3DConnexion 3DX-700059 Spacemouse Compact 3D Mouse

I purchased this at the recommendation of a book author while learning CAD, and now I cannot imagine CAD design without it. Whenever I don't have my SpaceMouse with me, I feel like I'm designing without the use of one of my hands. The design is near perfect, and the functionality learning curve is steep but quick: the movement feels natural in quick order. There is a heft to it, with the weight keeping it firmly planted on the desk - this also adds to the already high quality feel of the construction of the device. The default sensitivity will be quickly outgrown by many, but it's fully adjustable. This is truly one of my favorite tools for CAD and 3D printing. I have also been pleasantly surprised by the software; it's super configurable and allows a lot of flexibility, allowing different settings on an app by app basis. One can even configure this tool for non-traditional apps like browsers and such!

I can't really think of anything negative about this - it doesn't have a ton of features, but it really isn't meant to. It's largely metal and very heavy (a good thing), but it's NOT a joystick - treating it like one will make your model fly away. You move it like you are holding the item (gently). It's simple, but very useful for what it is supposed to do.

I've spent the last 35 years using CAD systems for work and I've always considered space mouse/space balls as a must have. It allows you to utilize both your hands for model manipulation instead of just one hand using a standard mouse. It reduces having to memorize mouse button pushes for model panning, spinning and zooming for different CAD software. I was constantly switching between Catia and NX which did not utilize the same button operations on the mouse. Some of the NX mouse operations are awkward and would give me wrist tendon pain but I can avoid that by using a space mouse. I've been using this compact version since it's release. It's solidly built with less plastic than previous versions and doesn't take up much desk space. I'm now retired but wanted my own space mouse at home to use with Solidworks Maker when designing parts to print on a 3d printer. It works great with SW and I've also used it with FreeCad. An added bonus is that it also works with Cura which can be finicky when rotating the parts. I will note that every space mouse I've ever seen eventually develops a stick layer on the rubber portions of the mouse. I'm guessing it's a side effect of oils from people's hand. They usually get sticking when they haven't been used for months.

Just got the the entry level SpaceMouse from 3DConnexxion, and I'm actually quite impressed with it. It is not a substitute for a regular mouse, but is actually an augmentation to same. It lets you pan and/or tilt on all three axes simultaneously. The driver software comes with a short (2-3 minute) tutorial that is surprisingly effective. I am told the SpaceMouse does not work with all software, but I can tell you that with Solidworks and RoomArranger (the reasons I bought the SpaceMouse), it works beautifully. I honestly do not miss all the buttons that are not present on the entry level SpaceMouse; I use the keyboard and mouse on those anyway. The only niggle I can find is that it is very sensitive, so, until you have really mastered it, use small increments and subtle changes. It is very easy to completely overshoot your target. That said, this SpaceMouse is a terrific value if you do a lot of 3D work.

-"What should I expect to get out of this product?": Your mileage on this product will vary massively depending on the software you use, and its usefulness decreases exponentially as you attempt to use it for more esoteric and obscure programs. I use 3ds Max, Fusion 360, Unity, and Cura on a daily basis. The experience with Max is smooth and precise, Fusion 360 is a bit more jittery but still preferable to using a mouse, and the other two lack out-of-the-box configurations. Basically, the further you stray from the "industry standard 3D modeling software" for which the device is intended, the less likely it is to function satisfactorily. This is not a Razer Tartarus; it has a very specific function which its designers assume you already understand, and its configuration software is resistant to anything but surface-level tinkering. -"This seems expensive, is it worth the buy? Should I try out this cheaper model before upgrading to a more expensive version with more features?": This is quite expensive for what it is, and you should only consider buying it if you expect to be using it almost every day (or if you can get it from your employer as a work expense). If at this point you are confident it will improve your workflow, get the more expensive model with more buttons on it. The buttons on this one are functional, however anyone with a decent 3D modeling workflow will quickly realize that the keyboard hotkeys they're comfortable with already are still much more convenient than radial menus. I bought this version to test if the concept holds water, and now I find myself wishing I invested in the "pro" version. -"I am a maker. This seems like the sort of thing I could build for a fraction of the cost.": Banish this thought from your mind. What is on offer here is a fairly complex system built into a compact, comfortable, sturdy package, along with reasonably functional software. Your time is valuable, spend it making things that don't already have millions of dollars of R&D going into them.

This 6DoF device has been a lifesaver for my work in Blender! It took a little getting used to, but very quickly it became second nature -- now I could not work in Blender without it. I find myself reaching for it even in other applications that don't support it, and suddenly I feel lost. It's so much better than just relying on RMB to pan, orbit, etc. in Blender. I bought the SpaceMouse because my right hand was starting to get tendinitis from having to hold the scroll wheel (I don't have a dedicated third mouse button) to pan, etc. I was hesitant to buy the SpaceMouse without ever having tried it, as I'm extremely picky when it comes to the feel of the peripherals I work with. It was a gamble, considering I could not try it out before purchasing, but it paid off! I absolutely LOVE this device, as it distributes the workload between my two hands so neither gets tired during my 8-10-hr+ days of Blender work. The wired aspect was also a point of hesitancy, as my desk is already crowded and I'm not fond of cables everywhere. I prefer a neat aesthetic, as clutter becomes distracting. While it would be nice to have the wireless version, the cord is not that obnoxious and it was definitely a good way to test the device to see if I liked it before spending more. I may get the wireless one in the future, though I may go for the fancier SpaceMouse Pro. At any rate, I will never do work in Blender or any similar 3D program without my SpaceMouse! It's practically become part of my left hand.

This thing is great! I've been working with Fusion 360 for a few months, and never really felt comfortable moving the viewport with the mouse. Recently a Fusion book I was reading (I forget which one) suggested the 3d Connexion Spacemouse. It seemed like a gimmick, but I read a lot of positive reviews, and took a chance on it. And I love it. It's intuitive to move the viewport around. I went through the 10 minute training they supply, and went right into using it. The only suggestion I have is to turn the speed all the way down. I found that it was kind of twitchy and sensitive at the default, but with the speed turned down I'm able to control it easily. And I suspect that if I turn it back up in a month or so I will have enough experience to control it fine.

Perfect for 3d cad work, works great with FREECAD, I use one at work for CMM programming and decided to get one for at home.