3D Space Mouse: Overrated Accessory!
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- Опубликовано: 4 ноя 2024
- Why spend hundreds for a 3dconnexion SpaceMouse when your regular mouse does the same thing faster?!?!
What am I missing, folks? 5 Reasons to Use a Fixture Plate on Your CNC Machine: bit.ly/3sNA4uH
the fact that your window isn't full-screen is driving me INSANE.
calm down
@@MrAM4D3U5 No, these things are serious matters!! ;-)
I feel you😂
I used to be like that. Even wanted the top window frame to begone so I "have more workspace". but once you let go of such nonsense and focus on the work instead you don't even see it anymore or in this case things like that don't matter. Most work is actually done in a small part of the screen anyway, about the size of a smartphone or less.
He's part tme
I started using one of these when I was working in CAD 8 hours a day. Once you get good at using them, they do save some time, but the bigger reason to get one is to reduce repetitive strain injuries. This basically can cut in half the number of clicks that your right had has to perform while modeling.
IDEM
I don't have one but I understand the 3d mouse uses. Especially for 3d sculpting because you can navigate effectively and quickly. Especially when you are using a pen tablet to pressure sculpt. It also gives you a more smooth natural control, from what I have seen, and makes motion more fun and zen. I hate pressing keys repeatedly to toggle between pan, orbit and rotate. It becomes strenuous.
If you are a machinist and computers are a thing that facilitates that function, a 3D mouse isn't your tool. If you are an engineer or designer who uses a CNC machine, an entirely different matter altogether! I for one cannot live without my 3D mouse. Watching the John doing all that clicking and moving and modifier keys and saying "see I can do everything with this mouse" made my ulnar nerve twitch! He wouldn't think that after doing that motion for 8 hours a day for 39 years.
You can use a 3d mouse and 2d mouse at same time… alone ur 2d mouse can do everything yes, but at a way slower pace. These tools are generally used in manufacturing. Time matters any time saved matters
I don't think you're using software that fully appreciates the use of a 3d mouse, I don't use mine to move objects, I use mine to move the *camera* around, to this end when doing modeling,. 3d texturing, and animation it has become invaluable, i'm able to move around objects in a way that would be completely tedious with a mouse. I can see how you probably don't like it that much since you're just using it to just rotate and pan objects.. try making a complicated landscape and flying around and in the scene with a mouse, it's unpleasant, but is a breeze with 3dnav
What 3D program are you using this with (I'm on Blender)? Are there any other potential uses for this, in non-3D programs perhaps? I'm on the fence buying the 3dconnection Spacemouse Enterprise thingy, looking for as much advice as I possibly can before shelling out the money. Also curious, if their (3Dconnexion's) own 3-button mouse is any good.
@@mixchief 3dsmax, and blender. it also works in Kerbal space program, I just use the Puck version with 2 buttons
@@mixchief the Cadmouse has a smooth action scroll wheel and it also has a dedicated middle button, so you don't move the wheel while clicking it, which happens even on a clicky wheel on a gaming mouse. You can control that by wrapping your finger around the wheel but then you are sliding the mouse while you click...so that's the good (maybe I'm overthinking it - if preventing accidental movement is crucial, one could as well use a trackball). The bad...only the 2 side buttons programmable? A cheap vertical mouse or a dual scroll wheel one might be just as interesting to try.
@@mixchief Allplan Architecture + Twinmotion
who needs a graphic interface. i do all my CAD on the console.
PoV Ray
@@carlblaskowitz7817 hi Frank, which kind of program you use?
@@awmin2145 Cinema 4d, POV ray is for the autistic lol
@@awmin2145 Or you could be like John Carmack and write a an entire 3d engine in a bar, on paper with a pencil.... a foookin pencil?! Who the foook can do that?!
@@carlblaskowitz7817 hhhhhhhhhh
Because you can work in parallel. Both mice working at the same time. Yes, it takes time to master but once you do, you won't want to work any other way.
+Jonathan Bluemel Solid point!
For me the 3D mouse is a gods gift but only when i use it with a Wacom Tablet and without the original mouse. You have very good point.
Don't you need to type values and expressions like all the time?
Just like I would prefer the numpad on the left side for excel. With frequent cell hopping and c&p using numpad + mouse is much faster than using the numbers above the letter keys.
Sure, but that don't make the price weller
wao, this made me remember 80's people saying they won't use computers typewriters are better
Or the early '00s... I'll never have a cell phone! You can call my home phone!
This is the best thing that happened to Cad, 3D and parametric world since the invention of all that. Probably you don't find it useful due to the simplicity of your models/ assemblies. I personally can't go back to the old days when this didn't exist.
Bro I don't know how I can tell you really RIGHT!! Can't go without my 3Dconnexion Enterprise...
Subtle burn...
Couldn't live without mine. Probably adds ~15% efficiency to my CAD workflow, especially on complex models.
I am broke. Please buy me one or... Donate.
