Move Clones along Normals (of another Object)

[RemoGambacciani]

Hey Guys,
I'm looking for a way to move clones along the normals of a separate object.
And/or a deformer that does the same for splines (almost like a "working" shrink-wrap deformer for splines). Something like the newish spline projection deformer but with a slot for an external object to project/move along more complex normals structures that just parallel and directional.

Here are some explanations:
Basically I wanne move independent clones along the normals of another object.
Almost like the "Normal Transform > Normal Move" command, but as a MoGraph effector, with a slot to determin that other object.
It's like when you define a vector volume (separate object) as a force in a field force, and the particles/dynamics move away from this object along the normals. But not for dynamics, rather as a deformer/effector.

Im sure im not the first one to face that question right?

Thanks a lot and all the best, R.

MoveAlongNormals_001.c4d

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[Dr. Sassi]

Hi RamoGambacciani,

Thank you very much for the file!

Make a copy of the object, keep the Edge Selection, and use the
Main Menu> Mesh> Move> Normal Move.
Just a tiny bit.
Now take from both Objects from the Edge Selection you have
Main Menu> Mesh> Edge To Spline

These two Splines are now edge-based; perhaps set them to B-Spline and add some intermediate points.

One is the central spline, and the other one is the Rail spline for the matrix (Or Cloner). The rail works like a target, and provides a direction with that.
Since you moved the edges via Normal Move (you could also move all polygons that way for later use and new edge selections)

Please look here to see that a simple parameter adjustment now moves them along the object's Normal.

CV4_2024_drs_24_MGmn_01.c4d

All the best