Fusion Friday - 3D Connexion Mouse

[@O-RoD]

I got one of the Bluetooth models and it's been absolutely amazing! I can't model without it and once you've used one you won't want to work any other way. I also reversed the zoom in/out function. 👍

[@jadoglio]

If you have a three button mouse, ALWAYS use the wheel to zoom in and out. It is a ton easier with no alternate motions filtering in. Best part is if you place your mouse cursor on the spot you really want to see it zooms in to exactly that spot. I love my Wireless Spacemouse. Thanks for all your videos over the years I have watched hundreds of hours and learned most of what I know from them.

[@HariWiguna]

Thanks for the tip. I took my 3D mouse out of the drawer and your tip definitely help. With the analogy of holding the model in with fingers, I found that I want to rotate the knob like a volume control to rotate the model around the vertical axis, but that action rotates the model on axis perpendicular to the screen. I was unable to change that in settings. I guess I'll just have to train myself. EDIT: I've just discovered that by choosing Constrained Orbit, both movements (turning a knob/puck on axis perpendicular to table and rotating the puck on axis perpendicular to myself) rotates the model on the vertical axis. Now I just have to use the 3D mouse consistently that it becomes second nature.

[@johncarey9149]

I loved mine out of the box, to the point that I can't use Fusion without it. Just trying to spread the word ... 🙂

[@bradtallis8968]

Ya, it really changes the way you use Fusion. Thanks for watching!

[@DWIT3D]

OMG!! What a great tip. Been using one at home studio and one at work for over a year and although I’ve gotten used to it, I think your settings will improve my life!! 😀😀😀

[@bradtallis8968]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Eric1960]

Brad I agree with your comments. The small 3d mouse was way too slippery for me, so I bought the large one. The only problem I have is losing connection. Almost every hour I need to disconnect/connect the USB plug. The biggest problem is the arrogant behavior of the supplier. Total no response on questions, slow update of drivers. Just one extra remark, the mouse work also in Bamboo/ Orca/Prusa/…. Slicer. I can’t work anymore without the 3D mouse.

[@_lumpy8859]

I have the same experience. I have to unplug and reinsert dongle. Is it a MAC thing?

[@gerritvisser]

@@_lumpy8859 maybe, no issues on Windows 11.

[@3dmakerzone75]

I have never been good at pan / rotate in fusion and thought many times about getting one of these. Now I think I will try it out..

[@bradtallis8968]

I definitely think they are worth the investment.

[@iagmr]

I've been using a wireless space mouse for a year. At first, I thought it was too expensive, but not anymore. I just have to remember to charge it every once in a while. Workflow is so much easier now. Wish I would have splurge for the Pro though, so I'd have more hot keys within reach without moving my left hand

[@Thomllama]

I started using a Kensington turbo mouse yrs ago, does all that with out the price tag, or extra mouse thingy on desk taking up space, and way easier to use day to day on normal computer stuff as well.

[@bradtallis8968]

I'll have to take a look at one of those...

[@RegularRetail]

The Mac settings to alter how the Spacemouse actions translate into Fusion 360 operations is discussed in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoe1q2ekmq-EY7Msi=Zfc4OrG7m6R7Fu55

[@steveragan692]

Outstanding this changes everything thanks 1 million

[@EnergySeeker]

that helped a lot thanks a lot

[@bradtallis8968]

Glad it helped!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

I have 2 of those, home and office. They're nice after you tweak the acceleration. I do wish they were a bit heavier, when zooming I'm continually lifting the whole mouse off the desk.

[@bradtallis8968]

I've seen people print a "bed" for theirs to sit on that they fill with sand or epoxy and they stick their 3D Connexion to that.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@bradtallis8968 I'll have to try that, thanks Brad.

[@johnmorrison7984]

I find folks who do that need to increase the sensitivity, ie make it so that it's less movement on your part. What I think happens is people want it to "go faster" than it is so they unconciously lift/move the mouse more. Increasing the sensitivity means it more quickly gets to the pace they want. But don't go mad! Do it little by little. Its far too easy to crank the settings up to the point that it's basically impossible to control!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@johnmorrison7984 makes sense, thanks

[@nachtdiertje1972]

I recently bought a pro-version. After tweeking the setting like you did, it worked very nice. With the default settings, it feels like crap. Now I have to remember I have a spacemouse because I'm used to my standard mouse and forget my space mouse. #Changing-the-habbit

[@kimsmet-woodworksbangalore7343]

I've kept mine with standard settings. Can't do without it anymore

[@jasonhagen]

Thanks Brad for this video! I just got the new Bluetooth version and was struggling with the zoom. After watching this video, now it’s a lot more fluid and natural. I hope you will continue to make this fantastic videos! What is that keyboard mat you have under the 3DConnexion Mouse?