Just to throw in my two cents, been using a six axis 3D mouse since my original Spaceball on my SGI back in the '90s. I just can't work without one at this point. I've used it in Maya, Modo, Solidworks, Inventor and Fusion 360, and find it a huge time saver. That said, everyone works differently, and there is no "right" way to do it.
For me, the secret is a 3D mouse combined with a Wacom tablet. Where it really saves me time, and makes everything much faster, is when I am making selections on different faces of a model all around a model. For example lets say I have some extruded text, and I want to add a draft to the inside faces of the letters, but not the outside faces. The ability to be rotating the model and selecting faces at the same time, without having to select, then toggle to rotate, then select, then toggle to rotate, and so on, over the course of a long modeling session is so much faster. I also find the more freeform and sculptural your work, the more useful a 3D mouse seems to be, since there is much more need to constantly look at it from different angles, and sometimes select faces, points, edges and manipulators from different angles.
When working with a tablet in absolute mapping, and a 3D mouse, I find that a great number of operations quickly become muscle memory, so you don't even have to think about where the menus are, you just kind of flick and do it. However, you are quite correct, you can do this with keyboard hotkeys too. I have just never been a big fan of hotkeys myself. For me, between mapping the buttons on the 3D mouse, and the buttons on the tablet, I hardly ever even have to touch my keyboard while working on a part.
However, if you are a big keyboard guy, what you should probably check out instead of a 3D mouse, is something like the Razer Orbweaver, that gives you a very handy remappable keypad.
I've been searching around for someone commenting on this setup for a while now, and was lucky to read the comments on this. Can you share more insights on this setup? Maybe do a video about it, or contact me? I'm very dissatisfied with the regular way of KB+M after almost 20y doing architecture modeling, and this sounds like a dream setup.
@@leocana I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
3d mouse with tablet and a stream deck for shortcuts ;) Best combo ever :D
I find them really useful when doing assemblies when you have to select opposite faces where you can only see one from a single view. Without one you have to click in and out of the constrain menu.
You can drive nails with a rock. Who needs a hammer?
Spot on!
A L E C - L J a
It's like, why the fuck use Stylus when mouse can do the same... some people Zbrush with mouse...
Wrong analogy.
You can drive a 12d nail with a cheapo 16 oz claw hammer. You don't need an atomic-powered, liquid-cooled, gyro-stabilized, space-rated 1200 nps nail gun with gamma ray shielding.
yo man... righty right....
The way the 3d mouse translates your movements into movement in your editor is unrivaled. It feels like you are holding the object you are designing in your hand. It improved my 3d cad workflow immensely.
yep. almost like im in side the program.
Just wait till everything is done in ar/vr haha was trying gravity sketch vr recently and was blown away and it's still quite basic I'm sure the industry will move that way personally
VR CAD will be the most amazing thing.
For 3D modelling in Solid Edge, I find my Space Navigator totally indispensable. Also, CAM work in Fusion is a lot faster for me personally with the space navigator than without
While i agree that it is insanely overpriced, i work as a Design Engineer full time, and the 3D mouse is very valuable to my workflow. When i mess around at home, i don't have it, and it makes it so difficult to work. I really wish there was a cheap off-brand 3D mouse!
I have used the same basic 3d Space mice for 8+ years and it has survived four computers, countless mice, keybords, phones, headsets, all which has about the same price-range. I would say it is one of the most well invested money I have done on that front.
it's a tool like Wacom, which makes your workflow more easy and less frustrating... you are palying in Comfort,for me it's a must thing.
How are you a full time design engineer and but can't afford multiple 3D mouses?!?! Spend your money more wisely my man!
no kidding, even i have a space mouse pro and i am not an engineer. though i did get it 1/2 price.
@@waynehedd No one said anything about not being able to afford it. I love my spacenavigator at work and sorely miss it at home, but there's no way I'm paying $300+ for one when I only use CAD a few times a year.
Its like being able to fly around an uneven shaped asteroid and perform operations at the same time. To call it a mouse is disengenuous... Space Navigator a better name. You still need a good mouse
Plenty of comments here! : ) I found that it is faster.
1. You can select faces while rotating the model.
2. It's more natural. One hand rotates, the other can manipulate the model. Selecting, pulling on control handles...
3. Customizable buttons save hand motions. Especially on multi button selections. like crt Z, crt v, crt s
4. Makes for better presentations. Keeps audience from getting sick : ) I get sick easy.
5. Its dope - the dope factor is quantifiable
Remember, you are comparing this new process to something you've been doing for years.
It's $100. There are 260 work-days a year. It would have to save you .385 Minutes a day to pay for itself at $60 an hour.
3D mice are great for interior scenes in 3DS Max where the srcoll wheel often zooms out awkwardly sending you through walls and losing what you were working on.
I think that you are 1) not really comfortable with using it, 2) not using a program that uses it to its potential, and 3) that it's not that useful with your models because they are quite simple.
I love how this video pissed off so many people here lol.
