3D Space Mouse support is finally HERE!
Explains how to use a 3D space mouse with the newest version of GrabCAD Print and why you should. (Valid for GrabCAD 1.55 and higher.)
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Step 1: Why use a 3D mouse?
No one likes Carpal Tunnel.
The pain in the wrist, the long recovery, the restrictions on your activity that may impact your job- let's try to avoid all of that!
No one knows this better than CAD experts, who have to go through five motions just to rotate a part sometimes.
The problem is, in most CAD systems like SOLIDWORKS, you have to do ALL your zooming and rotating and panning with the same hand that you also have to do all your tool selection and scrolling and box checking with- typically your right hand.
While your left hand just sits there.
As a heavy SOLIDWORKS user for the past 14 years, I was SO happy when SOLIDWORKS announced support for the 3DConnexion brand of space mice, and with this newest release of GrabCAD Print, version 1.55, I can use my space mouse there too!
Let's see how!
(And if you need any more convincing on why a left-hand space mouse is important, here is one SOLIDWORKS and 3DConnexion marketing paper on how to set up your CAD workstation, and here is another.
This post is in no way sponsored by 3DConnexion, that's just the brand of space mouse I use and love, I had to buy mine full price just like everyone else. But this is one of our most requested GrabCAD Print enhancements, so I wanted to tell everyone the good news!)
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Step 2: How to set up your 3D space mouse
First step is buying one. No matter what 3DConnexion's website says, there are basically two versions of a space mouse:
Of course prices go up and down based on the site you're buying from, and there are other bells and whistles, but that's the main breakdown.
At my old job I was mainly a desk jockey so back then I bought one of the $300 versions and loved it, now in 2021 I'm mainly working on the go visiting customers, so this time I bought the bump-less one for half the price and still love it.
(I bought mine from walmart.com, it came in 3-5 days with no hassle.)
After your unboxing, there is a driver you have to install from 3DConnexion before your computer can even recognize the new mouse, and it comes with a little start-up tutorial.
But on the GrabCAD Print side I was pleasantly surprised, there's actually nothing to do or set up to start using the mouse- I actually started using it by accident by bumping the mouse while preparing this tutorial:
Let's talk about the main point: the 3D mouse goes with your NON-dominant hand, and your normal mouse stays with your dominant hand, so they are on OPPOSITE sides of your computer:
I amazes me how many people try to use the 3D mouse with their right hand. I mean, it definitely feels weird to do fine motor movements with my left hand- it's like trying to write left-handed all of a sudden, but that's the WHOLE POINT- to out-source a lot of scene rotation, zooming, panning, to your off hand, so that your right hand has half as much work to do, and doesn't get carpal tunnel.
This DEFINITELY takes a little getting used to, my first time it took me about 1-2 days of steady use before it didn't feel weird rotating the screen with my left hand. (It's like getting used to playing the piano two-handed.)
So don't give up!
It will help if you play the getting-started games 3DConnexion has included with their driver:
And if your left hand feels too skittish, turn DOWN the sensitivity. If it feels mired in mud, turn UP the sensitivity:
You're not moving the cap around on your table, you should be able to turn your tray with no more effort than turning an empty coffee cup sitting on your table (and with the same motion!):
So after you've gotten the small movements down, let's talk about HOW to use the space mouse to make your CAD and GrabCAD Print more efficient!
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Step 3: How to make your CAD and GrabCAD Print more efficient
The main lesson is this: every time you want to move the CAMERA, learn to use your left hand. When you want to move the MOUSE, use your right. That's it!
And if you do it right, it should look like THIS:
If you're used to doing everything in GrabCAD Print with just ONE hand, that's a thing of beauty!
So, existing space mouse users, try out GrabCAD Print version 1.55, released in June 2021, and let us know how it goes!
And NEW engineers who have never tried a space mouse before- if you want to do your CAD with 25% fewer clicks and scrolls and with less stress on your mouse hand, give it a try, and you'll never go back!
