[Jacek Fedorynski] had an outdated Magellan/SpaceMouse 3D mouse with a serial interface which made it unattainable for him to make use of with fashionable {hardware} and software program. The issue he confronted was two pronged – the absence of serial interfaces within the {hardware} and the shortage of applicable drivers for the working system. So he constructed a low price, easy adapter to make use of his RS-232 Magellan/SpaceMouse with fashionable software program.

The {hardware} required to construct the adapter was minimal. A Raspberry Pi Pico, a MAX3238 primarily based RS-232 adapter, a null modem adapter and a DB9 gender changer. After all, a mix null modem – gender changer would have made issues even easier. 4 of the GPIO pins from the Pico are mapped to the serial RX, TX, RTS and CTS pins.

On the software program aspect, the code emulates a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse Compact, so it may be used with software program like Fusion 360, 3ds Max, SolidWorks, Inventor, Maya and lots of others. On the host pc, solely the usual 3DxWare driver package deal is required. On the host pc, the outdated Magellan/SpaceMouse 3D will seem like a contemporary SpaceMouse Compact linked over USB. The one draw back to that is that the SpaceMouse Compact has simply two programmable buttons, so solely two of the various buttons on the outdated Magellan mouse might be mapped.

Flashing the code to the Pico can also be simple utilizing the BOOTSEL mode. Maintain down the BOOTSEL button when plugging within the Pico and it seems as a drive onto which you’ll be able to drag a brand new UF2 file. Simply drag-n-drop [Jacek]’s magellan.uf2 firmware and also you’re executed.

For those who’d moderately construct your individual, fashionable 3D mouse, take a look at the DIY Cad Mouse You Can Really Construct.