need help drawing truss gussets

[cowboyupcustoms89]

hello I am super new to all this mostly I have done simple signs that I drew in my plasma cam software and now my boss wants me to draw and cut a bunch of truss gussets and I don't know where to start. the only other drawing software I have is inkscape can they be drawn there? would love all the help I can get on a strict and short time budget.

[adbuch]

If you have drawn signs with your Plasmacam software, you should be able to draw a truss with the same software. Do you have Plasmacam 3.11 or are you using 4.xx with Design Edge? I use Design Edge on my Plasmacam DHC2 table and it works great and is really simple to use.
David

[cowboyupcustoms89]

Hey David
I will have to look because I have owned the table since around 2014 or so but I have probably only cut 5 or 6 things with it and it was mostly drag and drop dxf that I sized and maybe added circles too. I don’t remember which version of plasma cam I’m running but I doubt it has been updated since the previous owners in 2011 or 12. I hate to admit it but I don’t even know what design edge is. The thing with drawing the trusses is I’m not sure how to get the exact angles I would need to make it fit right. I guess I could pay someone to draw them for me but I would much rather learn how to do it. Thank you for the reply I will do some research hopefully today (after I’m done with my full time job) and try to get you some better answers
Thanks
Charles

[adbuch]

Draw a sketch of one of the trusses with dimensions and angles and upload so we can take a look. This can be drawn by hand and take photo with camera/phone and save as jpeg.
David

[cowboyupcustoms89]

David,
here is the picture that was given to me and as far as I can see there are no angles which I don't understand are they expecting me to guess? and also as per our conversation this morning I checked and I am running 3.11 but when I called plasma cam to ask about the design edge software I almost choked on my drink I am not sure when I will be able to afford the upgrade.
Charles

[adbuch]

It sounds like you are making the side plates that will be attached to the trusses, and not the actual trusses. Correct?
Also, the drawing has no dimensions, only the scale of 3/4" = 1 ft. So you need to actually measure at least one side of one of these (measure right on the drawing) so we can tell what the actual size is.
David

[cowboyupcustoms89]

correct sorry for the confusion. am going off what the guy called them when he asked me to make them and like someone who's mouth works faster than the brain I agreed then thought crap how am I going to draw them I have no experience with this sort of thing.

[adbuch]

Also, the drawing has no dimensions, only the scale of 3/4" = 1 ft.

So you need to actually measure at least one side of one of these (measure right on the drawing) so we can tell what the actual size is.

[adbuch]

Give me the measurement in green shown above (not really 6.888). Just measure on the drawing from one corner to the other (ends of dimension line) and let me know the actual length you measure on the paper drawing. Then I can scale to proper size. These are easy enough for me to trace and get you the dxf files.
David

[adbuch]

Here is the first one. There is some question about the drawing provided with the 2" min. call outs on the actual supplied drawing you were given. I will need more information in order to provide a final version.
David

truss plate 1 dxf.dxf

(1.93 KiB) Downloaded 49 times

[cowboyupcustoms89]

sounds good right now all I have is the picture I sent you but I will ask for the original tomorrow and hopefully I can answer your questions.

[tnbndr]

Are these actual structural truss plates or just being added for looks?
I would ask whoever is sending you the information to provide the actual truss plate details (should be a detail sheet) not the sections.

If these are actually structural, I would steer clear. If just for looks, good luck.

[adbuch]

These are very similar to the Simpson rafter ties/joist hangers/truss plates available from most of the builder supply houses. The only difference is that these are shaped specifically for the particular application (and most likely not available "off the shelf"). In this case, these plates are meant to be screwed or nailed to each side of the truss joint for reinforcement purposes. If creating the drawing from scratch, then complete drawings with dimensions would be required. However, since the existing drawing shows the geometry of the shapes - and includes the hole spacing and size - the only thing missing is a single dimension for scaling purposes. Once this dimension is specified, it will be a simple matter to scale the dxf files to the correct size. I am using Design Edge to do a manual trace of each plate - quick and accurate.
David