Using Spacemouse to navigate.

[kobus.erasmusZ65VM]

Good morning,

I am working in a department where we do mainly piping design using Plant 3D, and collaborate through BIM and Navisworks. The main model where all the different design groups efforts are combined, are accessed through Navisworks Simulate. A number of the designers, myself included, use the 3DConnexion Spacemouse within Navis to navigate through the 3D model.

However, I find controlling the view through the Spacemouse quite challenging, whether using it in the object oriented way that one sees typically in Inventor, or using the walk or fly methods. The movements are either too sensitive or not sensitive enough, so the view moves too fast or too slow. The direction is also very difficult to control. I have played with the settings of the mouse itself and within Navis but have not been able to get it to my satisfaction.

In general I find the interface of Navisworks to be very clunky when navigating through a complx model. The grphics looks like it comes from a 1990's video game, and the controls seems to be older than that. Maybe I am overly critical, but it does not seem like much thought has gone into the design of this interface.

If anyone has found a better way of using the Spacemouse in Navis, even through the use of addin, please share it.

Regards

Kobus

[alan.johnson7YLND]

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@kobus.erasmusZ65VM wrote:

In general I find the interface of Navisworks to be very clunky when navigating through a complex model. The graphics looks like it comes from a 1990's video game, and the controls seems to be older than that.

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I totally agree with this. I tend to just zoom, pan, and orbit with the mouse wheel. I too have the Spacemouse but rarely use it in Navisworks.

[alan.johnson7YLND]

These are the settings I use and it is useable

[C_Down-NRS]

Looking at my 3D mouse setting I only get the option for Desktop, how do you get the setting for /Navisworks?

[alan.johnson7YLND]

When you go into the Spacemouse settings make sure Navisworks is open and active. 

So if the Spacemouse settings are open just click into Navisworks and the settings will show for Navisworks.

[alan.johnson7YLND]

There are some settings inside Navisworks too, you should see the Spacemouse icon at the bottom of the Navigation bar. 

[spahlevan]

Thank to the author of the post and special thank to @alan.johnson7YLND explaining the settings. I would like to buy one of devices mainly to use with Inventor and secundly to navigate Navisworks BIM projects. I have see many use with inventor however, I would like to see it in action navigating Navisworks, any video link?

[alan.johnson7YLND]

There are a lot of videos on YouTube reviewing the space mouse but I couldn't fine one specific to Navisworks.

[spahlevan]

@alan.johnson7YLND exactly!! there is none 😞

[akshay.a.deshmukh]

Hi,
Even though Navisworks is open we still didn't get the settings for Navisworks.

Our major issue is that the mouse is working very slowly.

[alan.johnson7YLND]

With Navisworks open and the 3Dconnection settings open make sure you have clicked into Navisworks to activate  and the settings will show Autodesk Navisworks at the top.

[akshay.a.deshmukh]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Yesterday I tried the same and it worked.

Once again thanks for the help.

[alan.johnson7YLND]

Also as per my previous post there are 3Dconnection settings in Navisworks to control speed

[lance.marttinen]

My whole team uses 3DConnexion mouses in Navisworks a TON. These are the settings we use:

1. Switch to walk mode. I feel that walk mode is more intuitive for navigating inside a building than using object mode.

2. Increase frame rate. This is VERY important, it makes the mouse navigation much smoother. I generally set this to 30 but you can test other frame rates to see what works best for you.

3. Set movement speed. I use 14 ft/sec, but this is user preference.

[warren_woottonYGATB]

If you find the "movements are either too sensitive or not sensitive enough" then I suggest two things: switch from persepctive to orthographic and back again.  This usually fixes the problem for too sensitive.  For not sensitive enough, I suggest you select on an item with your normal mouse, this will readjust the 3D mouse's focus and will usually speed things up again.  p.s. I use spacemouse in Navis with'select/ctrl-1' mode 99% of the time.  I have left 3D mouse set to 'Zoom Selected / PageDown' and right 3D button to 'Esc' to deselect quickly.  Hope this helps you. 

[kayla_berry3XPPK]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you.