Numeric control of 3D Manipulator along the Normal axis

Hi,

I have a cylinder that isn’t aligned to the grid, and I would like to Move/Duplicate it along the Normal-axis by using the 3D Manipulator tool. Manually I can move and rotate it along the axis, but is there also a way to do this with the keypad, so if let’s say the cylinder is 3 units long, I could press G+Y+3 and it would go to a position right behind the original one. When I try this, the cylinder moves along the ‘Global’ Y-axis instead of the ‘Normal’ Y-axis.

Look for instance at the attached images I can use the green arrow to move the object along a virtual green Y-axis, but I can’t fill in any numbers, see upper left corner where it’s shows where the object moves in the Global Grid.

http://forum.nystic.com/download/file.php?id=14150

http://forum.nystic.com/download/file.php?id=14151

To set up your pivot point see here…
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php/201099-Pivot-point-and-rotation?p=1729467#post1729467

Then it should be as you’ve already mentioned , ‘G + Y + 3’

Set the axis to ‘normal’ and press G Y Y 3
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:Manual/3D_interaction/Manipulation/Axis_Locking#Normal_axis_locking

I like that, always thought it was my giant bear paws not pressing keys right… Cheers

Joehoe!!!

That’s it, thanks for your help.