How to MOVE an object OUTWARD from CURVED SURFACE?

[the-dude123]

Hi,

How would I go about moving an object from the center of another. Basically, I want to detach parts of a sphere and move/expand them out (without changing their scale) from the surface. Kinda going for that orbiting effect (if that helps clarify my rambling).

The objects need to come out and go back along the same path so I can animate them.

Thanks for any suggestions!

I have included an image for reference.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Set pivot to center of the sphere and then scale or move the object based on this origin.

[the-dude123]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I gave that a shot, but I need the object to move outwards from the sphere at the same ANGLE as the spheres surface at that point (if that makes sense). The transformer tool does this great...but it also scales the object, which is not what I want.

[mspeer]

Hi!

For scaling there is only one correct solution, but not for movement.

The problem is, where is "at that point".

You can also rotate the pivot not just positioning, it has not to be perfect.

[the-dude123]

Hi,

Yes, "at that point" is a little vague. Sorry about that.

I basically want it to move along the normals...but I guess it would have to be an average of the normals?

The TRANSFORM TOOL moves it exactly how I want it to...but it also scales the object...which I don't want.

Here is an example using the transform tool to move the object away from the sphere:

 

[mspeer]

Hi!

If you move along the normals (every normal per vertex/face is different) it will scale.

You have to choose:

If you move along the normals, then it will scale.

Move only in one direction, then it will not scale, but you have to choose a direction.

There is no other way.

[the-dude123 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up with a solution I stumbled across with the help of another suggestion:

I was doing something else in Maya today and I forgot to reset my move tool (it was left in Component mode). I selected some faces, Extracted them, and then the pivot appeared in the center of the new object and was oriented in the direction of the face (diagonally).

So, it looks like I needed to SET the move tool to Component mode FIRST and then make my face selection and extract. I was doing the extraction first and then trying to set/adjust the move tool and the pivot.

After playing around with this a bit more, it looks like you have to be in FACE mode in order for this to work. If I switch to OBJECT mode and select the move tool, it reverts back to the generic x, y, z planar orientation for the object.

OBJECT MODE (FACE MODE 2nd image)