Mesh Tools

Mesh Tools

Mesh tools is a build-in addon which is a collection of useful addons for editing. At the moment the addon is in the testing category. A few examples of what is included: Chamfer, Random Vert, Edge Fillet Plus, Offset Edges, Roundify, Multi Extrude, Face Inset Fillet, Face Extrude, Floor Plan, Split Solidify and Cut Faces. In Blender it is called Mesh Tools and you might find it elsewhere under the name Mesh Edit Tools.

How to install the Mesh Tools addon?

  • In Blender go to Edit Preferences and click on Testing.
  • In Search type: Mesh
  • Enable the addon and optionally you can give the name of the TAB another name. Or if a TAB already exist, the addon will be added there.

Overview of the features

Vert Tools

Vertex Chamfer

Vertex Chamfer
Select Vertices and Vert Tools, select Vertex Chamfer. It seems to me the it is the same as Shift+Ctrl+B (bevel on vertex). The latter one has some more options like segments, profile etc. Let me know in what cases the Vertex Chamfer is preferred.
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Extrude Vertices

Extrude Vertices
This is slightly different than selecting vertices and press e (Extrude). Extrude Vertices doesn’t fill with faces. Whereas a normal extrude does it when selecting multiple vertices.
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Random Vertices

Random Vertices
Random Vertices seems to be handy to give randomness (location) to selected vertices. That brings me to an idea to model a scene and use Random Vertices in shapekeys. Then we add a driver to all shape-keys and with one slide we can make our whole scene a bit messier. Just an idea.
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Bevel Vertices

Bevel Vertices
Ah, and there the Bevel Vertices as I talked about in Vertex Chamfer. Just to remind, you can also select other vertices, other than corners.
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Edge Tools

Offset Edges

Offset Edges was once a separate addon and is discussed here as well. In case you have that installed already, you can de-install it now.
Offset Edges
It looks simple, but there is quite an algorithm behind it. We could not do it before with the Build in Blender tools. But luckily it’s build in now although still in the test category.
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Fillet Edges

Fillet Edges
This seems to be from the addon called Fillet Plus. If you have any use-case, don’t hesitate to share it.
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Edge Roundify

Edge Roundify
The description says “Mesh modeling tool for building arcs on selected edges”.
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Set Edge Length

Set Edge Length
The description says “Change one selected edge length by a specified target, existing length and different modes. Note: works only with Edges that not share a vertex”.
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Edges Floor Plan

Edges Floor Plan
The Edges Floor Plan looks like a combination of solidify and extrude. Meaning you could make a Floor Plan with edges. And enjoy this feature to turn the edges into a Floor Plan.
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Extrude Eges

Extrude Edges
There are quite some option when extruding Edges. If you find some good use-cases, let us know.
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Bevel Edges

Bevel Edges
As far as I see, it’s the same as using Ctrl+B. Correct me if I am wrong.
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Face Tools

Face Inset Fillet

Face Inset Fillet
The description says “Inset selected and fillet (make round) the corners of the newly created faces”. It works slightly different that inset a face first and then bevel the vertices.
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Cut Faces

Cut Faces
Very funny. I wrote the post “Cut Faces” yesterday. It seems that it is included in the Mesh Tools addon. And I had to look up what was that Cut Faces addon again. Anyhow, with Cut Faces you can easily make face-loops within the selection.
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Push/Pull Faces

Push Pull Faces
So this is the addon I was looking for! With this feature you can extrude more like sculpting. The necessary vertices will be merge and extra edges will be created. With as result that, if you do it well, you can subfurf the mesh after that.
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Multi Extrude

Multi Extrude
Lovely! Select some faces and them Multi-extrude. Loads of options and variations and you can save your own presets! This contributes to Blender’s 2.80 paradise.
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Split Solidify

Split Solidify
Pretty clear what it does I suppose. Select faces and it will solidify them but with a few features more like distance. That will come in handy sooner or later.
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Face Shape

Face Shape
This addon was called PKHG faces. Maybe this it does, but it now included in the Mesh Tools addon. You can replace selected face with another type. It reminds me of the Tissue addon a bit, but then like in express-mode. Once done, you better merge the vertices by distance. You can find merge by distance in Utility tools of the Mesh Tools addon.
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Inset Faces

Inset Faces
As far as I see, this is the same as pressing i on the keyboard. Correct me if I am wrong.
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Extrude Individual Faces

Extrude individual faces
This seems to be extrude along normals. I use it quite often. You can select multiple faces and mostly you don’t want to extrude al the faces on Z-axis for example but use the direction of the normals. (Where face is pointing to).
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Utilities

These are the utilities:

  • Subdivide
  • Merge by distance ( called “remove doubles” before).
  • Limited dissolve
  • Flip normals
  • Triangulate faces
  • Tris to quads

More info

You can find more info in this thread on Blenderartists.org


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