Spaceball

[Bob Z1]

Will Mastercam X and later work with a 3DConnexion SpaceNavigator

[weirdharold]

I use one with X2 MR2 & have had no problems. Harold C.

[Donkey Hotey]

I've been using one since MC9. I don't know how anybody runs MC without one. I was forced to use somebody else's seat of MC one day and they didn't have a spaceball. I seriously gave up and did the programming on my own machine over the lack of that spaceball.

[mastercamguru]

What's the advantage of the space ball anyways?

My wrist gets sore after programming (mousing around) for 10 hours straight.

Is one of those SB's more comfortable to work with?

[Mike Mattera]

It makes moving the part in 3D space easier. It's a "puck" that moves Left/right, Front/Back, Up/Down. Makes rotation and zooming very easy. I've been wanting to get one. Actually thought of picking up the line to sell them on my web site.

Mike Mattera

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by mastercamguru What's the advantage of the space ball anyways?

It's your virtual hand to reach inside the screen, grab the part and rotate it. Yeah, the mouse can do that but the ergonomics aren't as natural. And have you tried to Cntrl-select a bunch of parts and rotate the part? It's a PITA.

The Spaceball can rotate, pan, zoom, anywhere you want without disrupting what you're doing with the mouse. The workflow is much smoother to me. If I'm hand picking a chain around a part, I can zoom up, click, pan across an edge, click another element, continue panning, etc. There's just no good way to do that without it.

[Mike Mattera]

"It's your virtual hand to reach inside the screen, grab the part and rotate it."

Good description. It's nice that you can do that while your in the middle of picking surfaces (or what ever) for a toolpath.

Mike Mattera

[mastercamguru]

Thanx

Sounds like another new "TRICK" for me to learn.

Maybe save some wear on my F1-F2 keys too.

[Mike Mattera]

Not much to learn. You'll "get it" in about 10 minutes. But if you use one for a day, you'll really want one for yourself.

Mike Mattera

[mastercamguru]

I'll get one this weekend.

Are there any specific ones that work better with X2MR2SP1, or do they all work about the same?

[Donkey Hotey]

I've got the 3D Connexion 5000. I think it was their top of the line about 5 years ago. They make something cooler now (I'm sure). The 5000 has a bunch of hot-buttons that can also be programmed. I don't use any of them so it's just a navigation device for me (I'm not a hot-button guy).

It took me zero time to get used to it. The first time I used one, I couldn't understand why people didn't like them; it was natural from the first minute.

I work with guys who have them for Catia and never use them. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. As a former CAD systems trainer, I think users are limiting themselves by not using one. There are way more motions involved to rotate with the mouse. That's wasted time.

On the other hand, why force it? People that don't like them shouldn't use them if they truly believe that a mouse is just as easy.

[Mike Mattera]

Mastercamguru: The one you want is about the size of a hockey puck in diameter, with a knob on it. SpaceNavigator. It's just a single knob that you push/pull or rotate.

http://www.3dconnexion.com/searchspa...FQZqswodC3k7Sw

Mike Mattera