Combining Meshes with the Combine Tool

You can combine multiple models or meshes into a single object in Maya by selecting them and using the Mesh > Combine command.

Combining meshes is a fundamental operation in Maya used to merge several separate geometric objects into one unified mesh. This simplifies scene management and allows for easier manipulation and editing of related objects.

Based on the provided reference, the process is straightforward:

1. Select the Objects: Begin by selecting all the individual models or meshes you want to join together. You can select multiple objects in the viewport by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each one.
2. Navigate to the Menu: Go to the main menu bar located at the top of the Maya window.
3. Choose the Mesh Menu: Click on the Mesh menu option.
4. Execute the Combine Command: From the dropdown list under the Mesh menu, select Combine.

As highlighted in the reference video content (0:20 - 0:53), once you select Mesh > Combine, "they're now one object and you can do whatever you want with them." This action creates a new single mesh node in your scene that contains the geometry of all the selected objects. The original individual objects are typically grouped under the new combined mesh and can be deleted if no longer needed.

Key Outcomes of Combining

After performing the Mesh > Combine operation:

• All selected objects become a single mesh node in the Outliner.
• Transformations (moving, rotating, scaling) applied to the combined object will affect all parts of the original meshes simultaneously.
• You can access and edit components (vertices, edges, faces) across the boundaries of the original objects as if they were always one piece.

Summary of the Combine Action

Here is a quick look at the core steps:

Action	Menu Path	Result
Select Meshes	Viewport/Outliner	Multiple Selected
Execute Combine	Mesh > Combine	Creates a Single Mesh

Benefits of Using Combine

Using the Combine function offers several advantages:

• Scene Organization: Reduces clutter in your Outliner by grouping related geometry under a single node.
• Simplified Workflow: Makes it easier to select, transform, and apply materials to multiple objects together.
• Preparation for Other Operations: Often a necessary step before performing operations like bridging gaps between meshes or sculpting across separate pieces.

For further details on mesh operations and modeling techniques in Maya, consult the official Maya Documentation. (Placeholder link)

Important Note

The Combine command merges the objects into one mesh, but it does not automatically weld vertices that were previously separate, even if they occupied the same space. If you need to merge vertices or edges along the seams where the original objects met, you would need to perform additional steps, such as using the Merge Vertices tool, after combining.