3Dconnexion Updates 3D Navigation for SolidWorks Users

By DE Editors

3Dconnexion has announced new 3D mouse capabilities for SolidWorks, bringing increased navigation intelligence to the design process. With this new feature, 3Dconnexion 3D mice can now automatically follow a designer’s point of interest and continuously determine the optimal center of rotation. In addition, the center of rotation can now be seen at all times via an icon.

“Previously, SolidWorks users had to zoom in fairly close and manually select a new center of rotation. We have listened to the feedback of our customers to provide designers with total control over the point of interest,” says Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. “By automatically establishing and displaying the optimal center of rotation, designers are now free to focus on design creativity and flexibility when using 3D mice in SolidWorks.”

When using the new update, two modes of setting the center of rotation are available. The new Auto Rotation Center sets the center of rotation to a point on the model that is nearest to the display screen center,  particularly useful for use at higher zoom levels. For additional control,  users can easily pick a new center of rotation point on the 3D model to suit the design task.

The new feature will be available in late February via a free 3DxWare software update, and will support SolidWorks 2005 – 2010 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 across the entire product line.

For more information, visit 3Dconnexion.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.