3dConnexion 3D mouse devices

Supported hardware devices

All 3dConnexion 3D mouse models are supported.
Tested with 3dConnexion SpaceNavigator 3D mouse.
Link to manufacturer’s website: http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacenavigator.html.

Supported platforms

Installation

No need to install any driver or software. If the 3DxWare software is installed: when a window is activated then the mouse may interact with that window as well (e.g., by default tilt front/back simulates mouse wheel). To avoid this either A. uninstall 3DxWare, B. activate a window that does not respond to mouse functions, or C. disable mouse functions in the 3DxWare settings.

Device configuration settings

Type: 3dConnexion
AcquisitionRate: (Optional, default: 125)
LocalTimeOffsetSec: (Optional, default: 0)
ToolReferenceFrame: (Optional, default: Tracker)
Mode: Operation mode of the device. ( - MOUSE The transform is the current pose. If the mouse is released then the transforms reverts to identity.
JOYSTICK The transform is changing while the mouse is translated or rotated. If the mouse is released then the transform kept unchanged.
TranslationScales: Sensitivity and direction of the 3 translation axes. Higher values mean higher sensitivity. Negative values can be used for inverting axes.
RotationScales: Sensitivity and direction of the 3 rotation axes. Higher values mean higher sensitivity. Negative values can be used for inverting axes.
DataSources: Exactly one DataSource child element is required. (Required)
- DataSource: (Required)
  - PortName: = (SpaceNavigator) (Required)
  - BufferSize: (Optional, default: 150)
  - AveragedItemsForFiltering: (Optional, default: 20)

Use cases

Usage in 3D Slicer

Start PlusServer
Select the configuration PlusServer: 3dConnexion SpaceNavigator 3D mouse
Click Connect
Start 3D Slicer
Go to OpenIGTLinkIF module
Click “+” to create a new connection, select the new connection, click (Client), click (Active)
The NavigatorToTracker transform is created in Slicer and it can be edited by moving the 3D mouse

Settings for rotating/translating an image in the axial, sagittal, coronal slice views in 3D Slicer:

Mode="JOYSTICK" TranslationScales="-0.001 -0.001 -0.001" RotationScales="0.001 0.001 0.001"

Settings for rotating/translating an object in the 3D view in 3D Slicer:

Mode="JOYSTICK" TranslationScales="-0.001 0.001 -0.001" RotationScales="-0.001 0.001 -0.001"

Example configuration file PlusDeviceSet_Server_3dConnexion.xml

<PlusConfiguration version="2.1">

  <DataCollection StartupDelaySec="1.0">
    <DeviceSet 
      Name="PlusServer: 3dConnexion SpaceNavigator 3D mouse" 
      Description="Broadcasting tool tracking data through OpenIGTLink" />
    <Device
      Id="TrackerDevice"
      Type="3dConnexion"
      Mode="JOYSTICK"
      TranslationScales="0.001 -0.001 -0.001"
      RotationScales="0.001 -0.001 -0.001"
      ToolReferenceFrame="Tracker" >
      <DataSources>
        <DataSource Type="Tool" Id="Navigator" PortName="SpaceNavigator" />    
      </DataSources>
      <OutputChannels>
        <OutputChannel Id="TrackerStream" >
          <DataSource Id="Navigator" />
        </OutputChannel>
      </OutputChannels>
    </Device>
    <Device
      Id="CaptureDevice"
      Type="VirtualCapture"
      BaseFilename="RecordingTest.igs.mha"
      EnableCapturingOnStart="FALSE" >
      <InputChannels>
        <InputChannel Id="TrackerStream" />
      </InputChannels>
    </Device>
  </DataCollection>
  
  <PlusOpenIGTLinkServer 
    MaxNumberOfIgtlMessagesToSend="1" 
    MaxTimeSpentWithProcessingMs="50" 
    ListeningPort="18944" 
    OutputChannelId="TrackerStream" > 
    <DefaultClientInfo> 
      <MessageTypes> 
        <Message Type="TRANSFORM" />
      </MessageTypes>
      <TransformNames> 
        <Transform Name="NavigatorToTracker" /> 
      </TransformNames>
    </DefaultClientInfo>
  </PlusOpenIGTLinkServer>
  
</PlusConfiguration>