3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro

10/10

Outrageously cheap for the convenience it gives you

Well thought out design
Solid
Makes CAD drawing much faster
Maybe the price, but that’s subjective

While learning to work with CAD programs, I came across 3DConnexion’s products. At first it seemed like a nice gadget, but I found orbiting with the mouse so clumsy that I bought the SpaceMouse. It takes some getting used to (and adjusting to your own preferences, take half an hour after a few weeks) but after that you don’t want anything else. For example, when selecting opposite faces (180 degrees pan) or a number of small parts spread over a larger model (a lot of pans and zooming in-out), it is much faster with a SpaceMouse.

I now have a SpaceMouse and CADMouse both at work and at home and I absolutely do not want to be without them. If you’re drawing more than a few hours a week, it’s worth considering the SpaceMouse and CADMouse.

What makes me especially happy is that the products are well thought out. For example, that there are no batteries in it, but that charging is done once every few months with a USB cable. Or the buttons on the CADMouse: all in a good place, freely programmable and especially the Radial Menus are brilliant. By pressing a button (your choice) a circular menu appears with which you can choose up to 8 commands by moving the mouse from the center of the circle in the right direction. As a result, you can do 90% without moving your hands to the keyboard all the time.

Once you get used to it, the SpaceMouse and CADMouse allow you to perform what you imagine at almost the same pace. Even if the products cost double, it’s still worth buying!