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3D Mouse.

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John Stevenson:
Decided I need to be dragged screaming into the 20 century so going to have a look at Fusion 360 as a 3D CAD program.

Asking one question only, so please note and read.

Any advise on a decent mouse to use ? USB preferably as the keyboard is wireless.

Currently using a Logitech track ball which is nice as I'm used to it but it doesn't scroll or rotate.

Answers from Fusion 360 users will obviously be of more use to me.

Thanks.

Imagineering:
I have been using this one for around five Years now ...

http://www.3dconnexion.eu/products/spacemouse/spacenavigator.html

My learning curve was a bit slow until someone suggested to me to ignore the 3D Mouse and just imagine that I have my Hand grasping the on-screen Object. I am not a Fusion 360 user, but have been using it with Autodesk Inventor 2011 & 2016. I have had minor use of it with Revit as well.
It performs so well, and has become such an extension of my left Hand, to the extent that I find I instinctively grab for it when using Programs that should, (but don't), utilise it.

David Jupp:
Re the Logitech trackball - the models do vary, one I used had a button to select 'scroll' (then use ball to scroll).  I don't recall now if that was a default function, or if I programmed it using the Logitech control panel.

In CAD, Pan & Rotate/Orbit are usually selectable from menu/toolbar - so if you have spare buttons available it should be possible to configure these to allow you to quickly change function without taking hand off the trackball.

Any reasonable quality mouse with scroll wheel will get you going - typically using combinations of the 3 buttons you can momentarily change 'mode' of the mouse to either pan or rotate.

3Dconnexion (now Logitech I think) devices are a useful extra for CAD, they don't take the place of a mouse.  I have one, but most of the time I just use the ordinary mouse unless manipulating the CAD model is very awkward.

Doc:
This is the one I use at work.http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacemouse/spacepilot-pro.html

This is the one I use at home hen they upgraded they sold the old one in what they call a 5S sale. I bid and ended up with 4 of them.
http://spacemice.org/index.php?title=Spaceball_5000

I love iy with lots of different software.

 I also have a what is called a 3d puck which works good and is a good 3d mouse for laptops.
They are a lot cheaper but work just fine.
http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacemouse/spacenavigator.html

John Stevenson:
OK got loads of input and many say the Space Navigator is the bees knees but need clarification on a couple of items.

Watched John Saunders over at NYCNC and he reckons that a 3D mouse is better also in the blurb for the navigator and from what a couple of people have written [ this post is on 4 forums ]  the following:-

" Simply push, pull, twist or tilt the 3Dconnexion controller cap to intuitively pan, zoom and rotate, while your other hand simultaneously uses your existing mouse to select, create or edit. "

So you still need a normal mouse to select drop down menu's etc ??

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