SolidWorks 2008 Serial SpaceBall 4000/5000/Spacemouse FIX!

[JRICHTER]

In the SolidWorks.com customer portal knowledge base I found this solution. I tried it out to test it and modified the solutions referenced driver version from 3.3.2 to the 3.4.2 which is the only one available.

Also after installing the older driver 2.8.2, install the 3.4.2, but only the SolidWorks plug in. If you install more then that it will not work.

S-016552
Q: I have a serial version Spaceball 4000/5000 /Spacemouse Magellan, and I cannot find a driver for your new software. Is there a way my 3Dconnexicon product can work in SolidWorks 2008?

A: Use the following workaround:
1. Load 3DxSoftware 2.8.2. , found in the Space Ball 4000 from 3Dconnexicon http://www.3dconnexion.com/support/driv ... v2-8-2.exe
2. Download 3DxSoftware 3.4.2. , found in the Space Ball 5000 USB http://www.3dconnexion.com/support/driv ... v3-4-2.exe
3. Use WinZIP to unzip 3dXSoftware 3.3.2 and install only the SolidWorks plug-in.

[ngomes]

Please refer to this reply.

[red]

My CadMan no longer appears to work with Solidworks 2008.

Is this due to the 3DxSoftware 2-8-2 being *known* incompatible with 2008, or might there be something else going on?

Solidworks 2008 attempts to load the 3DX dll in the Add-In For Solidworks directory, but fails every time.

Please don't tell me "the answer is to upgrade with another $500 piece of hardware because we no longer support the CadMan".

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UPDATE FOR THOSE PAYING ATTENTION:
Turns out, following the suggestion above (installing the 3.4.2 addin for Solidworks *only* on top of the 2.8 typical install) WORKS.
Repeat.... your CADMAN will still work under Solidworks 2008 if you utilize the 2-8-2 software with the 3-4-2 Solidworks Add in.
3DConnexion will tell you that they will not support this configuration -- which is no different than the level of support your legacy product was getting anyway. You have nothing to lose, eh?

[CRB]

Update - This fix also works with the newest version 3-5-6, released Nov.14 2007. I have a CadMan that is now working with Solidworks 2008. Thanks for posting the workaround, much appreciated. Now I don't have to throw away a perfectly good 3D controller plus you saved me $ 'cause I don't have to buy a new SpaceTraveler after all. Good for me, bad for 3DConnexion.

[Jacques R. Weber]

I have the spaceball 4000 flx and need to use it on sw2008. I have read jrichter's post but can't find the driver listed as 3.4.2 at the link provided. Does anyone have this driver that could be sent to me?. I can download 2.8.2. Are these two drivers all that is needed for the fix?.