DIY SpaceNavigator brings freedom

[Pepijn de Vos] wanted a 6DOF HID. You know, a 6 degree of freedom hardware interface device. These are the sophisticated controllers for navigating 3D space, for uses such as Computer Aided Design or Kerbal Space Program. And while we can't speak to [Pepijn]'s reliance on KSP, we do know that commercially available controllers are prohibitively expensive. It takes serious CAD work to justify the expense. [Pepijn] falls somewhere in between, and while he can't justify the expense, he has the chops to design and 3D print his own.

Wonderfully he shared the design files for SpaceFox, linked above. These are 6 spring-loaded potentiometers, supporting a floating printed Big Knob. The pots power an Arduino Pro Micro, which calculates the position of the button on the fly and powers the connected computer. On the computing side, the project uses the spacenavd driver to interface with various applications.

SpaceFox V1 is basically a proof of concept, just asking someone to come in and knock out the rough edges. [Pepijn] even includes a wish list of improvements, but with the caveat that he's happy with his working model. If this project really gets your 6DOF juices flowing, maybe try making an improved version and share the improvements. And let us know!