Orbion 3d Mouse
Erminia Scharnberg
Well way back I was inspired by Chris's build of an Orbion space mouse and ordered the parts immediately. Never got around to it, as I had the Micron build, VZBot resurrection and the Trident 300 mm build. Had some free time today (Saturday - Ozzie time) as wife is away on a Girls weekend. What better to do than build the space mouse.
I printed and build v2.2, thinking this was the latest. Was very confused looking at the wiring diagrams which had three switches at the back and neopixels, but the stl file body I printed and the CAD only had one switch. Well, turns out the latest version is 2.5
Had to print some parts in TPU - First time ever using TPU (Have a roll of E-Sun e-TPU- 95A). Fired up the Trizero, adjusted the tension - set up a slicer profile and away we go. Very happy with the results - functional to say the least.
For those that have come to know me, I order double of everything, so I have enough parts to build the 2.5 version as well. What will I do with two space mice? Don't care - might donate one to a friend! I am having fun alright??
It's a fun/frustrating project. The github is poorly organized and the documentation such as it is takes some study to figure out what you need to do. For some reason mine crapped out after a while so I set it aside. I might tackle a different space mouse project that looks a bit simpler, but this was a fun and educational build. It certainly stretched my soldering skills and I learned some stuff there so not a total waste.
The QMK firmware is able to handle joystick inputs now but you would need to use three separate joysticks or create a floating spring structure to hold the stick relative to some hall effect sensors. Of course, my mind goes straight to printed flexures as a solution!
I'm a mechanical engineer, so I'm about to design the mouse atm from a mechanical perspective but I can't find any Hotkeys to move the view inside 3D Construction...
I'd like to connect my Arduino like a mouse/keyboard to the PC but it seems, there is no shortcut to move, rotate or pan the view without moving the mouse. Is it possible to write an app to solve this issue?
I have a class in my utils repo I use for the camera, you will need to change some of the code to fit what you need, also it is just a dummy class to group functions so it shouldnt be instantiated, but this should give you an idea of some common functions you will use when changing the camera:
It also has auto-detect for apps, so for my use, the pan / rotate / zoom on the gamepad joysticks work exactly the same for Fusion, Blender, MeshMixer, Netfabb, etc. ( whereas the normal mouse / k/board sequence differs for each software )
I am currently working on a spacemouse myself, using a motion tracking arm with 6 degrees od freedom. I am using a serial connection in my python script over the COM ports to read the data coming from the arduino. When I am trying to execute the script inside fusion360, it crashes.
I suspect you're running into a threading issue. The Fusion API is single-threaded and runs in the main Fusion thread. There is a workaround to this where your code that is talking to the Arduino is running in a separate thread but when you need to use the Fusion API to interact with Fusion, you fire a custom event so the code that uses the API will be running in the main thread. This is documented here: =GUID-F9FD4A6D-C59F-4176-9003-CE04F7558CCC
The objects to print are: base, lid, buttons holder and 3 buttons extensions. I decided to extend normal pbc push buttons instead of using panel mount units to keep the design compact and as low cost as possible.
The base has the Arduino footprint already in place. Just push 4 or more headers (they should come with the board) into the print and place the board on top. Be quick when you solder the pins on the Arduino board, if you keep the soldering iron on the header too long you will start melting the 3D printed base.
Using a small gauge wire connect the three buttons in series for the common line (GND), and three single wires for the signals (in my case they are digital pins 7,8 and 9). I used the internal pullup function of Arduino to avoid resistors.
Cons: It is a bit light; I will add some lead inside as soon as possible to prevent it from moving on the table. I am currently working on a software to switch from mouse to space mouse automatically to prevent conflict in movements.
As the question title suggests, I have a minor problem with Blender's implementation of Space mouse/3D mouse control. I finally got the actual operation of the 3D mouse to be like I want. Except this point. Anytime that I do an operation in Blender, like say scaling or rotating part of a mesh, while that operation is being performed the space mouse refuses to function. While this does not initially seem to be a big deal, it can cause some serious frustrations!