When you create Machinima, this 3D mouse is very valuable, you can move your camera 360 degree in 3D Space.
in fact, I was hopong the video to emd just to came here and hear all the rants haha. Not disappointed
Hi John, I think you're right! The only thing I've ever thought of was you can orbit the part while moving the cursor at the same time. So it can speed up some tasks where you need to select a tool or something, but it's still not faster than using keybinds!!!
Learning to use and setup keybinds efficiently is by far the greatest productivity enhancement available! A higher grade mouse with programable buttons on the thumb side also helps massively. I have Ctrl, Shift, Windows, Enter, and Escape keys bound to my mouse. That alone is a huge time saver!!!
If your designing all day long its nice to rest your main hand and pan with the other and observe the aesthetics of what your drawing. $300 or carpel tunnel, you decide! ;)
carpel tunnel sounds worse than carpal tunnel *wink
Yes, yes, yes.
They do take a while to get used to, but once you do they are better overall in my opinion. The biggest benefit that I see is for the programmable buttons. You program them for common operations you do a lot and it does save a surprising amount of time. An example would be circle, or line or rectangle. The one I used to use also had axis lock so you could rotate only x, y, or z. You could also turn pan, zoom or rotate off if you are trying to get a view that has to be just right or you can't see a feature down in a hole or something. Just my $.02 YMMV.
It's not just about navigation. Have you spent time learning to use the buttons around it? And I'm staggered that you are comparing orbiting with the middle mouse button to using the 6DOF puck. It's far smoother and more precise than use the orbit tool which gets triggered when using the middle mouse button. For instance, its impossible to zoom, pan & orbit simultaneously without a 3D mouse. There are times when you are using select other on screen, when a quick flick of the 3D mouse would get you to where you need to be, to make the selection, without disturbing you selection workflow.
All in all, you are entitled to your opinion of course, however, you are overlooking some core benefits and features of the device. The title of the video is REALLY harsh though and the description below it simply isn't true. You definitely don't have the 3Dconnexion driver with your budget mouse and navigating with a standard mouse is far more clunky and sequential than it is with a 3D mouse.
NYC CNC Then you need to clear up your product naming. SpaceMouse Pro (Wireless) product & SpaceMouse Wireless are two different products and price points. The former is the professional product and the latter is the consumer product.
About your point B, Large assembly, or complex part, it doesn't really matter. It can be as simple as panning, rotating and zooming simultaneously to get better access to an edge or joint origin for selection.
Regarding point A. I once had this discussion with the director of f360, he said the same thing as you about speed after using a 3Dconnexion device for years. He's back to using one now after realising he was missing a few parts of the puzzle.
You're still missing out the benefits of the context sensitivity delivered by the driver & faster selections. You're title & description doesn't discriminate between Pro & Hobbyist, it just slams all 3D SpaceMouse products in all situations.
I use a SpaceMouse Pro Wireless when in the office and a SpaceMouse Wireless when on the move. I miss the keyboard modifiers on the Pro, but there is a lot to be said for simplicity and the two programmable buttons on the SpaceMouse Wireless are spot on and make for ridiculously fast modelling when they are configured for your most commonly used commands in each workspace.... I'm also aware I owe you a video to back up my words.
If you stick with it, and learn a bit more about the products' point (dig into the driver and context sensitive use cases), then you will probably change your mind, just like you did with Fusion 360 between March & June last year.
NYC CNC Sounds good. I don't have any spare time for the next couple of weeks, but after that I'm keen. We will have to choose a method & dataset.
Did you guys ever got to the point of trying this out? I guess it still comes down to preferences. I really like mine but it did take me some time to get used to. For the cad users. you might want to look into the mouse gestures first as a way to improve workflow and efficiency as it does not cost additional money and really improves how fast you can use the program.
TheNorthkiters No... still haven't pulled it together. I'm overdue writing my review of the SpaceMouse Enterprise. So maybe we can do it as part of that.
I have had years of use in 3 of the big name CAD softwares and have used the budget $90 version for years on and off. In some CAD software I heavily utilize hotkeys/mapped keys and out of the box quick keys. This makes it difficult for me to utilize the 3D mouse. It's also a little bulky to travel with for work which I have done extensively. However, when it comes to marathon selection sessions in CAD they do prove useful and efficient. I would say the justification in buying/using one depends on the most common daily CAD tasks one does.
Just got a 3D mouse and once it finally clicked with my brain it was incredible. Really cool that I can focus on modeling and the camera becomes second nature. Definitely not for everyone, but at $100 for the base model it's at least worth a shot
I LOVE my space navigator! Horses for course I guess :) Personally it's the best efficiency gain for CAD that I've found - natural movement turned into object orientation on screen.
I saw your video at John G's shop and immediately got the sense that you didn't like 3D mice...never mind, you're a keyboard wizard and that's fine too :)
Took half a day or so to get used to. Then after two weeks I upped the sensitivity enormously and it is so quick now. Apparently they are also very good for Kerbal Space Program and helicopter sims but I wouldn't know :)
You seem to be confusing "Speed" with "Efficiency"...