[@bradtallis8968]

I'm glad to hear that the video helped. The keyboard mat is something I got while at Autodesk from the Marketing Department. It has all the Fusion shortcuts, etc on it.

[@jasonhagen]

@@bradtallis8968 Oh that would be awesome to have! I wonder if they sell that?

[@R4YTUBE]

I have one too, I wouldn't be able to use fusion 360 without it. Once you try it it is hard to get rid of it. ;-)

[@bradtallis8968]

I agree!

[@jirvin4505]

Would like to know how you set up the buttons to limit removing hand from the space mouse to do actions

[@bradtallis8968]

Honestly, I don't use the SpaceMouse buttons that much. I have them programmed for OK and Cancel. But, I still find myself moving the regular mouse to the ok button in the Fusion dialog.

[@IceCreams62]

A very nice and useful tool...an "I want it" for me .... but unfortunately it is so much expensive 😢😢 Thanks and HANWE Brad

[@jaimedorman2246]

You didn't comment on your settings for the switches.

[@bradtallis8968]

Ya, I didn't as I'm trying to keep the videos shorter. I actually cut about half of the last video as it ended up being over 12 minutes long.

[@ansiaaa]

I have it and out of the box I couldn't use it properly, I thought I wasted my money. after a couple of days I tried again and something clicked and I just started using it correctly. it's like when you learn to ride a bike. I didn't change any of the default settings, my advice is that you need to be way more gentle than you think. it's very sensitive. don't give up tho, it will just click for you as well

[@MatthewBallinger]

I reversed all the settings so that instead of manipulating the object, you're manipulating the camera viewing the object. Much like a drone. It only took a few minutes to get used to that.

[@bradtallis8968]

Interesting... I'll have to give that a try just to see what it's like.

[@AlanAJRoberts]

I bought one about 5 years ago. Fantastic piece of kit but the rubber has gone sticky It's a common fault. I contacted the 3DX they knew all about it. They offered me a new one at 10% discount but couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.

[@bradtallis8968]

Ya, I've heard that some have had that issue. I've been lucky. Only issue I've had with mine is that TSA doesn't like the big chunk of metal going through security when I travel with it.

[@David_Best]

Unfortunate that you did not illustrate the setting on a Mac - which are different. I disagree with your recomendation. For me, the standard settings are superior - push/pull for zoom works great.

[@bradtallis8968]

Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac, so I don't have a way to show the settings on a Mac. Some people get used to the push/pull setting, but after working with hundreds and hundreds of customers who use the 3D Connexion, a majority of them prefer the lift/push setting I showed.

[@David_Best]

@@bradtallis8968 it’s interesting that so many people who are in the 3D design space have issues coordinating up/down versus in/out. For me it’s much more intuitive to pull/push the entire puck (as opposed to tilting it) as the means of bringing the model closer to you or pushing it further away. I’ll have to try your suggestion to see how one would move the model up and down if those puck movements were assigned to zoom. If you want some screenshots of the Mac interface, let me know.

[@David_Best]

Just tried your suggestion and I DO NOT find it intuitive at all. And, you give up the ability to move the model up/down with the puck if you make these changes. In my experience, if you simply tell people not to treat the puck as a pointing device, and instead treat it as a handle attached to the model, they quickly get the hang of it and after 4 hours, it becomes second nature. Checking the settings on the Mac, the same assignment capability is provided for all the puck movement assignments and speed, but the UI is different. The Mac settings to alter how the Spacemouse actions translate into Fusion 360 operations is discussed in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoe1q2ekmq-EY7Msi=Zfc4OrG7m6R7Fu55

[@ohbeatbox]

@David_Best -- how do you change this setting on a Mac? I wasn't able to find it -- I probably won't change it as I'm used to the defaults, but curious. I didn't see the option that Brad had.

[@David_Best]

@@ohbeatbox kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoe1q2ekmq-EY7M