is Archicad's energy study capability new? haven't they been offering that for some time? or is this a full IES or Tas equivalent (if so, it, like them, still has a way to go, severe deficiencies!)
  4.  
    Have a read of this Tom, should answer your questions.

    http://emuarchitects.com/2012/05/18/bim-energy-analysis-with-archicad-16/
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMay 28th 2012
     
    What a brilliant review. It shows great potential, and improvement over previous, as stated - but it points up the still very important omissions.

    It doesn't spell it out, but looks like Archicad has no way of modelling shading of low-elevation sunpath by obstructions near (trees, other buildings) and far (horizon) - which are absolutely critical to assessing solar power actually available to given building on given site, from late autumn to early spring - throughout most of the heating season, in fact.

    If PVGIS can do it, by different means, then so should the supposedly more sophisticated likes of Tas, IES, and Archicad's Ecodesigner.

    Failing that, all the latter 3 are really only good for assessment of solar input as a summer overheating issue, but incompetent on solar input as useful heat through the heating season. Not just incompetent - seriously misleading, because these 3 do provide 'results' about solar-as-heat that look authoritative, but are seriously over optimistic.

    This has actually disappointed me, providing an apparent 'no' answer to my wondering about whether Archicad is up to this or not, just as I am looking to upgrade my software from 2D Acad2006 to something more exciting. Archicad was in the running, esp because of its cheap Solo version, which hopefully will also have Ecodesigner.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMay 28th 2012
     
    This Archicad energy stuff should be moved or copied to http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1427&page=4#Comment_147162 - will do my bit tomorrow.
  5.  
    "
    It doesn't spell it out, but looks like Archicad has no way of modelling shading of low-elevation sunpath by obstructions near (trees, other buildings) and far (horizon) - which are absolutely critical to assessing solar power actually available to given building on given site, from late autumn to early spring - throughout most of the heating season, in fact.

    If PVGIS can do it, by different means, then so should the supposedly more sophisticated likes of Tas, IES, and Archicad's Ecodesigner.

    Failing that, all the latter 3 are really only good for assessment of solar input as a summer overheating issue, but incompetent on solar input as useful heat through the heating season. Not just incompetent - seriously misleading, because these 3 do provide 'results' about solar-as-heat that look authoritative, but are seriously over optimistic."

    How does PHPP software deal with this?
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMay 29th 2012
     
    I don't think it does (djh will prob accuse me of disrespecting RH). PH, like most of the eco/energy software, has no real interest in solar collection for space heating.

    All of them AFAIK focus on solar gain as a summer overheating problem, to be kept within limits. PHPP to its credit does then assess the heating season useful solar gain that then happens to remain, after window openings, shading, orientation etc have been determined by the summer overheating imperative.

    Because it's all about summer overheating, when the sun is high in the sky, lower obstructions whether near (trees, other buildings) or far (horizon) are relatively unimportant to the sunpath, and so are ignored, or rudimentary rule of thumb can be input - 'minimal, medium or full'. But if solar collection (whether through windows etc, falling on massive floors/walls; or by separate collectors) is intended for heating-season space heating, then those obstructions to the low-elevation sunpaths are absolutely critical, determining just how much of the potential solar power that particular building in that particular surroundings, will actually 'see'.

    PVGIS can take full account of such obstructions, but operates in a kinda reverse way (looking out to the sun), to 3D modelling packages (where the sun looks in, over the horizons). PVGIS's way is laborious and clunky, with repeated manual inputs needed. The modelling packages have it in their power to do it elegantly and automatically, but don't attempt it.

    When I found a way to do it in Tas, parent EDSL's tech guys were unhelpful, and warnings were issued about the unverified accuracy of constructing models of such large volume - 800m to the (relatively close) horizon. Incredible that a mainstream eco/energy software co like Tas/EDSL has no interest in, indeed no awareness of, the possibility of heating-season solar collection for space heating. The same is I think true for IES, Ecodesigner and the rest - please tell me I'm wrong.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMay 29th 2012
     
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