The SpaceBall/SpaceMouse, as a motion measurement instrument, delivers digital information regarding measurements of all six degrees of freedom instantaneously through its serial port which translates the respective movements accordingly.

By pressing a combination of two keys on the SpaceMouse's keyboard, the OPERATING MODES can be installed on the SpaceMouse's own keys/keyboard. The actual OPERATING MODES result from onboard filtering or enhancing of single or grouped digital serial outputs, i.e. "transmit full values for rotation and zero values for all translations".

This control option setup is always available via the SECOND LEVEL KEYBOARD (SpaceMouse ONLY!) (to be addressed by pressing key combination * and any key) regardless which platform or application you are currently using (see the bottom label).

The first level keyboard or STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD (to be addressed by pressing single keys), on the other hand, is automatically configured with single DEFAULT COMMANDS during the installation of the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse. In some cases, both the STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD settings and the SECOND LEVEL KEYBOARD settings may turn out to be identical - depending on your CAD application. 

Up until now, neither of the above described MOTION CONTROL OPTIONS was linked to an interface which kept track of the OPERATION MODES you had previously chosen. This was, of course, confusing. In the meantime, however, with the XDRIVER 4.x release, the MOTION CONTROL CENTER (MCC) has been introduced.

The MCC is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical user interface which makes it possible for you to enable/disable the SECOND LEVEL KEYBOARD (SpaceMouse ONLY) and control the configured OPERATION MODES by way of software. The MCC also allows you to keep track of the DEFAULT COMMAND settings on the STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD or to MAP other functions to the previous DEFAULT COMMAND keys with the help of an advanced programming utility. We highly recommend that you use this utility because the MCC gives you continuous feedback regarding your own settings and mappings. Furthermore, the MCC opens up a wide range of new configuration settings, which enhance the versatility of this professional 3D controller. 

The 3D modes result from MCC utilities which, instead of communicating with the application, interact with the SpaceBall/ SpaceMouse.
If the Changeable button is not selected the SECOND LEVEL KEYBOARD is disabled! In this case, any specific 3D operating mode (translation on/off, rotationon/off, dominant on/off) can only be obtained by using the STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD keys, assuming these mode settings are available in your application; only alternative: the MCC programming utility. If the changeable button is activated the SECOND LEVEL KEYBOARD (SpaceMouse ONLY) is enabled. Now, pressing a key combination on the SpaceMouse has the same effect as clicking the corresponding button on this software panel. The latter, by default, turns the Dominant mode to "off", while the modes for Translation and Rotation are set to "on", thereby enabling a totally free motion of the object in the 3D CAD environment. The Zeroing button rezeros the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse device. (Same as the key combination * 4 on the SpaceMouse).

If the dialbox mode is not set by default on your STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD, by selecting the Enable button, this mode is automatically mapped on to key 8. 

By now pressing this key on the SpaceBall/ SpaceMouse or by clicking on the Active/Not active button in this panel, you can activate the dialbox mode and the keys are automatically reconfigured to select the degree of freedom of the dialbox. Instead of pressing the keys on the device, you can also select the motion by using the X,Y,Z buttons in the panel for translation and the A,B,C buttons for rotation. Use the bar, to change the dial sensitivity for each degree of freedom. 

In comparison with the dialbox mode, this panel simulates a real dialbox. Your application now actually assumes the existence of this device. The specific functionality of each of the eight dialbox wheels, here displayed as eight buttons with numbers 1 through 8, corresponds to the default settings which your CAD application usually configures for the dialbox.

These settings do not necessarily have anything to do with the motion of the object. By clicking one of the eight buttons and then twisting the cap, you will obtain the same functionality as you would by turning the wheel on the real dialbox. With the help of the assignment box, the assignments between the real wheel and the referenced software button can be mixed. By selecting the Relative button, all generated values are interpreted by the application as relative values. 

