MOS (Model, Organization, Structure)
1. Core Definition
MOS stands for Model, Organization and Structure - a fundamental organizational system in Dietrich's software designed to handle the complexity of modern timber construction projects.
Key Principle: "In order to be able to handle the large number of building elements and even more so the number of components, fittings, fasteners, etc., it is necessary to have a model, organization and structure."
2. Primary Purpose
MOS provides a hierarchical framework that ensures clarity and control throughout the entire construction workflow - from initial design through manufacturing to final assembly on-site.
2.1 Core Functions
Model: Defines the digital representation structure
Organization: Controls how components are grouped and related
Structure: Maintains relationships between building elements
2.2 Scope of Control
Building elements (walls, ceilings, roofs)
Individual components within elements
Fittings and hardware
Fasteners and connections
Manufacturing processes
Assembly sequences
3. Hierarchical Structure
3.1 Primary Building Elements
The MOS system organizes projects around six main building structure modules:
S - Storey: Floor-based organization
W - Wall: Vertical structural elements
C - Ceiling: Horizontal floor/ceiling systems
R - Roof: Roof structures and surfaces
T - Truss: Engineered truss systems
F - Free Design: Custom components (D-CAM area)
3.2 MOS Categories
Components are organized into several MOS categories:
Groups: Functional groupings of similar components
Buildings: Overall building-level organization
Elements: Assembly-ready structural units
Free MOS: User-defined organizational categories
Rooms: Space-based organization
Packages: Process-based groupings for manufacturing
4. Elements vs. Packages
4.1 Elements
Definition: "Assembled from individual parts"
Purpose: Construction-focused organization
Characteristics:
Position of individual parts is important
Element plan generated for assembly
Assembly occurs before delivery to construction site
Represents part of a wall, ceiling, or roof surface
Focus: What gets built together
4.2 Packages
Definition: "Grouped by process step"
Purpose: Manufacturing and logistics organization
Characteristics:
Grouped by machine, delivery, etc.
Not assembled from individual parts
Often overlapping across several walls/ceilings
Process-step focused
Focus: How things get made and delivered
4.3 Dual Assignment
Critical Feature: Objects can belong to both an Element AND a Package simultaneously:
Packaged: For order and machine processing
Then Installed: Into the final element for assembly
This dual structure ensures components are "in the right place at the right time in production and at the construction site."
5. System Integration
5.1 Automatic Assignment
Wall Design: Program automatically assigns MOS allocation when working within a single wall
Floor Plan: Components entered in specific model areas automatically inherit appropriate MOS assignments
User Override: Manual reassignment always possible for special cases
5.2 MOS as System Variable
MOS groups are available as system variables throughout Dietrich's:
Display Applications:
Object labels in 3D views
Plan annotations and callouts
Machine Transfer:
User-defined attributes in machine files
BTL10 and Cambium integration
Logic Block Conditions:
Conditional processing based on MOS group membership
Example: "Execute process only if object belongs to MOS group -3"
Numerical Treatment: MOS groups treated as numbers (-5 < -3, 10 > 2)
5.3 Material Lists and ERP Integration
Material Lists: MOS groups can be output in material lists
Export Capability: Transfer to ERP systems and other external software
Manufacturing Planning: Essential for production scheduling and logistics
6. Display and Filtering System
6.1 Matrix-Based Control
The display system uses a matrix approach:
Columns (6 total): Represent the building structure modules (S/W/C/R/T/F) Rows (Variable): Represent different object types and categories
6.2 MOS Group Filtering
Syntax:
Empty = all objects
Range:
(-2..2)shows groups from -2 to +2Individual:
(-2/0/6)shows specific groups -2, 0, and 6
6.3 Advanced Display Features
Storey Sections: Can display objects from current storey only or all storeys within section height Element Boundaries: Show element boundaries from different building parts Plan Elements: Display drawing elements specific to each program module
7. Object Coordinate System Integration
7.1 Coordinate Assignment
Each Volume: Has its own coordinate system (object coordinate system)
Reference Sides: Defines reference sides A-F for parametric operations
Machine Data: Essential for precise machine file generation
Plan Control: Critical for accurate plan generation and storage
7.2 Parametric Operations
All parametric operations reference the object coordinate system, which is intrinsically linked to the MOS assignment of the component.
8. Practical Applications
8.1 Manufacturing Workflow
Process Integration:
Design components with automatic MOS assignment
Group into packages for manufacturing efficiency
Organize into elements for assembly planning
Generate machine files with MOS-based attributes
Create assembly plans with element-based organization
8.2 Quality Control
Clash Detection: MOS organization helps identify and resolve conflicts between different building systems Material Tracking: Ensures all components are accounted for in material lists Assembly Sequence: Element organization facilitates proper assembly sequencing
8.3 Project Management
Filtering: Rapidly filter large datasets by MOS groups for specific tasks Reporting: Generate reports organized by building elements, processes, or custom groupings Collaboration: Consistent organization enables effective team collaboration
9. Advanced Features
9.1 Wall Design Integration
HRB Guidelines: React automatically to MOS assignments
Slice Structure: Wall layers maintain MOS relationships
Component Creation: Automatic MOS inheritance during component generation
9.2 Free Design (D-CAM) Enhancement
Package/Element Definition: In D-CAM, additional package/element areas can be defined beyond existing building MOS areas Individual Organization: Provides flexibility for custom groupings Additional Information: Can be used for filtering and included in lists, plans, and machine data
9.3 Surface Objects Organization
Even imported surface objects (non-solid geometry) are organized through MOS:
Groups, Buildings, Elements, Free MOS, Rooms
Maintained through import/export processes
Integrated with volume objects in the same organizational structure
10. Best Practices
10.1 Project Setup
Define clear MOS group numbering conventions at project start
Establish consistent element/package strategies based on manufacturing capabilities
Set up appropriate filtering views for different team roles
10.2 Manufacturing Optimization
Align package organization with actual manufacturing processes
Use MOS groups to optimize material usage and reduce waste
Coordinate element organization with site assembly capabilities
10.3 Quality Assurance
Regular review of MOS assignments for accuracy
Use MOS-based filtering for systematic quality checks
Maintain MOS consistency across project phases
11. Conclusion
MOS in Dietrich's is far more than a simple organizational tool - it's a comprehensive system that provides the structural foundation for managing complex timber construction projects. By integrating model organization with manufacturing processes and assembly requirements, MOS ensures that digital design intent translates accurately through to physical construction.
The system's power lies in its ability to maintain relationships between components while providing the flexibility needed for modern timber construction's diverse requirements - from automated manufacturing to complex assembly sequences.
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