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

• Windows 32 bits
• Windows 64 bits
• Windows XP embedded 32 bits

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
  

  Default = "125"
• 
  LocalTimeOffsetSec
  

  Default = "0"
• 
  ToolReferenceFrame
  

  Default = "Tracker"
• 
  Mode Operation mode of the device.
  

  Default = "JOYSTICK"
  • 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.
  

  Default = "0.001 0.001 0.001"
• 
  RotationScales Sensitivity and direction of the 3 rotation axes. Higher values mean higher sensitivity. Negative values can be used for inverting axes.
  

  Default = "0.001 0.001 0.001"
• 
  DataSources Exactly one DataSource child element is required.
  
  • 
    DataSource
    
    • 
      PortName = "SpaceNavigator"
      
    • 
      BufferSize
      

      Default = "150"
    • 
      AveragedItemsForFiltering
      

      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>