3Dconnexion
German manufacturer of 6DOF controllers for 3D navigation and design.
3Dconnexion, based in Germany, makes input devices designed for controlling and moving through 3D computer graphics. These tools are known by several names: 3D motion controllers, 3D navigation devices, six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) controllers, or simply 3D mice. They are mainly used in computer-aided design (CAD), 3D modeling, animation, and visualization work. By pushing or pulling on a pressure-sensitive handle—historically called a cap, ball, mouse, or knob—users can fly through a 3D scene or manipulate a model directly. The main advantage over a standard mouse and keyboard is that you can pan, zoom, and rotate at the same time, without needing to switch directions via keyboard shortcuts or on-screen menus. These devices work with more than 300 applications, including Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion, AutoCAD, Siemens NX, CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, PTC Creo, Solid Edge, Blender, Rhinoceros, Revit, SketchUp, Unreal Engine, Unity, Cinema4D, 3ds Max, Maya, Google Earth, Second Life, NASA World Wind, Virtual Earth 3D, Geomagic, T-FLEX CAD, and Photoshop.
Products currently available include the CadMouse Pro Wireless, CadMouse Pro Wireless Left, CadMouse Pro, CadMouse Compact Wireless, CadMouse Compact, SpaceMouse Enterprise, SpaceMouse Pro Wireless, SpaceMouse Pro, SpaceMouse Wireless, SpaceMouse Compact, and Keyboard Pro with Numpad. Discontinued models are the SpaceNavigator, SpaceNavigator for Notebook, SpaceExplorer, SpacePilot, SpacePilot Pro, SpaceTraveler, SpaceBall, and the Magellan/SpaceMouse Classic/Plus/XT (serial or USB).
The company was founded in September 2001 by Logitech, merging LogiCAD3D (based in Europe) with Labtec’s 3D peripheral business (based in the United States). Together, they brought over twenty years of experience with 3D input devices. LogiCAD3D’s Magellan controller was used in automotive design and aerospace; a NASA project even used a Magellan to control a robot in space. The SpaceBall also has a spaceflight history, having been used to remotely drive the Sojourner robot on Mars.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location City
- Munich
- Hq Location Country
- Germany
- Industry
- Hardware, software
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
3Dconnexion was formed in September 2001 by Logitech, combining LogiCAD3D, based in Europe, and Labtec's 3D peripheral business, based in the United States. The two companies combined have over 20 years of experience in 3D input devices. LogiCAD3D's product, the Magellan controller, was used in fields such as automotive design and aerospace. A NASA project used a Magellan product to control a robot in space. The SpaceBall also had a history in space, having been used to remotely drive the Sojourner robot on Mars.
The company's product line includes current models such as the CadMouse Pro Wireless, CadMouse Compact, SpaceMouse Enterprise, SpaceMouse Pro Wireless, SpaceMouse Wireless, SpaceMouse Compact, and Keyboard Pro with Numpad. Discontinued products include the SpaceNavigator, SpaceExplorer, SpacePilot, SpacePilot Pro, SpaceTraveler, SpaceBall, and the Magellan/SpaceMouse Classic/Plus/XT serial or USB. The internal 6-DOF optical sensor assembly of the Spaceball 4000 FLX (fabricated in 2000) consisted of infrared LEDs and detectors with occluders that move with the ball.
Reader's Guide
3Dconnexion's significance lies in its specialized human interface devices that provide six degrees of freedom for navigating and manipulating 3D imagery, a capability that distinguishes them from standard mice and keyboards. By allowing simultaneous pan, zoom, and rotation without interrupting workflow, these devices have become a staple in professional CAD, 3D modeling, animation, and visualization environments. The company's legacy is rooted in over two decades of experience inherited from LogiCAD3D and Labtec, with early products like the Magellan controller and SpaceBall used in aerospace and automotive design, including NASA projects and the remote driving of the Sojourner robot on Mars. With compatibility across more than 300 applications—from Autodesk and Dassault Systèmes tools to game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity—3Dconnexion has established itself as a key provider of input hardware for professionals who require precise, fluid control of 3D space. The continued development of wireless and compact variants, alongside the discontinuation of earlier models, reflects the evolution of the product line to meet changing user needs while maintaining the core pressure-sensitive handle technology.
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