The point of a 3D Mouse is not necessarily to "Speed things up".
There's more than just that one metric behind efficiency.
Speed (Comes with experience, but that's with anything)
Smoothness
Efficiency
Reducing strain on right hand.
If it's not useful to you, cool!
But just because you don't see worth, doesn't mean it's worthless. 🤷♂
I got the basic one back in 2009 and found it very dynamic and fluid, compared to a normal mouse and keyboard. I could get to the work area, zoom in and manipulate objects easier with less effort, too. It felt much more efficient once I got the hang of it.
That was on solidworks on an older computer I built in 2008 too, so with today's processing power, you shouldn't be getting any jitters - something does not sound right there.
N
This is a bad take. It takes less than a day to get used to. It's so intuitive if you do design work. It essentially acts like holding the part on your screen in your hand.
I have several of the small "laptop" versions. I did win a larger version at a Solidworks user group meeting, but don't use the buttons. To me, the space mouse is intuitive and fast. If you are using more than one or two 3d modeling softwares, the space mouse works the same in all of them, so no different commands to remember. I don't use Solidworks any more, but have PT Creo at work and use Fusion at home and at work. Fusion has almost completely replaced Creo for me. One of my pet peeves is scroll wheel direction zooms different in separate programs. Drives me nuts! Bottom line, do what's right for you.
I use Fusion 360 as a hobbyist. The 3d mouse seemed sexy and "connected with the model" and I nearly got one to try and I thought... I'm actually quite fast with all navigation with my Apple Trackpad and keyboard. The Trackpad 2 on my iMac and the built-in on the rMBP. I find prefer the Trackpad (at least for Mac) over mouse because the pinch/expand and a more fixed hand position. Also, as you mentioned the keyboard modifier on Mac for rotate is Shift and my hand is always right by shift. I feel completely connected to my model already and it was very easy to learn. I use keyboard shortcuts, so switching to a 3d mouse would be a major step backwards. Kudos to you for speaking up for those who might be looking at them.
Thanks you
If you're working 40+ hours a week as a CAD monkey/designer, these are essential. When I started as a CAD designer, I didn't get one during my probation, and I noticed that every time I cut my fingernails, I would get discomfort by the end of the day caused by pressing and holding the mouse wheel. And as others have said, pressing a mousewheel button and moving your wrist is one way to guarantee repetitive strain injuries.
I use the spacepilot pro and I can't imagine doing any 3d work without it. Note that I'm using it for maya/3ds max and I'm not a pro but more of a beginner who still has a lot to learn. When I started learning 3D I hated the controls, the way you interact with the objects and the whole workflow, using the keyboard and mouse when modeling/animating feels so clunky and unintuitive.. later I found out there are specific devices for doing 3D and decided to give them a try. It made a huge difference for me, working with a 3d mouse does indeed feel like "trying to peel an apple using both hands instead of just one" in regards with the 3d object you're working on, as they advertise.
With all that said I can definitely see how someone who has a lot of experience with the software and who has mastered the workflow with mouse and keyboard would not like using a 3D mouse, I know other people who don't like these things too. It looks like it's a matter of personal preference rather than one way being better than the other way of doing things.
Try to do any of those actions together with a mouse and keyboard and you'll start seeing the reason I love a 3D mouse. I can rotate the part while zooming in and find lines/holes/features far easier than separate pan then zoom then rotate. I often use it during fillet and chamfer edge selection too. I can go back and forth between the top and bottom of my part while actively clicking edges as it rolls. Using just the mouse and keyboard you are already occupying these with input
+TehSiliconia with your space mouse you can only do one at a time? I'd try a new driver install, or go into the Space mouse program and set up a new profile. The whole point of the 3d mouse is multiaxis movement
+Proteum Machining I completely agree - it's the simultaneous actions that make 3D mice amazing to use. It's not necessarily just due to them being done simultaneously however; I find it's more about the lower-friction to doing the actions at all, as you can effortlessly rotate/zoom/pan to the most effortless view to do the task at hand, so you're no longer trying to do an action from a suboptimal angle just because it hasn't occurred to you that another angle may be better (let alone click-dragged a few times with various modified keys held down each time).
+TehSiliconia This may be the "Dominant" setting in the 3Dconnexion settings
+TehSiliconia Hi there, as per the comment from +Richard Sim it sounds like you have the "dominant" axis setting enabled. This restricts navigation to the axis which is being actuated the most. It can be useful when you are first learning or if you want to pan / zoom without accidentally rotating. It can be toggled in the 3Dconnexion properties panel.
+NYC CNC ahh, maybe that's it - I've set up the buttons on the SpaceMouse Pro (same one you have) to be custom radial menus with all my common keyboard shortcuts on (L, C, X, etc), completely removing the need to use the keyboard.