The Null Radius bar sets/defines the minimal displacement of the device cap necessary to induce the motion of the object. Because of the extreme sensitivity of this measuring system, we particularly recommend using this feature in working environments prone to small vibrations (i.e. industrial environments). 

With some applications it may be necessary to tick Exchange Y and Z Translation. 

For nonlinear sensitivity see Options Window

The MCC will automatically detect the application you are actually working with by detecting your serial mouse's cursor position. By pressing the Default button, the defaults for Sensitivity, 3D modes, Single Axis Dial and Dialbox Mode are set. 

Clicking on the softkey will always execute only this default setting, whether or not you have remapped the corresponding hardware button on the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse with the MCC. This hardware setting is also shown in the second line of the information window.

The pressing of specific keys in sequence on peripheral devices (keyboard, 2D mouse, LPFK, etc) usually results in a specific command in your application. With the help of the button mapping window in the Motion Control Center, any key sequence can be mapped as a unique macro command to any button of the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse. To map a new command onto a SpaceBall/SpaceMouse button, select the button number from the scroll bar menu. The selected SpaceBall/SpaceMouse button's current meaning and mapping code is displayed in the fields "Meaning" and "Mapping Code" next to the button numbers you have chosen. This information is also displayed in the Button Info Window.

By clicking on the Programming button, you can open the mapping menu (please refer to the separate programming section) and proceed to remap the button. After remapping a key you must not forget to enter a new description into the "Meaning" field. Pressing the Default button resets the STANDARD CAD KEYBOARD to its default settings. 

The sequential pressing of specific keys or turning of knobs on peripheral devices (Keyboard, 2D mouse, Dialbox, LPFK, etc.) usually results in a specific command in your application. Any functionality of this peripheral can be mapped as a singular programmed macro command to any button of the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse keyboard. The SpaceBall/SpaceMouse totally replaces the functionality of your Dialbox (refer to Dialbox Simulation) or your LPFK board. 

To map a new function to the previously selected key on the SpaceBall/SpaceMouse (refer to button mapping in previous section), you can now either use key command sequences on your keyboard, choose predefined mappings from the window displaying a selection of your application's most current commands or select a button function from the LPFK menu. As for the dialbox simulation, your application will assume the real existence of a LPFK board with all of its functions. You can also select the functions which are mapped onto your 2D mouse buttons. Additionally, by mapping the Beep button to one of the options mentioned above, you can achieve the effect that a single beep will sound each time you press the so-mapped button. By mapping the Repeat button, the device will repeat the command as long as you hold/keep the button pressed. By selecting either the Enable or Disable buttons, the standard CAD keyboard configuration for the respective key/key in question is mapped or withdrawn. A list of predefined mapping codes is displayed in the middle of the window. Click a mapping code to map the function to the selected SpaceBall/SpaceMouse button.

Please note that the MCC can not check whether the mapped function is correct. 

Use these buttons to map the functions of the three 2D mouse buttons.

These buttons map the Increase / Decrease Sensitivity functions, either for collective (Translation or Rotation) or individual (X, Y, Z, A, B or C) degrees of freedom. The Dialbox buttons are used to map the sensitivity control of the dialbox mode. 

Show causes the MCC window to be brought to the front of the screen. Hide sends the MCC window to the back and Change toggles between front and back. Mapping one of the Panel buttons numbered 1 through 4 switches the MCC to that panel number. Note that by mapping one of these panels to one specific SpaceBall/SpaceMouse key and by repeating this mapping procedure for all four panels, you will gain/have instantaneous access to all four panels and their specific settings simply by pressing the selected SpaceBall/SpaceMouse key.

The functions of the 32 buttons correspond to the default functions that your CAD application normally assigns the buttons of an LPFK. Use these buttons to map the corresponding LPFK functions. Note that some IBM and SGI systems may require a separate installation procedure to activate the LPFK simulation mode. (See the manual.) 

Click Options in the Panel section of the MCC main window to open the Options window. This window contains additional features for controlling various functions and appearances of the MCC.