3D Connexion Query

[hititfaster]

I have a new toy: a SpaceMouse Pro. I quite like it so far, but one real irritation is that in assemblies it doesn't seem to changed the centre of rotation in the same way as it does in parts. In a part, if I zoom to a particular detail, release the puck, then rotate around, the centre of rotation changes: great. Not so in assemblies - the centre of rotation remains fixed, which is no good if I'm zoomed into a feature!

I've done a couple of searches and heard murmurs of '...doesn't support SW' and '...just have to get used to it' etc. Surely this can't be so?

 

[JMirisola]

Check your drivers and your settings. 3DConnexion most certainly supports SolidWorks and anyone saying otherwise are completely wrong. If you're still having problems, contact their tech support department, I've had good experiences with them in the past.

Jeff Mirisola
My Blog

 

[hititfaster]

Thanks for the reply. I came in this morning, tried the SpaceMouse again in a part and it works OK (as before). I then went to an assembly and was surprised to see it worked, again as I would expect, moving the centre as I zoom into various details. I then went to my top level assembly and it fixed the centre of rotation on one spot. Any ideas why this is the case?

I'll try downloading the latest driver and see if it has any effect.

 

[hititfaster]

Hmmm... Ran the update wizard and installed the latest driver. Behaviour remains the same, however.

 

[EEnd]

Could it be dependent on what (if anything) you have selected?

Eric

 

[johnengr1]

Use the option to manually place the blue dot on the desired center of rotation.

 

[hititfaster]

@Eend - the behaviour remains with/without parts selected...

@johnengr1 - I will try that, but I do want a solution to the issue as well: i.e. the rotation to work in the same manner as it does in parts.

Quite annoying little trait, this...

 

[JMirisola]

hititfaster,
Contact their tech support department, they've always provided me with great help when needed.

Jeff Mirisola
My Blog

 

[mjcole]

HititFaster,

There is an option that affects movement of Parts with spaceball for Translation and movement in regard to the entire assembly. This also comes into play with the Spacemouse navigating up and down in the Feature Manager or moving views around.

Most of the time regarding their tech support I've found many users have better knowledge of how the 3dConnexion devices and drivers work than their tech support.

Most times if you contact SolidWorks they'll blame all the problems on 3dConnexion and Vice VersaThis dodgery gets old fast. I'll look into this a bit and see if I experience the same issues or find a setting that may help.

The Spacemouse is probably just using center of gravity as rotation center but you should be able to use screen center instead. If you use Edit In Place or In context you'll probably get the Part Mode behavior but that's just an assumption and I haven't tested that yet.

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[hititfaster]

I've just contacted 3DX tech. support, so will post again when I know a bit more.

 

[hititfaster]

Ooh - just found an interesting post on the 3Dconnexion forum, which states that ctrl+MMB sets the rotation centre to wherever your mouse is located. This is the closest I have come to the behaviour I'm looking for.

 

[JMirisola]

I realize this may seem like a typical comment, but have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling? I use a SpacePilot at home and a SpacePilotPro at work, and my assembly rotation is the same as part rotation - centered to wherever I'm zoomed to, no matter what level of assembly I'm in.

Jeff Mirisola
My Blog