Capsule Mesh Add-on for Blender

What

This add-on adds a new mesh primitive to Blender: the Capsule. A capsule is a cylinder with hemispherical caps on both ends, resembling a pill or capsule shape. This shape is commonly used in 3D modeling, game development, and physics simulations.

The add-on integrates seamlessly with Blender's interface, adding a "Capsule" option to the Add Mesh menu (Shift+A > Mesh > Capsule).

Why

Capsules are essential primitives for:

• Game development (character controllers, collision shapes)
• CAD modeling (rounded cylinders, pipe ends)
• Character modeling (limbs, body parts)
• Physics simulations (soft body collisions)

While Blender includes basic primitives like cubes, cylinders, and spheres, it lacks a built-in capsule primitive, requiring users to manually create and combine shapes to form capsules. This add-on saves significant time and effort by providing a one-click capsule creation with customizable parameters.

How to Install

1. Download the add_capsule_mesh.py file
2. Open Blender and go to Edit > Preferences
3. Select the "Add-ons" tab
4. Click "Install..." and navigate to the downloaded .py file
5. Enable the add-on by checking the box next to "Add Mesh: Add Capsule Mesh"

How to Use

1. In the 3D viewport, press Shift+A
2. Navigate to Mesh > Capsule
3. Adjust the parameters in the bottom-left panel:
   • Radius: Controls the width of the capsule
   • Height: Controls the length of the cylindrical middle section
   • Segments: Controls the circular resolution (more segments = smoother circle)
   • Rings: Controls the hemisphere resolution
   • Orientation: Aligns the capsule along X, Y, or Z axis

Features

• Fully adjustable radius and height
• Customizable resolution for both circular segments and hemispherical rings
• Three orientation options (X, Y, Z axis alignment)
• Seamless integration with Blender's user interface
• Undo/Redo support
• Minimal performance impact

Technical Details

The add-on creates a proper manifold mesh with clean topology, suitable for subdivision and further modeling. The generated capsule has:

• Evenly distributed vertices
• All quad-topology (except at the poles)
• Proper UV mapping support
• Consistent normals