How is everyone doing? I have a spaceball 4000 flx that I am trying to use for solidworks 2008. I already downloaded the necessary drivers and the add-in, but the program wont recognize the spaceball 4000. It keeps on telling me that the .dll file isn't downloaded. I installed everything again, but it still wont go. Can anyone help me out on this.
thanks
spaceball 4000 flx
Moderator: Moderators
4000 FLX Driver
Is there going to be a new driver for the 4000 FLX in SolidWorks any time soon?
Hi jmulcahy,
Please refer to this knowledge-base article. I missed to mention this reference in my last post. There will be most likely no update to this driver in the future.
Please refer to this knowledge-base article. I missed to mention this reference in my last post. There will be most likely no update to this driver in the future.
Robert Stadie
Re: 4000 FLX Driver
There doesn't need to be a new driver... the driver (which communicates between the device and windows) works fine. They are deliberately re-packaging the drivers to force you to upgrade. You can still use the drivers from 2.8.2 with the add-ins from the latest software in the majority of situations.jmulcahy wrote:Is there going to be a new driver for the 4000 FLX in SolidWorks any time soon?
Fortunately, it appears that the driver writers know what they are doing, unlike the mods on this forum, who are busy trying to tell you that your £350 device won't work any more, just to get you to buy new hardware.
They told me that it wouldn't work in Max2008 because the people who write Max changed how it talks to the device. ******************** it talks to the device exactly the same, I have my 4000FLX's talking to Max 2008 perfectly happily.
HAHA, I was just about to post that it won't be long before they package their drivers in a way that you can't choose to install just the add-ins and they have with 3.6.7. What a shame that you can let it do a full install and then just re-install 2.8.2 (Driver only, no plugins) to get the proper drivers back in... and guess what, 4000FLX works fine with Max2009... a package that apparently "doesn't support the old devices any more"... ********************.
I'll post this info on the 3D forums, they were happy to get my last lot of info to avoid an upgrade, I'm sure this will be appreciated too. The nice thing is, they have to provide a link to 2.8.2 and even if they don't one will "exist" somewhere on the net.
Bottom line is, next time a Mod says "it won't work, we don't support it, buy some new hardware", ********************.
They will probably delete this as it spoils that corrupted plans... but don't worry, this info will be spread around the net fast enough.
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Edit (moderator): removed insults and foul language (see BOARD RULES).
I am running spaceware version 2.8.2 for AutoCAD and Unigraphics on Win XP. I am using a 4000 flx serial spaceball. Download the 5000 USB driver (3.6.7) and only install the solidworks plug-in. Open Solidworks 2008 and go to - Tools - Add ins and check the boxes for spaceware for Solidworks. I still occasionally get the warning that the .dll is incompatible when I boot up Solidworks but the Spaceball works fine.
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Witch Doctor
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Bay Area, CA
This workaround does work
This workaround does indeed work on my serial 4000FLX. You just have to keep the two driver files around on CD, with notes about same. It's actually pretty cool that the code is modular enough to allow this.
To play devil's (vendor's?) advocate, driver updates can't be "free" ad infinitum. There have been almost no third-party/open source drivers for these devices... so it can't exactly be easy to code plugins for each new app.
To play devil's (vendor's?) advocate, driver updates can't be "free" ad infinitum. There have been almost no third-party/open source drivers for these devices... so it can't exactly be easy to code plugins for each new app.
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stuartcutler
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:47 am
Solidworks 2007 x64 with Spaceball 4000
Hi Everyone,
I have been using a spaceball 4000 within Solidworks x64 with no problem...until yesterday when the driver kept crashing whenever Solidworks started - it worked fine in E-Drawings.
I have un-installed the drivers, and re-installed them (v2.8.2 x64 version), now they work fine in E-Drawings, and the buttons work in Solidworks, but no rotation. Yes the tick boxes are ticked under add ins by the way.
Can anyone help??
I have been using a spaceball 4000 within Solidworks x64 with no problem...until yesterday when the driver kept crashing whenever Solidworks started - it worked fine in E-Drawings.
I have un-installed the drivers, and re-installed them (v2.8.2 x64 version), now they work fine in E-Drawings, and the buttons work in Solidworks, but no rotation. Yes the tick boxes are ticked under add ins by the way.
Can anyone help??