Space Explorer
[SpaceExplorer]

SpaceExplorer is primarily dedicated to the industrial design 3D CAD/CAM market as well as more recent software such as Google Earth, Adobe 3D, and for some gaming, Second Life.

Upon opening the product, you can see in detail that the hardware item is made of quality, has precision finish to all the control mechanisms and buttons, and is ergonomically designed.

The intentional purpose of these 3D mouses is to increase productivity for full time engineers and designers using these items every day as unlike the current mouse, it has the freedom of utilising the 6 axis of 3D rotation.

This is a "Two" hand operation, and the people at 3DConnexion recommend using this with the left hand and using the right hand (For right handed people) with the traditional mouse. It’s purpose is not to replace the current style of mouse design, but to compliment it in combination. 3DConnexion state that you can reduce the mouse clicks and keyboard entry by up to 50% & increase productivity up by 30%.

The current engineering design market globally, and especially in Australia where designers are on top rates, it makes sense to shorten the time spent to get those design documents out.

This left hand, right hand sequence apparently takes up to four weeks to master, and the SpaceExplorer model having full programmable buttons can also have ready access to custom commands as well.

There is a software development kit (SDK) on their website that developers can download and configure to drive just about anything from video editing software to even surgical robots. Several Australian and overseas companies have been including drivers in their software to support the 3DConnexion hardware including AutoDesk, Bentley, and Solidworks.

My primary use for this product is with 3D Plant Design software such as AutoPLANT, Navisworks, Bentley ProjectWise Navigator. By programing the buttons on this higher end model, the SpaceExplorer, it reduces the key strokes for repetetive functions and basically gives you freedom to design without having the clunky interface of using just the keyboard and mouse.

Give it a go, I think you'll find the higher end models quite a notch above the standard two button models.

Further information is available on the Australian 3DConnexion website http://3dconnexion.com.au