Constrain Normal

[Benson Shaw]

Add a Constrain Normal function.

Sort of a hyper 2d/3d Constrain Tangent/Coincident combo:

Invoke the Normal constraint

Pick an object (2d, 3d, group, symbol, anything)

Define/pick an axis in the object.

Pick a contact point.

Pick a path or surface (2d, 3d, flat, curved, anything), and accept.

Select and move the object. It stays connected to the path or surface at the contact point and adjusts attitude so that the axis is always normal to the path/surface. The path/surface does not move or change shape. Surface and object become a group or some special new container

If select the surface and move it, the object moves as part of the group.

First object creates the group. Edit the group to add new constrained objects to the surface or remove objects from the constraint.

Not sure what happens to other objects or other constraints associated with same surface.

This also needs some obvious ways to disable the constraint.

Current disable is in Modify>Edit Constraint (invokes a dialog box). This is separated from the tool. Maybe a special highlight indicates the constrained surface and objects? An onscreen flag shows with the highlight - click to enter the edit mode?

-B

Edited December 1, 2013 by Benson Shaw