In this video, we talk about the hard surface modeling tool Grid Modeler and how you can use it to quickly create hard surface models in Blender!

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Video Introduction
0:33 – Grid Modeler Introduction
0:41 – Add-On and Documentation Locations
0:55 – Using Grid Modeler in Blender
1:03 – How to Activate the Tool
2:08 – Using and Adjusting the Grid
2:24 – Adjusting Grid Size
3:27 – Aligning Grids with Edges
4:15 – Using Grid Modeler Operations (Boolean, Slice, Etc)
4:46 – Using Boolean Cuts
5:13 – Adding Geometry
5:45 – Boolean Slice
6:12 – Creating Edge Pipes
7:01 – Grid Modeler Selection Tools
7:20 – Creating Arrays in Selection Mode

This is a hard surface modeling tool designed to help you slice/cut and add to different shapes in Blender.

The way it works is pretty simple – to access it, you need to be in edit mode. Simply select a face, then right click and select the option for Grid Modeler.

This grid is something that you can inference to in order to draw shapes along a face that can then cut or add to objects in your model.

First things first – you can adjust the grid size by holding the control key and scrolling your mouse wheel. This is going to allow you to adjust the grid up or down. If you tap the “A” key, you can toggle between absolute and relative modes. Relative mode is going to size your grid based on the face size you have selected.

If you want the grid to be bigger than your face, you can hold “alt” and roll your mouse wheel to adjust the overall size.

If the grid isn’t fitting on the face properly, you can hold Ctrl and Left Click on an edge to align the grid to that edge.

Note that you can create grids that align with non-flat faces as well just by selecting them when you first enable the grid modeler tool.

The way this tool works is that you can draw along the grid, then use the shapes you draw in order to conduct various operations. One thing to note about this is that as far as I know, this is a destructive modeling tool, meaning that you can’t go back and make changes later – once they’re applied, they’re applied.

Once you’ve drawn a shape, you’ve got a few options – you can create a new face, use your shape as a Boolean cutting tool, create a Boolean slice, and create an edge pipe along your drawn face.

One thing I find helpful is to extend your grid size beyond the face you’re editing if you’re going to cut along the edge of a shape.
In addition, you can also edit your selection once you’ve drawn it, allowing access to tools like the array and rotation tools.