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Hi

I know some of you guys got this thing and i'm wondering if it's worth the cost ? i'm considering either that one or a new computer mouse. The cost is about the same.



Does it help much ? is it only useful in Google Earth and Rhino ?

/ Max

Hi Max,

I just bought one last week, and I can say OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW YESSSSSS it does help!!
And it works great with Rhino! I also use it for Solid Works.

I also tried Silo, but that's a no go for now

Keep in mind that this does not replace your mouse, it does not control your cursor

And here is a list of supported applications:

Application Version Number
3D-Brush 2.03 SP2
3Dconnexion Picture Viewer (XP, 2000 only) 1.2+
3D-Tool 8.12
Actify SpinFire Professional 8.2
Adobe Acrobat 3D 8.1
Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0
Adobe Photoshop CS3 10.0
Adobe Reader 8.0
ALGOR 20.4
Alibre Design 9.1 SP1, 10
Alibre Design Xpress 9.1
Altair HyperForm
Altair HyperMesh
Altium Designer 6.9.0
ANSYS
ANSYS Workbench
Apple QuickTime Player (QTVR plug-in for Internet Explorer) 7.1.6.200
ASCON KOMPAS-3D V8 Plus, V9
Autodesk 3ds Max 6 - 2009
Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009
Autodesk AliasStudio (32-bit binary only)
X CloseNote: the 64-bit AliasStudio binary does not support 3D mice. There are no limitations with the 32-bit AliasStudio binary.
2008, 2009
Autodesk AutoCAD 2007 - 2009
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2008
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D 2007 - 2009
Autodesk AutoCAD Land Desktop 2008
Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D 2007
Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical 2007 - 2009
Autodesk Building Systems 2007.1
Autodesk Design Review 2007 SP1, 2008
Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 SP1
Autodesk Inventor 9 - 2009
Autodesk Maya 6 - 2008
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 2007
Autodesk MotionBuilder
Autodesk VIZ 2007, 2008
AutoDesSys form-Z 6.1.0, 6.5.0
Blender Aug 2007 on Blenderbuilds.com
CADENAS eCATALOGsolutions
CADENAS PARTsolutions
CADENAS PARTsolutions Basix
CGTech VERICUT 6.1.1
CimatronE
CNC Software Mastercam X2
CoCreate OneSpace Drafting
CoCreate OneSpace Modeling Personal Edition (PE) 10.0
Dassault Systemes 3D XML Player 2.1.R17
Dassault Systemes CATIA V5 R9 - R18
Dassault Systemes DELMIA V5 R9 - R18
Dassault Systemes ENOVIA 3d com
Dassault Systemes ENOVIA DMU V5 R9 - R18
Dassault Systemes SIMULIA Abaqus/CAE
Dassault Systemes SIMULIA Abaqus/Viewer
Data Becker BeckerCAD
DataSolid CADdy
DAZ Studio 2.2.2.15
Delcam CopyCAD 7.0.04
Delcam FeatureCAM 2007
Delcam PowerMILL 7.0.06
Delcam PowerSHAPE 7.0.80
Delcam PowerSHAPE-e 7.1.40 SP3
DP Technology ESPRIT
ESRI ArcGIS Explorer
ESRI ArcGlobe
ESRI ArcMap
ESRI ArcScene
FTI BlankWorks (SolidWorks based)
FTI CATBLANK (CATIA V5 based)
FTI CATFORM (CATIA V5 based)
FTI CATNEST (CATIA V5 based)
FTI CATSTAMP (CATIA V5 based)
FTI CostOptimizer (CATIA V5 based)
Geomagic Qualify 9
Geomagic Studio 10
Geometric Technologies CAMWorks (SolidWorks add-in)
Gibbs and Associates GibbsCAM 2007 (8.7.0)
GIBcam 2007
Google Earth 4.1 - 4.3
Google SketchUp 6.0 - 6.4
Graphisoft ArchiCAD 11
HP RGS Workstation Edition 5.0
ICEM Shape Design
ICEM Surf 4.6.1
Immersive Design IPA Professional
Immersive Design IPA WebView
IMSI/Design TurboCAD Deluxe 14
IMSI/Design TurboCAD Pro 14
IMSI/Design TurboSketch 6.0.321
Inivis AC3D 6.2
INUS Technology Rapidform XOR2/Redesign 2.4.4.1
INUS Technology Rapidform XOS2/Scan 2.4.4.1
INUS Technology Rapidform XOV/Verifier PP2 3.4.4.78
IronCAD 10.0
IronCAD Inovate
IVS 3D Fledermaus Professional 6.5.0, 6.5.1
Kineo Path Planner 2.04.500
Kubotek KeyCreator 7.0.3
Kubotek REALyze
Linden Lab Second Life 1.20.0 (Release Candidate)
Manusoft IMOLD for SolidWorks
Manusoft IMOLDPlus
Mathematica
MAXON BodyPaint 3D R3
MAXON CINEMA 4D R10, R11
Megatech MegaCAD 3D
Microsoft Virtual Earth 3D 1.1.703.22001
Moldflow Plastics Advisers
Moldflow Plastics Insight
MSC Nastran
MSC Patran
NASA World Wind 1.4.0
NavisWorks JetStream 5.4
Nemetschek Allplan 2008
Nemetschek VectorWorks 2008 SP3
N-Sided QUIDAM 2.1
Optis OptisWorks
Optis SPEOS (CATIA V5 based)
Pathtrace EdgeCAM Part Modeler 11.5
Phoscode DevalVR plugin
X CloseDevalVR is a plugin for Internet browsers to view 3D interactive content. This popular viewer shows 360 degrees panoramic pictures (including QuickTimeVR format) and 3D topographic maps.

