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I want to create a mesh object which has 7 sides but each side is not the same length as the others. Consider the following satellite image which I have marked in red. The approximate lengths of each side are also marked in red. I thought perhaps the answer is to create a start with a cylinder, set vertices to 7 and then drag the vertices but it seems messy and perhaps there is an easy method I have not though of. Or maybe a cube and add vertices then drag them out. What is the easiest solution? The object I want to create is actually the end of a concrete dock. I want to try and keep each side approximately the same as indicated (in meters), The left and right sides are parallel. [Added later] I have tried creating a cube with dimensions of 15 X 13.5 and thickness (Z) of 0.15 then in edit mode 'add vertice' (ctrl R) then select an 'edge' on the 'thin' side and dragging it (G Y) but do not know how to end up with the sides of a length I require.

Thanks enter image description here

enter image description here

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2 Answers 2

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one possible way would be to start with just vertices.

So if you have a cube, go to edit mode, M -> merge at center. Now you have 1 vertex. Press E (extrude), the x 15, then E y 13, then e y 6.5 G X 6.5 ...see?

If you have the whole outline

enter image description here

select all and press F.

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then E and move your mouse and you have geometry.

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  • $\begingroup$ Oopy you where a bit faster, should i remove my post or keep the "edge lenght" info in it? $\endgroup$
    – Evripidis Lalissidis
    Nov 23, 2022 at 7:20
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    $\begingroup$ @EvripidisLalissidis I would keep it in, because the last sentence in the question ends with "but do not know how to end up with the sides of a length I require", and actually just moving(extruding on the axes when you don't know how far wouldn't get you the correct result without edge lengths. $\endgroup$
    – Gordon Brinkmann
    Nov 23, 2022 at 7:22
  • $\begingroup$ That looks ok but how to extrude NOT along the X or Y axis eg if extrude required at a 45 degree angle? $\endgroup$
    – John Arnold
    Nov 23, 2022 at 7:41
  • $\begingroup$ as i wrote here (but i didn't explain): "e y 6.5 G X 6.5" -> this extrudes to y 6.5 and then moves (G x) 6.5 (sorry, i wrote it wrong and too fast - i corrected this, forgot the x and somehow the 4 was pressed too much) $\endgroup$
    – Chris
    Nov 23, 2022 at 7:57
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    $\begingroup$ @chris All is good now. As I worked out the lengths of every edge calculating some as triangles I ended up exactly in line with the start point and exactly the correct distance so just had to enter E X -13.5. $\endgroup$
    – John Arnold
    Nov 24, 2022 at 8:56
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You can use single vertices as a way to build the foundation.

  • Using "Shift + A," add a plane.
  • Enter edit mode.
  • To enter vertices mode, press 1 on your keyboard.
  • To select everything, press A.
  • Press M and select "at center" to merge them all into a single vertice.
  • Now, select your vertices in the center and extrude them until you have the final shape.

enter image description here

You can use XYZ to constrain the movement, and at the top left of your screen while extruding or moving, you can see the increments.

Also, a very handy trick is to use "edge length" information to make your life a lot easier via the "Viewport overlay.".

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ I have 'resurrected' this thread as I am having trouble with a NEW mesh crated using this method. When I apply a texture image material the mesh goes black on all faces and the texture image is not seen (viewport shading IS on). I am starting with a 'blank canvas' and started with a NEW mesh cube so no material is attached. Any ideas why this is happening and what to do to fix it? <img src="https://blend-exchange.com/embedImage.png?bid=1abgKXpJ" /> $\endgroup$
    – John Arnold
    Dec 31, 2022 at 23:01

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