Product Description

Building on the Two-Handed Power of the highly successful SpaceBall and SpaceMouse, SpacePilot is a true breakthrough in the world of intelligent interface devices. It features adaptive sensing technology that intelligently gives you the exact functions you want, the instant you want them. Plus you get an array of extendable keys that put unlimited functions and functionality right at your fingertips.While the mouse isolates you from the 3D design process, SpacePilot connects you. It becomes a virtual extension of yourself - significantly outperforming the mouse, allowing you to effortlessly pan, zoom, and rotate simultaneously 3D models and scenes. Navigation is more precise and fluid. The result is a 30% gain in efficiency over just using a mouse.Eliminate 50% of your mouse work. SpacePilot features advanced ergonomics that begin with a soft-coated, sculpted palm rest that provides a glove-like feel, guiding your hand into a natural, comfortable position. Similarly, the controller cap and programmable speed keys are easy to reach without taking your hand off the controller. This all adds up to minimal hand stress that helps reduce strain and repetitiveness associated with 3D design. Product Description: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot 3D motion controller Device Type: 3D motion controller Display: LCD display 240 x 64 Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.6 in x 9.3 in x 2.1 in Weight: 2 lbs Connectivity Technology: Wired - USB Movement Detection Technology: Optical Buttons Qty: 21 Features: Programmable buttons OS Required: Microsoft Windows 2000, HP-UX 11.0 or later, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS 3, IBM AIX 5.2 or later, SunSoft Solaris 8 or later, SuSE Linux 9.0 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions) Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years warranty

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23422 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: 3DConnexion
• Model: SPU
• Dimensions: 48.00" h x 99.00" w x 132.00" l, 2.20 pounds

Features

• Sold Individually

Customer Reviews

Great addition to your workflow for anyone who works in 3D.
I work in 3D Studio Max and the space pilot nearly doubles my navigation speed as compared to using the keyboard/mouse. The customizable buttons are nice, I have a regular preset, a rigging preset, and a modeling preset so far. So when I'm rigging a character I can easily pan around the model and select verticies, adjusting their weights using the programable buttons.

The button placements aren't as good as they could be but bearable, you can actually remap ALL buttons on the device for every configuration you have so you might find it easier to remap the ctrl,shift,alt,esc buttons to custom commands.. or the viewport buttons as those are easier to reach while navigating.

Of course for pure fun factor flying around in google earth with it is a joy, but for that you might as well buy the $60 space navigator.

If you need customizable keys for your work as I do then its definatly worth it and makes navigation a breeze.

I got mine here on amazon for only $270, too bad the price is higher now.

Edit: Looks like the price dropped to 220 now, not bad!
Still lacking ZBrush and Mudbox support, hopefully will get one of those soon, probably Mudbox.

jerry -- 3d designer
I've now owned my SpacePilot for about a year and use it principally with Autodesk Inventor. I am at my computer all day, every day. I don't know how I ever worked without it. Everything they say about improved productivity is true and in fact may be something of an understated claim.

I seldom use the programmable buttons but I use the orientation buttons (to right of controller knob) and the function keys (to the left of controller knob) all the time. It is robust and has withstood thousands of hours of use with no sign of any wear.

It took no time to become second nature. It is so intuitive that within days it became an extension of my hand. It is ergonomically very comfortable. Between the SpacePilot and my programmable MX Revolution mouse I have most of everything I need in my two hands at all times. I've moved the keyboard back under the monitor and placed the SpacePilot and mouse directly in front of me. For number entry I've placed a number keypad/calculator immediately to the right of my mouse and I seldom need to go to the keyboard.

New SpacePilot has nice features
When Solidworks went to version 2008, I sadly had to say goodby to my classic Spacemouse--an unsupported serial device. The replacement, the 3Dconnexion SpacePilot, is a welcome replacement. The puck control has less mechanical travel than the Spacemouse, which was easy to get used to. The quality of the device is better than I expected from seeing the images. But the most useful improvement to me is the application-context-sensitive button mapping. When you change applications, the SpacePilot updates its LCD screen to show you how the buttons have been remapped for that application. When you go to Solidworks assembly mode, for example, the buttons change so that you can easily go to insert, mate, rotate, etc. Also there is a special button specifically for "Fit", which is a zoom-all command. Very nice, overall, and as with other 3D mice, facilitates two-handed CAD actions.