DevalVR is also available as a standalone player for use in CDs and exhibitions.
0.7.1.0
Presagis Creator 3.4.1 (patched)
PTC CADDS 5i
PTC DIVISION Mockup
PTC Optegra
PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0 - 4.0
Punch! Professional Home Design Platinum 12.0.3
Robert McNeel & Associates Rhinoceros 4.0
Schlumberger Petrel 2008.1
Siemens Femap with NX Nastran 9.3.1
Siemens NX 3 - 5
Siemens NX Imageware
Siemens NX Nastran (NX extension) 5.0
Siemens PLM Teamcenter Visualization Mockup 2007
Siemens PLM Teamcenter Visualization Professional 2007
Siemens PLM Vis
Siemens Solid Edge V9 - V19
SmartCAMcnc SmartCAM 14.4.9
Smith Micro Software Poser 7.0.2.125
Smith Micro Software Poser Pro 7.0.3.192
SOFTIMAGE|XSI 5.0 - 6.0
SolidWorks 2003 - 2008
SolidWorks COSMOSDesignSTAR 2007
SolidWorks COSMOSFloWorks (SolidWorks based)
SolidWorks COSMOSMotion (SolidWorks based)
SolidWorks COSMOSWorks (SolidWorks based)
SolidWorks eDrawings Professional
SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer 2007
SolidWorks PDMWorks
SolidWorks PhotoWorks
SpaceClaim Professional 2007
SpaceTime 3D
Surfware SURFCAM
Tactile 3D
Tebis CAD/CAM V3.3
Tebis Viewer V3.3
think3 thinkdesign
think3 thinkshape
TopSolid
Top Systems T-Flex CAD 10, 11
Triple Squid Software Design Moment of Inspiration
Vero Software machining STRATEGIST
Vero Software VISI-Series
Virtools 4.0.0.41
Visual Technology SpaceXform (AVS/Express based)
Vizrt Viz|Engine
VX CAD/CAM
Wildcox Associates PC-DMIS

Wow that's a impressive list it looks like mostly highend expensive 3d apps are supported. I have barely non of the apps on that list hehe

Thanks Nico, i don't know yet what i'm gonna do. If i should spend the few pennies i got or if i should wait..

/ Max

hey Kurt ..

I've never used one, .. could you elaborate just a little how it adds to the workflow? thx.

Hi Chris,

It's like holding your model in your hand, you can continue editing with your mouse, but you turn, navigate and zoom quickly to areas you want to edit using your navigator.
You also have two programmable buttons that are application specific, so for Rhino one of the buttons is set as Shift (easy to select multiple objects without having to let go of your navigator) where the same button is set as center and zoom in Solid Works.

Btw, it's really stable, it has a solid body and it weighs 443 grams

Guys ! ... *nothing* beats the trackball. It is the impersonation of simplicity and effectiveness.

..space mouse rules!
i am using the "cad man" (old model) with rhino for 5 or 6 years now.. there is NO WAY BACK once you got hold of a 6 axis controller.. in rhino you can also do realtime camera flys & capture via fraps or so.. it lets you get as close to your model as possible without using stereo projection.

@maximus: watch out, there are 2 versions of the puck one, the "pe" and another, one of them does not support proffesional applications.. only google earth and such...

Thomas, you're a trackball user how's that thing working for you ? quicker than a mouse and 3dconnexion thingy ?

polynurb: I noticed they sell two versions, this one is the cheaper one i been thinking about. The other "professional" version costs twice as much and looks the same, has the same functions but if that's true what you say that it does not support all applications then it sucks. That can't be true.. i can't believe that.

/ Max

hey max.. looks ke you are lucky..
took ma a while to find it:

"Priced for Personal Use
3Dconnexion offers two editions of the SpaceNavigator, SpaceNavigator SE (standard edition) and SpaceNavigator PE (personal edition). SpaceNavigator PE is priced at $59 (US$59) and is licensed for personal use. SpaceNavigator PE users get online support only through the 3Dconnexion forum. SpaceNavigator SE is priced at $99 (US$99) and comes with an unlimited use license appropriate for commercial purposes, as well as full phone, email and online support. Both products work exactly the same, come with a two-year warranty and are compatible with over 100 applications."

Use both trackball and space navigator. Does wonders for your RSI. Could't miss them anymore. So i have an optical mouse, a trackball marble, a wacom pen and a 3dconexxion space navigator lying around my keyboard. Switching between them all the time took away some serious pain from my fingers and wrists. Besides that the speedgain is tremendeous both in 3d like rhino, vectorworks, solidworks, and 2d like photoshop and so on. Can strongly advise getting one of these.

...mmh?!?...it would be good to have 1 or 2 programable buttons more
i use Sketchup with 2 mouse buttons combined with shift, strg and alt = all needed tools in my hands at once.
is there a version with more buttons available?

If you are looking for added features like programmable keys I would suggest the Space Pilot, I splurged and got one and is well worth the money.

thank you Kurt ....

Thomas ... any trackball ? ...how bout a pic of yours ?

polynurb: That's great news! thanks for the info.

EADC: Wow you work with all those things ?! how.. i mean you must be a octopus with 8 arms to manage that.. a impressive amount of controllers you got.

tazzer: The one you posted there is quite expensive, it costs about 400 euro here which is way to much. But i'm sure it's a nice piece of hardware.

[Edit] : And now i finally got around to place my order for this thingy after much consideration. Thanks guys, you been very helpful with information and experience about this unit.

/ Max