3D Connections Space Navigator

I am reasonable new to BricsCAD, but have a great deal of experience in other Full 3D software. Inventor, Works, Edge and Creo.
Having used full 3D Software I found the use of a 3D Space navigator, highly valuable and would find it difficult to use these packages without should I go back to them in the future.

Has anyone used a 3D Connections Space Navigator with Bricscad and did they find it useful.

Comments

  • I have a mk1 SpacePilot, which 3dX don't officially support any more for W10 (but works fine wirh driver 10.4.10).

    Totally invaluable in 3D - I can't get on with the View>Realtime motion tools.
    Installs automatically - doesn't yours?

  • I use the Enterprise, which is very helpful as I work on a
    Wacom Cintiq Display with Pen input and therefore have
    no scroll wheel.
    I also have a 3DConnexion CADMouse, when I work with
    a Mouse.

    And as nearly everywhere else, if you work on Mac, you may
    get only half of what you would get on Windows.
    BTW, still no Support for Mojave.

  • Michael could you give a bit of advice on how best to select and use a 3d connexion device.
    I've worn out both arms using my mouse and am switching to my wacom tablet, but navigation is a bit clunky.
    And you mentioned that you use combination of wacom and 3D connexion.

    Thanks

  • That's difficult.
    It really depends on individual taste.
    Generally on a standard Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse work
    still best. Any 3D or CAD App seems to be optimized for this.
    Only you have pain in your wrist from Mouse usage or other reasons,
    you need to look for alternatives like Touch Pads, Scroll Balls or
    Pen and Tablet.
    Decoupling of hand movement and Monitor for me only works with
    a Mouse. So Pen Input in tablet mode over the whole surface, only
    directly on my Cintiq which is the Monitor.
    If I use it like a Monitor I prefer my CADMouse.
    But maybe I should try again with a standard Wacom Tablet.

    As you said Navigation is a bit clunky for certain CAD Apps.
    80% of my 3D Apps work fine navigating with pure Pen Input and
    SHIFT/ALT/CTRL/... as they have alternative input options.
    Just a few Apps like Bricscad or Vectorworks rely heavily on a Scroll Wheel.
    (Or often any kind of comfortable Middle Mouse Button Input)
    So for Pen Input (mostly) without Scroll Wheel alternative they will either
    not navigate as comfortable or nearly not at all.
    A standard Space Navigator may help a lot - in 3D Navigation.
    But it may not help so much in 2D and orthographic Views when zooming
    with a Pen is tedious, like in Vectorworks.
    But using a Space Navigator always needs to take your hand away from
    the Keyboard. You have to like that.
    I personally don't like the need for constantly switching between input devices.
    With CADMouse and Keyboard I touch my Enterprise quite seldom.

    So there are several Devices from pure Space Navigator - over more and
    more Function Keys and extra buttons - until the Space Mouse Enterprise
    with its Display. Which will help you to need your keyboard less and less.
    But for me in CAD, there is still constant numeric number or text input.

  • @Michael Mayer said:
    That's difficult.
    It really depends on individual taste.
    Generally on a standard Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse work
    still best. Any 3D or CAD App seems to be optimized for this.
    Only you have pain in your wrist from Mouse usage or other reasons,
    you need to look for alternatives like Touch Pads, Scroll Balls or
    Pen and Tablet.
    Decoupling of hand movement and Monitor for me only works with
    a Mouse. So Pen Input in tablet mode over the whole surface, only
    directly on my Cintiq which is the Monitor.
    If I use it like a Monitor I prefer my CADMouse.
    But maybe I should try again with a standard Wacom Tablet.

    As you said Navigation is a bit clunky for certain CAD Apps.
    80% of my 3D Apps work fine navigating with pure Pen Input and
    SHIFT/ALT/CTRL/... as they have alternative input options.
    Just a few Apps like Bricscad or Vectorworks rely heavily on a Scroll Wheel.
    (Or often any kind of comfortable Middle Mouse Button Input)
    So for Pen Input (mostly) without Scroll Wheel alternative they will either
    not navigate as comfortable or nearly not at all.
    A standard Space Navigator may help a lot - in 3D Navigation.
    But it may not help so much in 2D and orthographic Views when zooming
    with a Pen is tedious, like in Vectorworks.
    But using a Space Navigator always needs to take your hand away from
    the Keyboard. You have to like that.
    I personally don't like the need for constantly switching between input devices.
    With CADMouse and Keyboard I touch my Enterprise quite seldom.

    So there are several Devices from pure Space Navigator - over more and
    more Function Keys and extra buttons - until the Space Mouse Enterprise
    with its Display. Which will help you to need your keyboard less and less.
    But for me in CAD, there is still constant numeric number or text input.

    Thanks for the info. I'll have to digest it when I get some time. Work has gone into frantic mode for now.

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