Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
(OP)
Hello,
Anyone using something other than a mouse to design in SW? Been around long enough to have actually used a digitizer with Anvil 1000, so I always wander if there is any new trends with touchpads (or whatever) that I could look at. Have used 3dconnexion products, a variety of mice, never liked the roller ball thing.
Currently using an Evoluent Vertical and love the middle button as a double click, got used to three buttons with ProE and still like it.
Anyone out there working with new cool devices to design with???
Smilin
Snowshoe2
Anyone using something other than a mouse to design in SW? Been around long enough to have actually used a digitizer with Anvil 1000, so I always wander if there is any new trends with touchpads (or whatever) that I could look at. Have used 3dconnexion products, a variety of mice, never liked the roller ball thing.
Currently using an Evoluent Vertical and love the middle button as a double click, got used to three buttons with ProE and still like it.
Anyone out there working with new cool devices to design with???
Smilin
Snowshoe2






RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
http://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
Patrick
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
The 3dConnexion now owned by Logitech no longer make motion controllers with a ball shape. They now have what is commonly referred to as a Puck which is pretty much a cylinder with a pinched in shape and ribs in the center. For people like me who have been using motion controllers since the Magellan spaceball 3dConnexion does make ball shaped caps that you can snap onto the puck controll. I got one of these free with my SpacePilot Pro. Logitech also makes a few other devices mainly targeted at the Video-Gamer audience that have buttons which you can assign key macros to for multi-key or alt code entries for hard to get menu items. The time savings for any 3dMouse motion control unit is huge and doesn't require you to split modeling tasks into 50% rotating with mouse and 50% using mouse to click icons and navigate menus.
The only thing that annoys me about SolidWorks is that it only zooms out via center of screen unlike the Zoom in which is sensitive to cursor location. In Pro/E and most other programs the mouse sensitive zoom allows for easy Panning of your model av bout the screen using zoom in zoom out.
You may want to look at the Astroid device by spatialfreedom a unit designed by John Hilton who designed the spaceball's motion sensing mechanism.
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/7903#7903
http://www.spatialfreedom.com/pages/Astroid.htm
http://www.spatialfreedom.com/downloads/Astroid%20...
"It's not the size of the Forum that matters, It's the Quality of the Posts"
Michael Cole
Boston, MA
CSWP, CSWI, CSWTS
Follow me on !w¡#$%
@ TrajPar - @ mcSldWrx2008
= ProE = SolidWorks
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
Even with gestures and the radial menu I prefer the mouse.
Patrick
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
I looked at the Wacom product, it looked intriguing, thanks for the info.
I have used a few others listed above, just wanted to see if anyone had found anything better before I go new again.
I think a space navigator is where I will go again.
too bad the three button mouse is dead.
walk around snow snakes, never step over them.
snowshoe2
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
Am I missing something?
Patrick
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
Regarding the comment about Spaceball old versions I have a 5000 USB and it has worked upto Wildfire 4.0 with no problems but it requires using an archived version of the software for an older build version. Logitech allows for you to download these older versions and I have had no issues with them. But then again I leant the old Spaceball 5000 USB to a friend and haven't used it in a number of years but I do like the Ball Shape cause a Globe shaped like a Hockey Puck just doesn't make sense but I suggest for any of you who have the Space Explorer or newer spacepilot versions to ask Logitech about getting one of their Rubber HalfSphere attachments that snap onto the puck controller I'll try to attach photos if I take any of the Attachment Ball. It would be great to use a Logitech Game Controller as a 3d motion controller but I haven't Seen SolidWorks offered on PS3 or xBox-### models. There is a new 3d motion sensor like the Microsoft Connect but way better It's called the LEAP I have a simple search YouTube attached Link for you to check out if interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBZzfAfPYqA
Im currently using the Logitech M510 Universal Mouse which has 7 buttons I usually set them to sidescroll or Esc for MB4 and Enter for MB5 6 and 7 are usually specially assigned or I assign CTRL or Alt keys to. In SolidWorks if you hit your Alt Key the Hidden Menu at the top of the screen activates so you don't have to hover and carefully swipe over to get to any pull down commands give it a try I've been using this tip since v2009
I'm waiting for 3dConnexion to release a Stephen Hawking Motion controller which can read my thoughts. :)
"It's not the size of the Forum that matters, It's the Quality of the Posts"
Michael Cole
Boston, MA
CSWP, CSWI, CSWTS
Follow me on !w¡#$%
@ TrajPar - @ mcSldWrx2008
= ProE = SolidWorks
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
That Leap Motion is cool, not sure if I would use it for SolidWorks, but it probably would work out the shoulders keeping my arms up all day.
Snowshoe2
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
I've used a SpacePilot, and to me it was just too much. The only benefit I ever found in it was the pan/scroll/zoom knob, but honestly the scroll wheel on the mouse is more than enough for how I like to work, so the SpaceNavigator just means I have to use two hands. That being said, I've always had an IntelliPoint mouse that has the forward/back buttons, and they can be assigned to specific keystrokes. I had one assigned to "S" and that's it. I REALLY wanted to assign the other one to either "Control" or "Escape" but Microsoft's setting software would not let me (When I tried "Escape" it exited the setting mode, and "Control" was not assignable by itself).
Today I got a Logitech M705 and I've immediately fallen in love with it. It has the forward/back buttons, as well as an additional thumb button. The left/right scrolling can be assigned as well giving you a total 5 extra assignable buttons, but I've found that it is way too easy to activate either one while pressing the wheel button. With Logitech's software I was able to assign "Escape" and "Control" to the forward/back buttons, on top of "S" for the thumb button. With the exception of number entry, I can work with SolidWorks using only my right hand (cue dirty jokes now). It's also worth mentioning, for those that have never used either mouse, that the buttons can be assigned globally or per application.
Well, back to work now... Happy Friday everyone!
Matt
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?
http://www.storyofstuff.org/
RE: Input devices for SolidWorks, Anything New?