As an engineer, the 3D mouse is literally essential to my workspace. It's a lot like driving a manual car. Makes no sense at first but once it clicks the experience is amazing. I used to have pretty severe wrist pain from moving the models around with my standard mouse 8hr a day - the 3D mouse completely solved this problem making working a lot more pleasant and speeding up my workflow. (It also freed up my standard mouse for tool gestures) The ability to use the mouse to move parts or subassemblies around inside the Solidworks design space also saves me a lot of time when creating assemblies. There are a couple people I know who it just never clicked for, and that's fine. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you.
Listen guys, I've been a programmer for 7 years and the 3-D mouse is a must. He makes the point about how he can get the same results with the middle mouse wheel. By that I mean navigating space and manipulating your model. For simple stuff, I'll agree with him that a regular mouse is fine. Now get into the more complicated models where you have to draw and re-connect splines to get good tool paths. And I mean HUNDREDS of lines.
The 3-D mouse is used for serious programmers and CAD users; not for a beginner. Even a beginner can benefit from this. Don't listen to this guy. Try it for yourself. If it's not for you return it, no questions asked. Have a great day :)
I've always been interested in getting a 3D mouse, but could never justify spending the money for something that you can do with any regular mouse. However, a few months back I found a used one in great condition for a great price and I have loved it ever since. I didn't get the fancy version you have there, just the regular spacemouse, 2 buttons and the big knob. I wish it had a few extra programmable buttons (which would make yours a dream) but other than that it's just great.
The big difference is in how you move your viewport or object. If you pan or rotate you can do that just fine with a normal mouse (which is something I catch myself doing still). However, when you want to pan AND rotate, good luck doing that with a normal mouse.
+NYC CNC Pan, rotate, zoom, pretty often. Even intentionally. But seriously, I like the thing that I'm looking at dead center in my viewport. That means I rotate and zoom to see the part the way I want it and then need to move left/right/up/down to center it in my viewport. Maybe you can independently pan, rotate or zoom quicker with the mouse, but how often do you move, rotate, then move some more, pan, re-zoom, pan a little more, etc? If you're just moving from one orientation to the next (top, left, bottom, etc) you can do that even quicker with just the keyboard shortcuts.
+NYC CNC That said, if I want to constrain movement to a single plane or axis I don't touch the spacemouse because it's simply impossible to only pan, zoom or rotate. All 3 combined, yes, just the one, forget it, too sensitive.
I had RSI in my right hand the pain was so enormous that I could not touch the mouse anymore. Therefore I bought the 3D mouse, and in weeks the pain was over. Best purchase ever!
I appreciate the video.
Some thoughts on using a 3D mouse. I love mine. You MUST try playing around with it in Google Earth. Once you do that, you won't live without it :)
I find when I'm presenting stuff, it lets me move my Solidworks assemblies around much more smoothly, preventing people from getting "sea sick" when I move around. Sounds nutty, but I've had people say, "whoah, that's making me feel nauseous" when I zoom in and out really quickly with a regular mouse.
The material of my Spacemouse Pro is getting gross now that's it's several years old. I find I don't use the buttons on it much. I might stick with the simple unit without the buttons moving forward.
Also, as you get older - looks like you have some time before you have to worry about that ;) - you'll find whatever you can do to "share the load" between your hands might be beneficial.
A 3D mouse dedicates all of positional movements to your left hand. A metaphor would be like having a rock in your left hand that your carving on with a knife in your right hand. Plus with the added benefit of having hot key buttons assigned so that you're rarely having to use the keyboard when you're modeling. So in essence you're 1) putting part of the work load on to your left hand, which helps with RSI 2) cutting down on time that is wasted when the right hand (and left brain) has to keep switching from large form movements to detail work. Maybe your preference is to use the keyboard a lot, but for me I can't stand having to hold down the "alt" key every time I want to rotate a model. It strains my hand/wrist. I would much rather lightly manipulate a knob which will not only rotate the model for me but also pan etc. Plus, a 3D mouse puts your hand in more of a vertical position than a keyboard does, so less wrist rotation. It might be slight, but it helps.
I can't imagine going back to a regular mouse and keyboard. To each there own I guess.
For general purpose 3d modeling I agree, you don't need a 3d mouse.
I didn't here you mention hot keying the mouse to anything. Having them keyed to measurement tools or sectioning makes work flow very quick. Especially when checking clearances or interferences on assemblies of 100s of parts
The type of work you do and time spent on CAD wouldn't allow you to notice the benefits of owning one, so you are right. Ergonomics is a huge plus for people who spend 40 plus hours on 3d cad. So if you're a cad jockey, it's a definite must.
+NYC CNC Haha no! When I worked for a machine builder for manufacturing cells, I was issued a 3d mouse and mouse with a thumb ball. Computers give people Carple tunnel, apparently by reducing wrist movement it makes it better.
I personally use a Logitech g650 and I can't say I've lost much productivity
@@andrewlukachko4103 Thumb ball mice are my favorite. I'm starting to get carpal tunnel (I'm only 24! Too young for this!) and they're a godsend. I do illustration with a mouse and making the switch was the best choice I ever made.
