Blender Basic Navigation

First, you must understand that if this is your first time using Blender, it will be overwhelming and learning the program will take time. You will screw up, make mistakes and get frustrated when something is acting funny. But keep this in mind: There is always a way to fix it, if you take the time to search it online.

You should practice using key binds to work efficiently, without having to navigate through the same menus over and over again.

Some common key-binds are:
Shift+F - Will allow a free-cam type of movement, this will hopefully help you get more comfortable with the program!
Middle Mouse Button OR numpad keys (using an up,down,left,right movement) - Will allow you to look around an object with the camera focused on one part. This is useful for adjustments.
N - Brings out a number panel - you can edit coordinates of objects, scale them, and rotate them.
Right-Click objects - (de)Selects object(s) (use shift to select multiple)
A - (de)Selects objects
Tab - Switches from Edit/Object mode
B - Select objects/faces/verticies within a rectangular selection on screen.
Del/delete - Delete object/face/vertices
Z - Wire-frame mode

If you wish to know every single key to blender, here is the entire directory of keys
https://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.4/Referen...

Using the number menu to make objects can help you make objects - with precision. We're going to make a a simple bridge.

Press N to bring out the number menu. The object (cube) should be already selected, unless you have accidentally pressed something to unselect it. To select it again (if you unselected it), right click the cube.

Now change the dimensions to:

X: 5
Y: 11
Z: 1

It should appear to be more flat, like shown in pictures!

Lets make a railing for our bridge - a very simple one.

Go to the create tab, located on the left side of the program and insert a cube.

Go to dimensions and set the new cube to

X: 0.5
Y: 0.5
Z: 1

Then set the location to:

X: 2.25
Y: -5.5
Z: 1

Notice these numbers. They are set to by numbers divisible by 5. Maintain this to keep accuracy.

You can copy and paste objects and use them. Lets do this with our new cube. Ensure it is selected and press CTRL+C to copy and then press CTRL+V to paste.

A copy will appear inside of the exact coordinates and have the same dimensions - Just drag it out using the green arrow - or move it to the opposite side.

Once it looks like it is in the right place, ensure it is - using the number menu. (You could have also just used the number menu only to do this)

The coordinates should be:

X: 2.25
Y: 5.5
Z: 1

And now the rail supports should be present.

Go to create and add a cylinder and set it's dimensions to:

X: 0.2
Y: 0.2
Z: 1

Now set the rotation to:

X: 90°
Y: 0°
Z: 0°

Now you can set the coordinates to:

X: 2.25
Y: 0
Z: 1.25

Now it's starting to look like a railing!
Copy + Paste the rail and move the 0.75 on Z axis

Hold shift and right click every piece of the railing. It should look like the picture provided. Once it is selected, press CTRL+J and it will join the objects into one, and now it should have a yellow outline to show that the entire object is selected - as one.

Now you can copy + paste the object and move it to the other side. The pasted object should have the opposite X axis coordinates - if you want it to be super precise. Now boom, you have an extremely simple bridge.

You can experiment with the bridge to make it look less blocky, look up videos on tricks about angled cuts, etc. I have made a covered bridge in about 3-5 hours after re-making it a couple times. Here it is

There is much much more you can do with Blender, what we have done here is barely even cutting the surface, and you can do this with most CAD programs.

But I hope this helped you to some degree, if you are looking to go further, I recommend spending time watching you tube videos! Most are well-done.

Adv Tech 120: