E-drawings and space ball in I-deas

[Darra]

Hi everyone!

Have any of you I-deas users know if I-deas can produce e-drawings (like Solid Works) . Its a .exe file containing the 2d and 3-d model. Anyone can execute this file and is able to pan zoom rotate the part on its own PC (no plugin required).

Also, Has anyone tried a space ball with i-deas. What brand and how does it work?

Thanks for the info.

Cheer!

 

[natester]

I regards to use of a space ball I use a Spaceball 4000FLX on a PC platform with Windows 2000 Professional. On this computer I use CATIA V5, I-deas 9.2m, UG V18 ,and Pro/ENGINEER. The Spaceball works great with all of these applications and improves productivity. Once you have used one for a while you will not want to give it up. I have seen them priced as low as $300.00 at

http://www.cwonline.com/store/view_product.asp?Product=1185

 

[swertel]

I've used a Spaceball 4000FLX on a Win2000 and UNIX-AIX platform for Solid Edge, MS Office, SolidWorks, CATIA, UG, I-deas, and Pro/E.

You can view the Spaceball specifics at

http://www.3dconnexion.com.

The latest and greatest is the 5000. It pans, zooms, and rotates all in one controller, which frees up your mouse to be moving to the next icon (command) while you position the model. The 4000FLX also has 12 programmable buttons for each application. I use these mostly for quick view positioning: sides, top, bottom, front, back, iso, etc. but many people program these buttons for common commands: protrusion, hole, line, fillet, etc.

You may also want to research the SpaceMouse, also by 3dConnexion. (By the way, you may here them by other brand names: Logitech, Magellen. 3DConnexion purchased all 3d controllers within the past couple of years.)

I don't think Ideas has anything like SolidWorks' E-Drawings.

 

[johnr]

I used a 3dconnexion spaceball on a Sun W/S using C3P I-DEAS. It worked perfectly for 3D but not for 2D drawings. Once you have used one you wonder how you managed without it.
Basically it works as though the part/assembly was the ball in your hand - you can rotate/pan/zoom all in one movement!