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Hardware: SpaceMouse#

SpaceMouse® was developed by 3Dconnexion to deliver intuitive, precise, advanced 3D navigation to review 3D designs and explore 3D spaces in 3D applications. Find out more on the manufacturer's website https://3dconnexion.com/us/.

SpaceMouse_3

Installing a SpaceMouse#

No special driver is required to use a SpaceMouse® with XR Twin. Just connect the SpaceMouse wireless (dongle or Bluetooth) or wired.

Quick setup & use a Space mouse#

To set up a SpaceMouse and move an object in an XR Twin simulation, follow these steps:

  1. Connect your SpaceMouse, wireless or wired.
  2. Open XR Twin and open your project.
  3. Select the User (left in the Hierarchy panel). Then in the bottom of the Inspector panel (right), click the Add Device button.
  4. In Add Manipulator popup, keep SpaceMouse selected (default) and click Add Manipulator To User button. A Manipulator component is added in the Inspector panel, with SpaceMouse as Manipulator Type.
  5. Drop the object you want to manipulate in the Manipulated Object slot (must be physicalize first).
  6. Select your Observer Frame preference and adjust Linear Speed and Angular Speed to your needs.
  7. Click the Start button to launch XR Twin's Simulation mode.
  8. As long as you're in Simulation mode,
    • You can use the SpaceMouse's multi-axis cap to manipulate the designated object. Alternatively you can also use the Elastic Manipulator to move this object (and the others).
    • You can change some settings dynamically: (NOTA: left Hierarchy panel and right Inspector panel are both collapsed by default during the simulation. To change values, expand both, select the User (left panel), change the value (right panel)).
      • You can adjust Linear and Angular speed multiplier (just change the value).
      • To apply cap rotations only, set Linear Speed = 0 to lock translations.
      • To apply cap translations only, set Angular Speed = 0 to lock rotations.
      • You can change the Observer Frame.

SpaceMouse with scenarios

If you're playing a scenario, you can check Target According to scenario so that the object concerned by the current step is automatically linked to your SpaceMouse. You can activate/deactivate this feature during simulation.

Troubleshooting#

Viewpoint jerks#

If you find that the viewpoint position is affected when you move an object with your SpaceMouse (the viewpoint jerks), then follow these steps:

  1. Open 3Dconnexion application.
  2. Click Advanced settings.
  3. Below Zoom direction section, check one of the options (up/down or forward/backward).
  4. Click Close then Close again to apply your changes.

With this choice, your viewpoint should no longer be affected.

Wrong inputs#

XR Twin receives impulses from the global Windows input system. If you find any incorrect entries when using your 3Dconnexion device, try to inactive temporary the 3Dconnexion configuration folders. See https://3dconnexion.com/uk/support/faq/how-do-i-clean-up-the-configuration-on-windows/ for full instructions.

After step 6, rather than restarting the 3Dconnexion driver, try to use your 3Dconnexion device without any configuration files (default state). Start XR Twin and see if there's any improvement.

If not, and to restore your configuration folders to their previous state, rename the files with their original names.

Files are located here:

  • %APPDATA% (e.g. C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\3Dconnexion).
  • %LOCALAPPDATA% (e.g. C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\3Dconnexion).