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Spaceballs (3d mouse)
4

Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Spaceballs (3d mouse)

(OP)
Are you using a 3D mouse/spaceball?

Why?/Why not?

Thanx for the input.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Jakek,

I am using a Cadman on the left hand and a Marble mouse on the right hand. I believe I've increased my productivity at least 35-40%. After using the one at work for a while I had to buy one for home. I don't think I could live without it now. For the money it was a good investment. The spaceball might have some advantages over the Cadman but for the money it has been a good tool.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

After using a spaceball for years, it would feel like working with one hand if it were taken away.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Everyone in my department uses the spaceball and, like ewh, it would be like losing a hand without it.

Yes, I recommend it even though it is expensive.

jackboot

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I am using a Spaceball 5000 and love it. I can't imagine working with SW without it anymore. You can do some of the same things with just your normal mouse/middle buttons, but the Spaceball literially puts a different spin on your parts that you don't get with your mouse/middle button

Test one out and you will see a benefit right away.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Currently testing a 3Dconnexion Spacepilot.

never used a 3D Mouse but this one kicks but.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I'm using a Spaceball 3003 I bought on e-bay. On my last job they supplied the engineers with spaceballs, but not here. Well worth the cost of buying one myself.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I am using a Spaceball 5000 and I agree with the above posts that once you use it you can't live without it. Just give yourself time to get use to the feel of it and you will agree that it is a tool you can't afford to not have.

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
--Howard Aiken, IBM engineer

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I thought this was going to be about something else

"I see your Schwartz is as big as mine"

I've never been into the spaceball. I had one at Boeing that I never used. I'm left handed. And with CATIA v4 zooming up and down was done witht the arrows....which I could do with my right hand quite comfortably. (and pan was button 3 and rotate was button 2+3). So I really could achieve whatever I needed without the spaceball.

I've just gotten used to it.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Spaceballs are good for more than 3d modeling, though that is where they really shine.  They also make it easier to quickly move around in drawing space.
I find myself using it on web pages also, as it it much quicker than the mouse when it comes to scrolling.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

On this site, for example, I push and pull to scroll up and down the page.  Beats spinning that mouse wheel!

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

The Space Pilot changes screens as you have diferent windows activated. I use to to go history back and forward in IE. and to scroll through outlook, and since it has the alt, ctrl, esc and shift buttons just like my keyboard i use them for all aplications.

check it out!! it is a great tool.  

http://www.3dconnexion.com/spacepilot.htm

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I understand how it is suppose to work, but did you have to install an Add-in or driver to make it work with your browser?

It doesn't work in my by default.

Thanks,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I just changed my spaceball (5000) out for an older model (4000 FLX) due to the newer one causing my screen to jump around.  I am no longer able to scroll thru web pages.

When I get a chance, I will see if there are any updated drivers for the 5000.  I'm gonna miss it, but the jumping screen had to go.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I just pluged it in and loaded the software that came with it....and it worked in IE

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

ewh,

Does your model just start rotating for no good reason? I had this happen and tweaked and updated my drivers to no avail. I called 3dConnexions and they emailed me a new firmware update for the 5000. They said some of the first 5000's would rotate part's with no input from the user.

Scorch

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
--Howard Aiken, IBM engineer

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Scorch,
Thanks for the info!  That is exactly the problem I've been experiencing.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

ewh ... are you using IE or Firefox?
Not sure if it will help in your case but, if it's FF go to Tools > Options > Browsing & deselect the Auto scrolling option.


Making the best use of this Forum.  FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions.  FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of.  FAQ559-520

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

CBL,
I'm on IE.

Just got off the phone with 3D Connexion and the fix has already been delivered.  Thanks again, Scorch!

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Quote:

Jakek (Mechanical) 7 Jul 05 13:13  
Are you using a 3D mouse/spaceball?
Yes...

Quote:

Why?/Why not?
Because it's just so darn cool!


And because of all the other stuff too.
 