I use NX9 for many hours a day and I love my 3D mouse when u are working on assembly's with 100+ or just a little CAM peace and would never go back to just a mouse. I love being able to naturally fly around the part while the other hand is selecting different tools. how ever if you do not spend so much time on cad the price is a little steep. i have a few hundred hours on mine and would never go back.
Lol. I love the part where you say you'd like to get rid of your regular mouse. It reminds me of this software called "rat poison." It's function is to add enough keyboard shortcuts that the mouse becomes unnecessary (Poisoning the "rat").
I think it's only for Linux though, and I don't think it would circumvent mouse usage in Fusion 360.
As Jims Video commented,I am left handed and use it for my work(Full time design engineer) I love it since I can have one hand on the space mouse and one on the regular mouse.Makes manipulation of 3d models so easy.You eventually learn to use both mice together ,then it is impossible to live without one!
I actually use one of these, but I only use the smaller version (Space Navigator). I don't know that these are very useful for CAD, but they are a huge help when doing 3D models with programs like 3DS Max/ Maya. I used to do 3D modelling, and this thing saved me so much time. Technically, yes, you can use the mouse. However, for specific applications, they can be very useful.
With that said, I don't use it for CAD, either ;-)
I even use mine in 2D Autocad; being able to seamlessly pan across an entire drawing, rather than click-drag, move mouse, click-drag again is so much faster. I even mapped some macros in Microstation to the function keys, as there was no native support for uStn.
As I got older my right wrist began to pop in and out so tumbling an assembly to select constraints began to be a painful problem. Bit the bullet, bought a space mouse, can't believe I lived so long without one. But that's just me, it takes all kinds to make a wonderful world. Also using an external numpad placed within easy reach speeds up dimensional entry.
I just bought the exact 3dconnexion space mouse that he had in this video, used on ebay for $55. I wasn't about to spend $300 on something I might not like. I'm pretty new to fusion 360 but I find the regular mouse navigation slow and frustrating. I'm really looking forward to giving this thing a go. It really send far more intuitive than using the keyboard/mouse combinations to get around your designs. If I really like this thing then I might spring for the latest and greatest. But, I have a feeling I'll be perfectly happy with this older model for the foreseeable future.
1) It's been 4 years. Are you still thinking the same?
2) Can you pick points to list/pan/zoom/lock views at the same time? Would that make your job faster/easier?
3) How about creating 1 button shortcuts(views, zoom fit/all) ergonomically accessible?
4) How about if the company you work for pays for it?
5) Should I mention carpal tunnel?...... Would you get it then?
I believe is fair to say it is a very expensive(maybe unjustified) commodity IF your budget does not allow for
That's one way to get engagement to boost your RUclipsr algorithm LOL 😆
Could it be your hardware that sucks? Or the programs are using? Because honestly the space mouse has saved me so many f****** hours and has helped me conceptualize things in 3D that I could not have done without it It has provided immense value to my workflow I cannot stress this enough if they updated their product I would surely be the first to buy it and you can always just install the program on every computer that you use and then use the mouse with them It works perfectly for me
I don't have experience with the beast with all the buttons that you have, but I have the Space Navigator at both home and at work. I find it to be a critical piece of equipment for speed and control. If it doesn't work for your application and the way you use it, you aren't the only one I know of who feels that way.
Perhaps the difference is how it's used. I work in complicated CAD assemblies (which just means a lot of parts - gears, plumbing, oil nozzles, seals, bearings - are jammed in a small space) where a lot of design work is done in the assembly. Speed of applying assembly constraints and fine positioning of the point of view greatly increases my speed and reduces my frustration. Having the two buttons mapped to the Escape key and the "View Normal" functionality of the CAD software allow me to work for longer before having to remove my hands from the mice to make keystrokes.
I've used the Space Navigator with SolidWorks, Alibre/GeoMagic, Unigraphics, ANSYS and EdgeCAM and it's a help in each one. Both mice are operating simultaneously, working together.
I love that the comment section of a video about how something is overrated is where I find the most explanations of how useful the thing is... A necessary service. Thanks everyone!
I run Fusion on a Mac with an Apple Magic Trackpad 2 and the Space Mouse Pro. I'm used to using gestures on the trackpad for getting around quickly and don't give it a second thought.
But the trackpad requires a keyboard command (at least) to go into rotation mode in Fusion. So I just reach over maybe 4 inches and grab the Space Navigator knob as if I were grasping the model to turn it around and look at it from a different angle or bring it closer/move it farther away.
For more complex models, it allows me to fly through the model as if I were piloting an airplane, with normal control motions for pitch, roll and yaw. Translation is second nature once you get used to it (and get the sensitivity set properly!!)
Note: I am right handed. Both trackpad and Space Mouse are on the RIGHT. I switch between them as required. Minimal motion is needed and the trackpad requires zero additional space to operate, unlike a 2D mouse. So for speed, the combination is pretty hard for me to improve on. YMMV.
