3Dconnexion SpacePilot PRO 3D Motion Controller with 31 Button(s), Wired/USB 3DX-700036

by Logitech

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 4 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00283VWK4
• Item model number: 3DX-700036
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #15 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Game Hardware > PC Game Hardware > Controllers > Flight Controls
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 19, 2008

Product Description

3Dconnexion SpacePilot PRO - 3D motion controller - 31 button(s) - wired - USB

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Finest 2D Motion Controller Ever!, December 12, 2009

By 

Mojo (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot PRO 3D Motion Controller with 31 Button(s), Wired/USB 3DX-700036 (Personal Computers)

This will be my fourth version of this product starting with the LogiCAD3D SpaceBall, then the SpacePilot (the old top-of-the-line), then a SpaceNavigator at work, and now the newest top-of-the-line version, the SpacePilot Pro. The difference between this and my former workhouse, the SpacePilot, is that this latest version is more sensitive than any previous version I've owned, and it finally has the controls to allow it to be used on other applications beyond 3D design programs.

I'm still new to this version, and as it was with SpacePilot it takes awhile to get everything set up the way you want it and get used to using it. As far as CAD goes, I would never ever go back to the clunky controls that come with design programs, and this new version is smoother on-screen and more comfortable to use.

With a 3D motion controller, you use your regular mouse and keyboard in combination with the controller to rapidly and smoothly carry out multiple tasks at once. Productivity is enhanced greatly. As the Senior Applications Engineer / senior 3D Modeler at a large Ship Yard, I pushed for and obtained permission to supply all of our 3D modelers with these devices.

As for the newer features, I really like the preset views as it removes another set of mouse clicks from my design routine by putting those oft used commands at my fingertips. Above and below those view presets are some nice new motion filtering controls that come in very handy for showing designs to others by allowing super smooth rotation, pan & zoom, etc.

The old SpacePilot had a monochrome LCD screen, but all it did was tell you what the preset buttons did. This new one is a whole new animal. They call it the LCD Workflow assistant, and I think the name is quite appropriate. You now have 10 configurable buttons instead of six, but the part I like the best is the Mail Applet. It allows you to keep an eye on your email, task, and calendar right in the LCD screen -which is all I need most of the time. You can even have RSS feeds scroll through!

I use the Space Pilot Pro, Autodesk Inventor, and 3Ds Max Design to produce all of the free designs and tutorials you can find on my website at: [...].

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique device that helps speed up modelling tasks, May 2, 2009

By 

fcsuper (Silcon Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot PRO 3D Motion Controller with 31 Button(s), Wired/USB 3DX-700036 (Personal Computers)

Recently, I've never owned any 3Dconnexion 3D-mice in my life. Heck, I wasn't even exactly sure how to pronounce 3Dconnexion. That "x" in the middle of the name throws me off. Despite this, I've had some interest in their devices. This has never taken me to the point of testing one on my own. After all, I feel I'm pretty fast with my mouse-work and keyboard shortcuts. Even still, now that I have the SpacePilot PRO, I've found that it speeds up my modelling activity in SolidWorks.

The advantage of the 3D mouse is that you can maneuver the model and continue to work on the model at the same time. So, the 3D mouse does help me work faster. I like things that allow me to work faster.

Additionally, I've been tinkering with the SpacePilot PRO. I love customization. The SpacePilot PRO offers a high level of customization. The SpacePilot PRO has 21 programmable buttons. Additionally, 10 of those buttons have dual mappings for a total of 31 mapped commands. That is a lot! On top of that, each of the buttons are mapped differently for each program or mode supported by the device. Within SolidWorks itself, there are three different mappings: Drawing, Part and Assembly modes.

A drawback is size of the device. It takes up a lot of real estate on one's desktop. Also, the buttons could be a little closer to the control knob for even easier access.

It did take me more than a week to get use to how it functions and to find the settings that work best in my environment. Finding the right sensitivity is paramount to using the SpacePilot PRO.

Once I set sensitivity to a comfortable level, this device has proven itself to be a useful tool that has made my work easier.

(P.S., this device also works awesomely in Google Earth.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SpacePilot Pro, February 21, 2011

By 

Engineering Mgr. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3Dconnexion SpacePilot PRO 3D Motion Controller with 31 Button(s), Wired/USB 3DX-700036 (Personal Computers)

Product was received quickly as promised, performs up to expectations providing functionality and improved modeling performance for user. Great product, helpful sales technical staff at 3D Connexion highly recommended for modeling use.