SolidWorks 2005 SP03.0 / Windows 2000 Professional

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Call your VAR & ask if they can loan you one for 30 days. Tell hem you'll pass it around for others to try also. It'll give you a chance to try one out & maybe - if enough folks like it - your boss might be pressured into supplying them for everybody... It could happen.

SolidWorks 2005 SP03.0 /SpaceBall 400 FLX / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer / Windows 2000 Professional

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

After looking in the 3Dxware help, I found that Office is only supported for the USB versions -not the serial versions-of the spaceball 4000/5000-maybe that applies to IE also.

I have a serial spaceball 4000FLX and love it! I've had it for 4 years. I find it much easier to navigate Solidworks than using the mouse and keyboard. I use it for both 3D modeling and 2D detailing. It also works great in Acad,  though I wish it would work in IE or Office.

Kevin

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I have a CadMan that will continue to rotate after I've let go.  a 'Zoom To Fit' corrects it, although temporarily.  I've contacted support previously and had no solution at the time.  Time to try again.



ewh,

Does your model just start rotating for no good reason? I had this happen and tweaked and updated my drivers to no avail. I called 3dConnexions and they emailed me a new firmware update for the 5000. They said some of the first 5000's would rotate part's with no input from the user.

Scorch

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Once you have used one you would never willingly be without it. If it is your own money you can now get 4000 series on ebay for a buy now price of $115, if it is your bosses money or you are feeling flush consider getting a 5000 series with USB.

If you contract it will pay for itself inside a month or two.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I have a SpaceBall 5000 that sits like a $500 piece of art on my desk. I have tried and tried to be productive on it. I have followed engineers who use them to examine the work-flow. Nothing.. For some reason I cannot beat the speed of the keyboard and Wacom pad. Granted I cannot zoom and pan at the same time but my work-flow does not suffer. Perhaps my muscle memory is used to years of working CAD with a keyboard and mouse/wacom stylus.  The only reason I keep it connected is that my managers can stand behind me and intuitively swirl around the mouse from their vantage point. This is one advantage of the Spaceball- you dont have to take the drivers seat to effectively view the model

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

It took me a week or 2 to get the hang of it. I was motivated to make it work - but I was still clumsy with it. The best tip I can give you is to make good use of setting the center of rotation as you work. It's a real pain to try to zoom in on an extremity when the center of rotation is still set to the 0,0,0 origin. Program that feature into one of the buttons. Give it one more try... $500 is a lot to pay for a knick-knack.

SolidWorks 2005 SP03.0 SpaceBall 400 FLX Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer Windows 2000 Professional

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Can anyone recommend a good 3D mouse for Mac (primarily for use with Cinema 4D).  I believe Spaceball 5000 does not support Macs / OS X.

Thanks!

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

yes becasue all the cool kids are doing it

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Need help here guys,
Trying to get hold of an older verion of the software for the 4000 FLX spaceball. 3dconnexion software doesnt load and I am getting a load error.

Any ideas ??

Jaycee

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Have you done a google search for any drivers yet? you should start there.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Sbaugh
Been down that road and the latest drivers dont seem to download correctly from "3dconnexion". I end up with an error fault during the install phase.

I am trying to locate the older driver for a 4000 FLX series spaceball.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

There are Driver sites out there. One used to be www.drivers.com and they had many old drivers for old video cards, devices such as that and many other things. That's why I suggested Google, because www.drivers.com didn't work last time I checked.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Quote:

jaycee07
Need help here guys,
Trying to get hold of an older verion of the software for the 4000 FLX spaceball.
I have these 3 drivers still: v1-3-0, v2-2-4 & v2-3-4

I don't know how to get them to you though... I don't think there's a PM funcion here & we're not supposed to post e-mail addresses. If you can figure out how - I'll hook you up.


Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2005 SP04.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Lava Lamp

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Thanks guys,
Problem solved - for older Serial spaceballs ie: FX4000 serial etc, you need 3DxWare_3.6.4_win_reg.exe.
This is not at the normal sites and you need to search hard.

