Space Navigator by 3DConnexion - Polyloop

sailor-ed · 23rd February 2007, 17:03

Does anyone have any experience with these controllers? With Carrara or Hexagon?

Thanks,
Ed

jbshorty · 23rd February 2007, 19:19

No experience. But typically these devices are great for doing "fly-through" to view a model or scene. Architects love them. but i don't think it adds much benefit to modeling in Hex because then your hand is off the keyboard and you will have to move your arm to access the hotkeys... Perhaps it would be good for flying through Carrara scenes... I've been thinking to get the cheap-o model, but seems a bit unnecessary to add another device on my desk...

shorty

chrisd · 25th February 2007, 20:20

I think architects love the programmable buttons too. I recall reading some positive things about these programmable keyboards:
http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.php

There are other manufacturers with similar products, and there's even some models with an illuminated graphical LCD built into each key!

I have not used any of the motion controller type of products. I am curious how they feel as compared to the first "Spaceball", now more than a decade old. I don't think think the "Spaceball" type is produced anymore now that 3Dconnexion has switched to a newer design.

Spatial Freedom has recently released the Astroid at $150, which looks similar to the Spaceball and is designed by the inventor of the first Spaceball. It's got 8 programmable buttons like the Space Navigator. It does not have a lot of software support yet, being limited Solid Edge and SolidWorks. I believe Pro-E, Inventor, and Rhino will be next.

Perhaps if enough Hex users contacted Spatial Freedom and the Hex developers, we could get a driver for Hex.

sailor-ed · 25th February 2007, 21:16

Thanks for the link to xkeys. It looks like they can handle "up" and "down" key events so one could make an ALT key toggle, for instance. A little on the pricey side though.

chrisd · 25th February 2007, 22:24

Yeah, the xkeys are a little pricey, although the article i read indicated their quality was better. I saw a listing from another vendor for a small 16 key version for less than half the cost of the similar xkeys model. I guess if I wanted one of these I'd get a comparable model from a few different vendors, try them out, keep the one with the best price/performance ration and return the others.

KevinSp · 26th February 2007, 05:54

I use a nostromo n52

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=157024

I got it for gaming but it is great for hex, c5, photoshop etc. you can set different profiles for each software and it also has programmable macro's for the multiple key strokes like CTRL+SHFT+S for incremental save in hexagon. It has 16 buttons, a scroll wheel/button and a directional D pad that are all programmable. I have had mine for going on 3 years and love it. Hardly ever touch the keyboard.

sailor-ed · 26th February 2007, 15:20

KevinSp

That is certainly a cost effective solution. Thanks for the link and advice.

polydude · 23rd May 2008, 13:40

I have 3DConnexion 3D Mouse and I have Hexagon, Carrara and Daz studio. Hexagon has built in support but you need to tweak the setting to get it to work correctly. Carrara does not have any support for this mouse, but Daz studio has a third party plugin that is available by developer Matt Sorrells of Pontari productions. It is called Camera control here is the link -->
http://www.pontari.com/Products/DazS...CameraControl/

Hope this helps

Have fun

23rd February 2007, 17:03	#1 (permalink)
sailor-ed NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 141	Space Navigator by 3DConnexion Does anyone have any experience with these controllers? With Carrara or Hexagon? Thanks, Ed

26th February 2007, 05:54	#6 (permalink)
KevinSp Spline Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 47	I use a nostromo n52 http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=157024 I got it for gaming but it is great for hex, c5, photoshop etc. you can set different profiles for each software and it also has programmable macro's for the multiple key strokes like CTRL+SHFT+S for incremental save in hexagon. It has 16 buttons, a scroll wheel/button and a directional D pad that are all programmable. I have had mine for going on 3 years and love it. Hardly ever touch the keyboard. __________________ AMD Athlon 64 x2 2.2ghz, 2gb ddr2, 7600GTS 256ddr3 C6pro - Hexagon 2.2 - Amapi 6.1

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23rd February 2007, 19:19	#2 (permalink)
jbshorty proud to be a nurb Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: only in your mind Posts: 1,376	No experience. But typically these devices are great for doing "fly-through" to view a model or scene. Architects love them. but i don't think it adds much benefit to modeling in Hex because then your hand is off the keyboard and you will have to move your arm to access the hotkeys... Perhaps it would be good for flying through Carrara scenes... I've been thinking to get the cheap-o model, but seems a bit unnecessary to add another device on my desk... shorty

25th February 2007, 20:20	#3 (permalink)
chrisd Cube Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leominster, MA USA Posts: 81	I think architects love the programmable buttons too. I recall reading some positive things about these programmable keyboards: http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.php There are other manufacturers with similar products, and there's even some models with an illuminated graphical LCD built into each key! I have not used any of the motion controller type of products. I am curious how they feel as compared to the first "Spaceball", now more than a decade old. I don't think think the "Spaceball" type is produced anymore now that 3Dconnexion has switched to a newer design. Spatial Freedom has recently released the Astroid at $150, which looks similar to the Spaceball and is designed by the inventor of the first Spaceball. It's got 8 programmable buttons like the Space Navigator. It does not have a lot of software support yet, being limited Solid Edge and SolidWorks. I believe Pro-E, Inventor, and Rhino will be next. Perhaps if enough Hex users contacted Spatial Freedom and the Hex developers, we could get a driver for Hex.

25th February 2007, 21:16	#4 (permalink)
sailor-ed NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 141	Thanks for the link to xkeys. It looks like they can handle "up" and "down" key events so one could make an ALT key toggle, for instance. A little on the pricey side though.

25th February 2007, 22:24	#5 (permalink)
chrisd Cube Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Leominster, MA USA Posts: 81	Yeah, the xkeys are a little pricey, although the article i read indicated their quality was better. I saw a listing from another vendor for a small 16 key version for less than half the cost of the similar xkeys model. I guess if I wanted one of these I'd get a comparable model from a few different vendors, try them out, keep the one with the best price/performance ration and return the others.

26th February 2007, 15:20	#7 (permalink)
sailor-ed NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 141	KevinSp That is certainly a cost effective solution. Thanks for the link and advice.

23rd May 2008, 13:40	#8 (permalink)
polydude Vertex Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 27	I have 3DConnexion 3D Mouse and I have Hexagon, Carrara and Daz studio. Hexagon has built in support but you need to tweak the setting to get it to work correctly. Carrara does not have any support for this mouse, but Daz studio has a third party plugin that is available by developer Matt Sorrells of Pontari productions. It is called Camera control here is the link --> http://www.pontari.com/Products/DazS...CameraControl/ Hope this helps Have fun