Take for example doing a knife cut. If the object isn't fit entirely on the screen, or simply is unable to be, and you need to start a knife cut that goes up an object far enough to go off the screen, your space mouse is useless at that time! Because, the actual knife operation freezes space mouse input, thus when you try to pull up on the space mouse to move the view up the model to continue the knife cut, nothing happens. Forcing you to go back to regular keyboard/mouse based camera movement to slide up to continue the cut!
This is exactly the sort of thing you get a space mouse for, to be able to do operations with the regular mouse while also operating the camera with the space mouse! Am I just stupid and I've missed a setting that changes this, or is this 'built in' behavior to Blender and thus, without tweaks from the software developers, I'll never see relief?
Most of those operators are modals (Knife Project, Extrude, Translate etc), and while they are running one cant access any other operators, until operation is terminated (that also includes viewport navigation operators like Move View or Rotate View). Bottom line is this is also an issue with regular mouse and keyboard.
This month's project may not be something everyone finds useful, but it comes with a lot of useful parts if you want to use them for something else. Also the amount of different components should provide some good learning moments for those who use the projects to learn new things.
There was someone in the 3D Printing community named Jimmy (ALL CAPS FOR JIMMY!) who was always trying to talk me in to buying a space mouse for CAD design. When someone suggested this project to me (Thank you Wim!) I absolutely had to do it!
NOTE*** You will need to get the bolts and heat inserts, while they are cheap, I was over budget quite a bit this month. Inserts are always useful, here's a listing on Amazon if you don't know what to get...
Unlike joysticks, 3D mice control movement in up to six axes, like tilting and twisting, unlocking natural 3D manipulation. These DIY wonders use various sensors (like gyroscopes) to mimic computer mouse communication, working with apps like Blender and even controlling robots! They boost immersion and precision, letting you sculpt virtual worlds with newfound ease.
Magnetometer: It ditches the usual joystick for a three-axis magnetometer, letting you sculpt your designs with newfound precision. Though compact, it offers impressive five-axis control by combining sensor readings. Two handy shortcut buttons keep essential functions at your fingertips, while adding metal weights to the base ensures rock-steady manipulation.
The Orbion: Open-source powerhouse for the masses. This fully 3D printable marvel boasts dual joystick control, OLED display, and compatibility with a universe of programs. Switch functions seamlessly, watch your actions reflected on the screen, and feel the power of customization at your fingertips.
Spacerat: Minimalist marvel, maximum impact. This budget-friendly option employs the MPU6050 sensor to achieve three smooth degrees of freedom. A robust spring and simple design make it perfect for beginners, while the extra magnetic hall sensor and side button add a touch of finesse.
Ahmsville Dial V2: From minimalist to maestro, this project offers variations for every need. Go basic with the SpaceNav for five degrees of freedom and backlighting, or unleash your inner sculptor with the Absolute, featuring real-time axis feedback and customizable shortcut keys. Both boast high-resolution magnetic encoders for pinpoint precision.
SpaceFox (FEV2023): The six-axis sovereign. Embrace the pinnacle of DIY control with this Stewart platform marvel. Six potentiometers and springs combine to grant you ultimate freedom in virtual worlds. Heavy base and programmable shortcut keys further elevate your sculpting experience.
Space Mushroom: This chonky 3D mouse boasts six degrees of freedom thanks to three double-jointed knobs nestled in its hefty grip. While space-saving, this design adds assembly complexity. Open-source and Blender-friendly on ARM Macs, it currently lacks wider software compatibility and button features remain a DIY project. Beginners beware, driver tweaks and app switching require coding chops.
OS3M: Witnessing a pricey 3D mouse halve tedious tasks sparked this DIY build! Inspired by a robotic platform, it ditches joysticks for six coils that sense subtle knob movements via changing currents. Unlike competitors, it reads proximity to metal, not just rotation. Currently SolidWorks-only, its C++ code promises future software flexibility.
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