New Space Pilot Pro
New Space Pilot Pro
(OP)
Anyone use one of these yet? If so, what do you think?
http://www.3dconnexion.com/spp/index.php
At $500, I'd hope it does its job well. I like that it's got so many programmable buttons, but I've already got hot keys I use all the time on the keyboard.
Thoughts?
http://www.3dconnexion.com/spp/index.php
At $500, I'd hope it does its job well. I like that it's got so many programmable buttons, but I've already got hot keys I use all the time on the keyboard.
Thoughts?
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.






RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Gerald
Spaceball 5000 USB
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
As for the newer ones, rather than having to look down on an LCD screen, it would be better if it brought up a window on your computer monitor as a heads-up display.
Flores
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
rfus
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
It only took an hour for me to get used to the nagivation button (i've never owned a 3D-mice before, and have only played with them sortly before this).
You'll still need the mouse in your right hand in order to do the usual pick-and-placing.
I'll be giving more indepth reviews of my experiences with the device at my blog over the next month or so.
Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
As for the SpacePilot Pro, my initial impression is "wow". It feels much nicer in the hand, more ergonomic. I'm just now getting into playing around with it, though. Like Matt, I'll be posting about it.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP, Certified DriveWorks AE
CAD Administrator, Ultimate Survival Technologies
My Blog
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Within minutes I was flying like a pro. Now in situations where I don't have it I find myself constantly reaching for it.
I have a SpacePilot but only played with programming it one day when I had some free time. My 2-button Navigator suites me just fine. Probably has 1 button too many as I only use the zoom all.
I find it particularly useful in placing fillets, in assembling parts with assembly constraints and, this might be key - simply constantly moving a complex part around while I figure out how I'm going to tackle the next geometry. The constant motion is like physically manipulating the part in my hand - a virtual representation of the real world. Really helps me think and plan out an attack on solving the geometry problems.
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Otherwise, I'm with rfus in having such a good rapport already with arrow key and number pad navigation, it's just not as quick for me. I think a lot of it is that I often build things in the context of the assembly and therefore and converting/offsetting entities quite often. I like to be normal to the edges I'm working with (and yes, I do have one of my buttons programmed to snap to normal to surface).
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Being able to customize it really speeds things up for me, and not just in SolidWorks. Having both monitors available, and photo's open, along with e-mail, it doesn't take long to get to where it's just not the same without the 3D controller.
I have several "generic" functions pgm'd into my space explorer that "cross-over" into other applications: escape, delete, Ctl., Enter, several more too. It's just, whatever you get used to doing.
Mine works very good when I'm sorting through the morning SPAM--- select the top e-mail, hold 'shift' with the 3d controller, use mouse to select last "junk item",then use programmed "DELETE" & "Enter" with the 3D controller. Never have to touch the keyboard.
Another thing I like is the way is will "scroll through" the feature tree. As long as you have your cursor over the tree area, 'pulling' or 'pushing' on the controller will scroll through a long list of parts - good for selecting planes, faces, or axis very quickly. No way I would be able to work as productive with only a keyboard and mouse, but then again, It's just what you get "used to."
Since our parts library is on a network, the first button I programmed on my controller was a "SAVE". Working along, and accidently hit 'save' every 4 or 5 minutes, really has eliminated some pain and suffering for me.
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
I bought one off e-bay out 7-8 years ago just to try out and can't work without one any more.
I use the two button navigator and it works well but I would love to upgrade. My company doesn't buy stuff like large monitors and 3D controllers so I'm on my own. Hopefully with the release of the Pro the earlier USB units will start to come down in price.
Like I said, I can't work without one, but I also can't justify spending that much money just to have all the bells and whistles.
RE: New Space Pilot Pro
Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group