Would be nice to be able to check timber designs and not have to switch programs or perform the design by hand.
Guest
Customizing depths of dimensional lumber would require the lumber to be re-evaluated for grading, changing the design values to be used for design. We can't provide design of a member without knowing the resulting grade.
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Will not implement
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Will not implement
It should be up to the engineer to decide what is appropriate when it comes to using custom sizes.
Response to admin: an easy allowance for this could be that this is for the next sized member. i.e. a 6x12 DF#1 needs to be shaved down to a height of 10.25" to work in a vertical space as a header above a door. Just keep the calc at 6x12 DF#1, after all this is what the framers will cut down in the field. We just need to know that this 10.25" will work in a situation where a 6x10 DF#1 barely fails.
@2023 comment - Irrelevant.
A) the grading couldn't change that much. Also, a good contractor will cut off the knotted/bad portions, not leave the worst bit of wood. The piece likely improves after being ripped.
B) Even if that weren't the case, the engineer or user can select a worst grade if they think that will be required or end up in that final case, or just for conservatism. Or if the specs callout grade X and the contractor will cut it down to be a worst grade (again, rare), that should be something they would notify the EOR about.
C) And even if all of that wasn't true, GIVE US THE OPTION ANYWAYS!! Slap a warning under the option when you select a custom size ("Warning, ripping a full-height member may reduce or change the wood grading, verify and update the actual wood grading as determined in field.") and be done with it. No software should EVER limit a user's input or control unless absolutely necessary, and that should always be override-able with an error.
Resawing timbers often requires them to be re-evaluated for grade. Allowing custom timber sizes to be designed may result in a beam on a jobsite that does not have the same design values as those sized in the software.
Custom grades and any other hard-coded items or drop-down lists should all be available for editing under some kind of advanced options (or even just basic options....). Custom member sizes not being available is just the most OBVIOUS example of failing to make this software user-friendly.