| Review by kshipp | posted 133 days ago | 566 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
- 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator PE
- Brand: 3Dconnexion | Category: Other
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I just got this a few days ago and I love it already. That being said I should probably start with a description before I get questions about how many horsepower this router has or why the sander has a blue light on it.
This is a navigation device that is used for 3D graphics programs. I have seen people at work use similar devices but they actually do CAD for a living. I only do SketchUp for fun but this device is amazing. When you move the knob it is exactly like you are moving the object on screen. You can pan left/right, pan up/down, tilt, twist, turn, zoom, and roll. It sounds really complicated and it does take a bit of getting used to but it is really as simple as manipulating an object in real life.
I used to spend a lot of my time in SketchUp changing from the movement tools to the drawing tools and back again. The SpaceNavigator allows you to move the model with your left hand while you do all the drawing operations with your right hand.
3Dconnexion has a very good video on their website that shows how the SpaceNavigator works with SketchUp. It also works with about 100 other programs including all CAD programs and even Google Earth.
The one I got has the PE designation and retails for $60. It is the same hardware as the SE but the PE is only licensed for personal use. The SE is $100 to use it for commercial purposes.
The images here are shameless stolen from Buy.com which is where I bought mine but I have no other affiliation with them.
I would highly recommend the SpaceNavigator for SketchUp and probably many other programs but I haven’t tried it with any others.
-- Kyle, Michigan
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9 comments so far
Brad_Nailor
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729 posts in 497 days
posted 132 days ago
I have been using one of these for about a year now. it’s a cool device and it definitely takes some getting used to. It’s really handy for times when you want to drag a line and rotate/pan the model at the same time. If you like Google earth its also fun to use this to fly around the models that people upload onto it.
-- Women love me.....trees fear me
Mike Lingenfelter
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405 posts in 654 days
posted 132 days ago
Wow, that is cool. I think I’m going to have to get me one of those! Thanks for the write-up.
-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/
PurpLev
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355 posts in 188 days
posted 132 days ago
I am using Contour Shuttle Pro (since I have it for video editing) for years, and its been great – but this one looks more fitting to 3D space navigation in a more intuitive way.
Thanx for the review and bringing this to our attention!!! it’s definitely a good one, and at a very good price. definitely recommended for anyone working with Sketchup on a regular basis – you’d be amazed at how smoother and easier it is to manipulate your projects.
-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...
DaveR
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240 posts in 260 days
posted 130 days ago
Another thumb’s up for the Space Navigator. My only wish is that I had one more hand for working the keyboard.
-- Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
woodnot
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51 posts in 154 days
posted 130 days ago
Thanks for the product review ! ! ! Very useful tool.
-- NW wood worker
Chris
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1261 posts in 531 days
posted 126 days ago
Wow… I bet it takes some getting used to; I only knew of the ones IBM used to sell with their high end workstations for several hundred dollars a piece. This is very accessible to the casual user!
-- Chris
dmann
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54 posts in 347 days
posted 125 days ago
Glad I checked the reviews section, I’ve been looking for something like this. Thanks for the review, this is definitely going on my wish list!
-- David / Durham, NC
Mark D.
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79 posts in 308 days
posted 30 days ago
This is indeed a great piece of equipment. I have two! I liked the first one so much, which is in use with my laptop for 3D work that I bought a second one that is a component of the CarPC I have been building(as seen below) which operates in an almost identical fashion to the BMW iDrive system.
P.S. I apologize for the low quality… my camera phone will only do so much…
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Grumpy
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6735 posts in 391 days
posted 30 days ago
Interesting gadget.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python