Thanks again

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I'm using a 4000FLX (serial) & running the latest drivers (3DxSoftware_v2-3-4_win32.exe) with no problems.
Where'd you get such an idea & where'd you find those drivers?


Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2005 SP04.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Lava Lamp

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Currently using a 4000 and I could not imagine working without one.

I started out with a 2000, at least that's what I think it was.  I wasn't sure at first so I looked around for the cheapest one I could find.  I paid about $20 on ebay for and used it for several years.  I gave it another engineer when I got my 4000, which was also from ebay for $100, and he also can't imagine using SW without it.

Since they are so cheap on ebay, and readily available, you should just get one and see.  Worst case your out $20, and best case your more productive then before.

For those who are looking for older drivers you can also try IBM and HP sites.  I think 3D connexion makes all the units but they are marketed and sold by IBM and HP as well.  I found the drive for my 2000 at IBM that still has all the older drives.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

anyone know where to get a solidworks addin for the spaceball 3003 FLX?

thx,
in10ss

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Does everyone know they dropped the price of the Space Traveler to $199. We ended up buying 12 of them for our office.

CJ Goodrich
Product Design Engineer
Leatherman Tool Group
Portland, Oregon
http://www.leatherman.com

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Ive been using my spacepilot for about 12 months now and just love it, best buy Ive had!!!!

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Hey all you spaceball users and non users,

I'm currently using the spaceball 5000 I had a buddy order it for me using a student discount so I got it for $200 and it is especially usefull with a large forum post like this one. I think 3dconnexion originally had customers download individual drivers but the new drivers for the 5000 work with most programs including IE Netscape and Adobe. The adobe driver reduces the time it takes to Examine a large PDF and the Zoom toggle helps to keep the PDF zooming in our out inadverdently.

If you do have to work without one I'd suggest using a 5 button mouse where you can set the side buttons to act as the Ctrl or Shify kez so you can pan zoom and rotate with ease. I know on Catia and UG you can do all this with combinations of the 3 mouse buttons.

I'm sure you can email 3dconnexion and have them send you older drivers. I was actually annoyed with the new configuration UI with the spaceball 5000, luckily I kept the old version to be safe. The new interface has been limited by the number of windows you have to deal with.

*One Quick Tip for people updating to the new Spaceball drivers.
You can keep the customized 3DX macros that you might have created on the older versions.

To do so save your old config files user##.scg or sldworks.scg open these files with a text editor like notepad and search for the string "BUTTON_CHARACTERS"
and you'll see something like what I've shown below

BUTTON_CHARACTERS =
{
{ USER_001,  },{ USER_002},etc
{ USER_015, "UG - Layer - Move item", " +18:540540929 -18:3224895489 +82:1245185 -82:1245185 +77:3276801 -77:3276801" },
{ USER_016, "KEY - CTRL", " +17:1900545 -17:3223126017" },
{ USER_017, "KEY - SHIFT", " +16:2752513 -16:3223977985" }
}

Copy the later entries and paste them into your new *.scg file and number them with the _### in the order you want them to appear in the list and save the file.

Michael

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

All of the engineers here (3, including me) have been using a Spacepilot since we started using Solidworks about seven months ago.
As I already had some experience with these things from a couple of years back (with UGS) it was simply a MUST-HAVE for me with my colleagues being slightly sceptical about it.

We got a pretty good deal on them with a free-trial period but now nobody wants to do without them anymore.

Sr. Design Engineer
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user
Special electric motors & centrifugal fans

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Do any of you use a Spaceball 4000 FLX, with solidworks 2006, and windows XP? Im haveing some trouble to get mine to work.  I am connected to my workstation with a USB to SERIAL adaptor.  The spaceball works in all of the test programs, but not in solidoworks? Any help?