I'm with you John. I have been using CAD daily for about the last decade, and borrowed a fellow engineers space mouse to see what I was missing two weeks ago. So far I have about 20 hours of use on it, and for design checking I love it. For modeling though I find it to be slower. I like to be normal to all my sketches, which means that I have to disable the tilt function (single button click), but still an added step. Looking at your setup I strongly suggest getting a G700 or similar multibutton mouse (I have tried a lot of them and always go back to one of my G700s) set a normal macro and middle mouse to one of the four thumb keys and your favorite tools to the three index finger keys.
Keep up the videos.
P.S. Please fully define your sketches people are learning from you. I have lost weeks of schedule and countless dollars due to irresponsible draftsman letting features float, and cringe every time I see you rush through a tutorial. You have been getting much better with constraints after switching to Fusion.
Again, thanks for the videos.
This was meant for your space mouse video, but apparently RUclips doesn't track when you click comment and tags then current video sorry guys.
Gave you a thumbs up. Stumbled upon this video by boredom searches. And, this was the best product review I have ever witnessed. You ranted? Sure! However, you stayed on point, and finished giving me all the information I needed in under 3 minutes.... Meanwhile, I want to know if its worth buying a new pair of headphones - I need to watch a 10 minute unboxing video, before I realize that it was an unboxing video and not an actual review
One place I worked, there was a department of about 100 draftsmen with workstations and spaceball 3D mouse configured to their then super-high-priced CAD/CAM package. I did computer systems support, and didn't really use the 'special hardware' in the day. But the pro's could make it fly (Autocad I think it may have been, but it ran on HP Unix workstations).
Anyway, I enjoy your video's. Thanks for providing them.
use it 5 days a week - 8 hours a day and you will see the light.
Another thing I have to say. I use a Logitech G13 in Autocad, etc. because I can map 24 keys. Basically I don't use the keyboard at all (just for some minor stuff).
Now this pad can't replace the G13 because of the lack of keys!
However, if you want your 3dconnection close to your keyboard, just use a classic one! it's small and it can stay next to it. You don't move the camera and edit objects in the same time anyway!
But even if you do, why don't you use a Logitech G600 mouse which has 12 programable keys for your thumb! Combine that with the right click options in the program and the 3dconnection! :D
If I'm designing and/or modelling something complex in SolidWorks at work (i.e. takes me more than all day to complete) I find that I'm much faster using my SpacePilot than I would be without it. I like it because I can get immersed in the work and just get on with it.
The features I use most often are all mapped to hotkeys. The only downside I suppose is the entry of dimensions requires a third hand and arm, for which I actually take my hand off the mouse to use the numpad... I think it's an adequate compromise.
Good points actually. I use a space mouse for navigating thru building construction. Indespenible. But I always prefer the keyboard. Don't need the ribbon for much either. I agree, if it were possible I'd only use the keyboard. Where he spacemouse really shines is when you're doing a collaborative design meeting and want to jump to preset viewpoints but have the freeedom to float around the issues for group viewing. Good for recording animations.
I really wanted to love my spacepilot and for years I was waiting for that epiphany moment when it finally clicked with my workflow, but it never happened.
There are occasions where it is faster to use the 3d mouse manipulate the part with your left hand while you your other mouse in your right hand to select a bunch of edges or faces (to fillet, for instance) but those are few and far between. One technique that I've only been able to do with a 3D mouse is to use it to rotate and move individual parts in an assembly to check for complex assembly interferences (like, can you replace an alternator in a space constrained engine compartment). This is something that is still really difficult to do in CAD, and the 3d mouse provides a reasonable way to do it. Again, this is a very specialized application that doesn't apply to most people.
We grew up with those things during the apprenticeship - and they were great there. Those really old things with a serial port and terrible ergonomics.
After i quitted i dont use my private one anymore. I found out for myself they are very timesaving things in (big 200+ parts) assemblys but completely unnessary in single parts or small assemblys.
In parts you spend the most time inside drawings, in assemblys you spend the most time on navigation measuring things, hiding objects...
So you are completely right about it - but we will talk again after the first assembly with 1000parts
We have talked about this now a lot of times... :)
I think It's just personal preference.. I would not want to miss mine (the small one btw)
The other thing is.... why not hate the pendant to..? It can also all be done by the mouse :)
I do think it's faster, because I use both at the same time, rotate my part or sketch around while the normal mouse is on it's way to the extrude settings/button... That's really what i miss when it's not there, working with two hands...
But then again, maybe the biggest differences between you and me in this matter (or you and other 3D mouse lovers) is the use of shortcuts.. I must admit I hardly ever use a shortcut... And since 90% of the other 'keyboard' stuff is setting dimensions It seems logic to type those with the right had (at the normal mouse in my case)
I think a lot has to do with model complexity, too. With a simple assembly with only a few components, it's not a big deal to just hide things that are in the way. I often work with assemblies with several hundred components, and the 3D controller will let me go right to the point I need to see without hiding anything. I can only imagine people that work on even more complex models like a complete Boeing 777. That and being able to do many things at once. Like moving a part into position, or locating the next point to click on for a command. After using them for many years, going without at times, makes me feel like I'm trying to type with one hand. Sure I can do it, but at a much slower rate.
