Space Ball usage with SW

[Bouke]

I was wondering how many of u guys are using spaceballs or similar inout devices. I'm currently testing one and my company is thinking of buying one for all designers. What is your experience with these devices ???

Bouke

 

[SBaugh]

I love mine - Spaceball 5000. After I got used to using it, it's nice. The only problem I have is keeping my buttons programmed. I think that problem is in the driver. If I did more then a couple of things at a time, my spalsh screen comes up and I lose my buttons. So I just don't program them anymore, and use my keyboard shortcuts to do the same thing as my Spaceball did.

http://www.3dconnexion.com/spaceball5000.htm

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Ataloss]

I love mine. I been using Solidworks since 97 Plus, but just started using a spaceball about 3 months ago, and I can't believe how much time it saves me, especially with mating in assemblies. When I use Solidworks on my laptop at home, it's not the higher speed of my work computer that I get miss, it's the spaceball.

I too am using a Spaceball 5000, but I have no problems with my buttons deprogramming.

Bob

 

[Bouke]

I'm testing one since this morning and I must say it is a lot of fun. At first it seemed a little hard to prevent my model from falling down of the screen but after a day working with it I'm getting the hang of it. Only problem is they are kinda expensive. I have to give the management a good reason if I want them to buy this devices...

 

[dogarila]

Ataloss, can you elaborate on saving time with mates in assemblies, please?

 

[NickE]

Love it! it makes manipulations so much easier.

Besides the fact that I feel like I've reached out and grabbed my part and just twitch my left hand to put the next view in front of me.

nick

 

[Ataloss]

Netshop21,
the spaceball saves a lot of time in adding mates because it greatly increases your ability to rotate, pan and zoom which are used so much when adding mates. Instead of rotating the model to see the face I need to mate, then zooming in using the wheel/button on my mouse, selecting the face, then zooming out, rotating, then using CTRL-wheel/button to pan, then zooming in again etc., I can rotate and zoom at the same time with the spaceball, select the face, then zoom out, pan and rotate all at once, then zoom in again, all in one fluid motion. You can even use the spaceball to move/rotate parts in addition to using it for panning/zooming/rotating your view. This helps you get this positioned very quickly.

Even just having some of the spaceball buttons programmed as "Mate", "Move Component" or "Rotate Component" saves a lot of time. It might only save a second or two over having to actually go and click an icon, but it adds up quickly.

Hopefully this helps,
Bob

 

[uncleal52]

Another option is to check out ebay for older version spaceballs. I believe the 3000 series go for as low as $30.

I told my boss I was going to buy an old one my own and convinced him of the time it would save modeling. He got me a spaceball 5000 and its worth every penny. If you consider the amount of time you would save... it can easily pay for it self in a short period of time.

My pitch to managment went something like this... If you save one manhour per week, at $100/hr, it'd be paid off in 5 weeks.

 

[RawheadRex]

I have always been curious and intrigued by the concept of a Spaceball mouse but never really "knew" what the primary advantages were in a practical sense until I read this post. Even now though I'm still having some difficulty picturing how to work with one. So, now it's time for a dumb question. Is there anyplace that I might be able to go and play with one of these guys to really get a feel for myself? I don't think I've seen them at the local Best Buy previously.

Thanks for all the good info people!



Chris Gervais
Sr. Mechanical Designer
Lytron Corp.

 

[linqur]

I have had one for 3 years and I love it. It allows manipulating the model as it were in you hand. Its big advantage is that it works during EVERY command. For example while entering dimension value, you might have a wish to zoom or pan to some place else and the model is moving already.
All our new computers are ordered with 3D mouse.

 

[bluesman0007]

I took advantage of the free trial period with the Cadman. After several days of getting used to using my left hand for something other than holding a soda I don't know how I lived without a 3D mouse. I know the Cadman is not on the same level as the Spacemouse but for my needs and the cost I think it's a great value. I started with one at work and missed it so much at home I now have two. I don't see how anyone wouldn't find advantages to using any quality 3D mouse. And I too have found a huge advantage when working with assembly mates. I had some problems in the beginning with my buttons staying programmed but that has gone away somehow... computer/operator

 

[Bouke]

About the buttons, I'm testing a CadMan now and I've noticed you can program your buttons for drawing, part and assembly's seperately.

 

[ple5]

You could also add in that the repetitous movements from using a mouse is very stressful on your wrist, arm, and shoulder. I consider myself to be very quick with the mouse and you will not believe how much movement you go through in one day. The spaceball will cut down anywhere from 50 to 75% of this movement. I used to have to stop working at times because the pain starting working up from my wrists to my arm and then my shoulder. The spaceball 5000 has made this potential major problem disappear.
We had a cadman come in on a trial period and I showed them how much movement I had to go through using a mouse. I then switched over to the cadman. I barely had to do anything and I could manupilate the object. It looked like I wasn't even moving my fingers less then .010" for full movement. They agreed to get me one that same day and even decided to upgrade to the spaceball.
So if management even cares about your health, they will get you one in no time.

 

[Bouke]

I recently had to give up my demo cadman as well. When I was using it it didn't felt much different form normal mouse panning/zooming. Untill I had to use the mouse again. I'm really missing it now!!

 

[JNR]

I have had a spaceball since SolidWorks World 1, where I won it (pure luck). It is great, as any of these devices are. I really like the two-fisted approach in conjunction with a mouse. It does all everyone says. It can also be a fun distraction when you get bored. And it is real impressive for giving dog and pony shows.

I find that the draw back (and the reason I only use it at home these days) is with LARGE assemblies. In fact any slow file. You have to be very carefull not to inadvertently tweak it, even very slightly. If you do, it rotates/zooms/scrolls and refreshes your view. That is very time consuming and distruptive on large slow files. So you have to learn to keep your hand off it unless you really wnat to make it do something for you.

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

There's no place like 127.0.0.1