Thanks

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Plifter365, I'm using a logitech spacemouse plus, but I'd imagine it's the same thing with yours.  I needed to download the program specific drivers for it to show up as an add-in within solidworks...  Yours may just be there to work, but you have to go into SolidWorks, Tools menu and open the add-ins and make sure "3D Control" or something of that sort of name is checked.  That makes SolidWorks aware of the device.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

we have nx4 and ideas12
using spacepilots
anybody know of the code that it uses to
program the buttons for shade and wireframe views
called 3dconnexion they could not help


example
BUTTON_CHARACTERS =

ug
{ USER_001,  },{ USER_002},etc
{ USER_015, "UG - Layer - Move item", " +18:540540929 -18:3224895489 +82:1245185 -82:1245185 +77:3276801 -77:3276801" },
{ USER_016, "KEY - CTRL", " +17:1900545 -17:3223126017" },
{ USER_017, "KEY - SHIFT", " +16:2752513 -16:3223977985" }


ideas
{ USER_013, "shift", " +16:2752513 -16:3223977985" },
{ USER_014, "ctrl", " +17:1900545 -17:3223126017" }

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I'm Having trouble getting my spaceball to work on my SolidWorks Personal addition I have at home.

I think its Solid Works 2003, 3dconnextion said to enable a 3d device Add in but Add-ins does not show on my Tools menu as it says in the help section.

Does anyone else have or has had this problem in the past?

Thank you,

Michael

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I've had that problem in '06 and '07 with my SpacePilot. When it happens, I reinstall the 3dconnextion software and everything works fine.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Oh and I love my SpacePilot. I have it at work and wish I had one at home. If my consulting picks up, I'll definitely be investing in one for home...

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

I have used a Spaceball 4000 & 5000 for 3 years now.  Major productivity gains all around.  Two pieces of advice; 1) Get a Spaceball 2) learn to use it - there is a learn curve, just like learning to use a mouse.  Once you get used to a Spaceball, you will not go back.

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

MEGCLAY,

To get what you want in terms of Shade Display which are usually icons. 3DX may have these programmed for the different softwares but if not you can do the following.

Hold down the Alt key and look for the underlined Characters.
Go to Configuration and Select new command.
Enter a descriptive title
VIEW: Display - Shaded or Wireframe, Hidden, No hidden etc.
Click in the User Macro area and then type the key sequence and it will record as you type.

If the display otpions are available in the Right Click Pop ups yu can try the Menu keyboard button which will show as <Application> when you type it in.

Solid works
Shaded     Alt + V D S   
Wireframe  Alt + V D W

I've done this for UG but don't know if I created the Display Types.

Michael

RE: Spaceballs (3d mouse)

Thanks Michael
it worked


ideas12


(ideas shade2 view display from a recored macro)
$ mpos :; /do so; ; dt shh appl canc

(as put into spacepilot)
<shift+4><Space>mpos<Space><Shift>+;;<Space>/do<Space>so;<Space>;<Space>dt<Space>shh<Space>appl<Space>canc<Enter>

(as shown in button characters in profile scg file)
{ USER_013, "SHADE VIEW", " +16:2752513 +52:327681 -52:327681 -16:3223977985 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +20:3801089 -20:3801089 +20:3801089 -20:3801089 +77:3276801 -77:3276801 +80:1638401 -80:1638401 +79:1572865 -79:1572865 +83:2031617 -83:2031617 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +186:2555905 -186:2555905 +8:917505 -8:917505 +16:3538945 +186:2555905 -186:2555905 -16:3224764417 +186:2555905 -186:2555905 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +191:3473409 -191:3473409 +68:2097153 -68:2097153 +79:1572865 -79:1572865 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +83:2031617 -83:2031617 +79:1572865 -79:1572865 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +186:2555905 -186:2555905 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +186:2555905 -186:2555905 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +68:2097153 -68:2097153 +84:1310721 -84:1310721 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +83:2031617 -83:2031617 +72:2293761 -72:2293761 +72:2293761 -72:2293761 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +65:1966081 -65:1966081 +80:1638401 -80:1638401 +80:1638401 -80:1638401 +76:2490369 -76:2490369 +32:3735553 -32:3735553 +67:3014657 -67:3014657 +65:1966081 -65:1966081 +78:3211265 -78:3211265 +67:3014657 -67:3014657 +13:1835009 -13:1835009" },

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