Moving edges by unit

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to design an object based off of measurements but I can't figure out how to move an edge or vertex by an increment instead of by hand, I'd like to be precise as possible.
While I'm posting I'd also like to ask about adding more edges, I specifically want to add one more edge that is perfect, horizontal or verticle across the side of the object, using the multi-cut tool just isn't right.

I've looked over some forums but I haven't found the answer, or if I have I must have misread it.

Thank you in advance.

[jordan.giboney]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for posting! To work with specific measurements, you will first want to set your working units to the appropriate increment:

Then, when working with your object, you can click on the components (vertices, edges and faces) and use the Modeling Toolkit (found in Windows > Modeling Editors > Modeling Toolkit) Move settings to manipulate them to a specific location:

Let me know if that answers your question sufficiently 🙂 If not, I would be happy to continue working together until we figure it out!

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much, that's very helpful. I'd also asked about adding new edges that that move directly and cleanly accross the face of an object, at a perfect horizontal or vertical angle. I would really appreciate if you also had the answer to that. Thank you again.

[jordan.giboney · Accepted solution]

hi @Anonymous

Sorry about that! Didn't mean to miss the second part of your question 🙂 

There's a couple different tools that we can use in combination to achieve this:

1. Maya Distance tool - measure the distance between two points. Use this to verify the specific distance between parts.
2. Insert Edge Loop Tool - insert an edge loop that is dependent on the poly flow of the object
   • Select Edge Loop - more info on loops and polyflow
3. Legacy Split Polygon tool - this is the original version of the Multicut Tool. Some find it easier to use 🙂 To activate it in Maya 2018, use these steps:
   1. Type "SplitPolygonTool;" in your Mel Script Editor, and press enter
   2. When it populates in the upper window, highlight it, click and hold on it with your middle mouse button, then drag it up to your shelf to create a button
   3. Select MEL when the button prompt appears

Using these tools along with the ones in my original post, you should be able to mark the spots where you need your edge loops to be. The last strategy I would recommend using is the Snapping tool. Say you have one vert placed in the spot that matches your design, and you would like to match it's corresponding vert on the opposite side of the face:

1. Select the vert you want to move/align (best to do this in an orthographic view - front/side/top/etc)
2. Hold down V to activate the "snap to vertices" tool
3. Move the selected vert along the appropriate axis - it will snap to the location
   • If it snaps to the wrong vert, continue holding down V to adjust it.
4. Use the Distance Tool to confirm that it is in the correct location

You can do a similar operation for edges as well 🙂 

Do these tools sound like they will do the trick for your project? Any other questions I can help with?