Great presentation and flow to the video. Insightful comments section. So, this is what RUclips is supposed to be...
Hah!! I was going to scoot requests to both you and the brothers Grimsmo to get a compare and contrast on the 3-D Mouse, and on Fusion 360 just based on a few comments you guys have made in recent videos; Erik just recently started using Fusion 360 and either he or John said he wouldn't want to do CAD without one. I've never seen one of these mice in the wild, so never knew what advantages they had. Good video, I like the CAD-related stuff.
I've had these on my desk for 20 years as an aircraft designer and very rarely used them. Only time they are quite good is flying through a large DMU in a various navigation mode. I'd never see it's better than a mouse for navigating around even large assemblies. like you touched on I think sometimes its tech for the sake of new tech.
I think for most people, myself included, the SpaceMouse is just faster and more intuitive. The first CAD heavy job I had, my boss insisted I have one because of how much faster we could navigate models. He was even an old school guy who had been doing CAD since the computers required took up half a room and was generally opposed to any kind of change to his work flow.
Besides being faster for navigation, the software and the programable buttons are also quite useful. There was a task that my company had to do when we received new drawings that took a good five minutes manually; I programed a macro with the included software to do it in a single press of a button. The software even detects which software you're using and lets you reprogram the buttons per software. There's even more support for most common CAD packages. In Autodesk Inventor, for example, it knows if I'm in an assembly, model, sketch, or drawing and I have the functions that I use most in each of those scenes mapped to the buttons at the top.
I wouldn't have spend hundreds, but I have ventured £50 on a used SpacePilot SP1 from ebay. It's not arrived yet, but by complete coincidence one of my colleges from computer support turned up with an SP1 that had been ordered by someone but never deployed and the record of who ordered it lost. So now it's on my desk and I've played with it for 20 minutes or so. I think I may fine it easier to manipulate views with the SP1 and I'll have the same setup at home.
I originally bought one to use with solidworks, it didn't work out and was neglected for a long time until I used it with blender. The spacemouse is extremely helpful with sculpting but for cad its a hindrance.
+Michael Juan Absolutely Agree! This thing is trash for 2d cad work, but I've come to appreciate it in 3d environments. Most programs let you rotate around your items, but it can get a bit nauseating when you are trying to get the right orientation sometimes, this eliminate that. Granted is more a bit of luxury, but when you are working a lot in 3d environments with complex geometries, going under objects, around the side at a quarter angle... this provides a natural flow. There are other issues aside the learning curve with desk space and getting used to essentially having both your hands on mice essentially. Its kinda strange. Obviously I am a fan, but i know its not for everyone.
As a mechanical designer that works sometimes 8 hrs I definitely feel the improvement on ergonomics with the spacemouse
More specific with the shift, escape, enter and some other buttons where my hand used to had a lot of pain after some hours.
Now, the enterprise version I think is not very useful but the spacemouse with the extra buttons is great.
If you're only buying this to rotate your model then you are missing the beauty of this thing. Try spinning your model while simultaneously painting on it or voxel painting geometry on it with mouse and keyboard only (3dCoat, BodyPaint, Z-brush, etc.), can't be done. For CAD folks and 3ds Max/Maya/Blender folks, all it's doing is giving you a super refined model rotation experience that surpasses a mouse once you've mastered it, plus you can get fancy with programming the buttons on the more expensive models. This is one of those inventions that comes along every so often that makes you wonder how you worked without it.
Got one of these for free a few years ago, here are my thoughts.
- The obvious : it's fair to assume that it is aimed at a niche demographic of technical users of expensive CAD/3D apps who need to interact with the software regularly, but not often enough to develop "power user" navigation habits as shown in your video (no disrespect intended to anyone here - just an observation, I might be wrong). A pretty big market !
- The not so obvious : most CAD and 3D apps that I know of do not offer a way to precisely define the center of rotation of the camera outside of the currently selected element or component, meaning that getting into tight corners away from the active selection can be an issue (the camera orbiting around something else than what one is looking at can actually cause mild discomfort or even motion sickness - been there done that !), hence the reference to complex assemblies. By their very nature the 3Dconnection devices dodge that problem because they handle the other way around, with the center of camera rotation being constantly adjusted, independently from the scene.
However !
Fusion360 as well as Blender are two of the few apps offering complete control on camera orbit center at all time (shift + middle click by default in Fusion) which I think completely removes the need for 3d mouse outside of presentation/client demo purposes.
Example here : ruclips.net/video/faWhnOL6mtQ/видео.html
- Lastly, and to play devils advocate : navigating with a 3D mouse can be kinda relaxing because if an app is fully supported it is pretty damn smooth. So I can see some appeal here.
I hope this makes sense ! I spent way too much time thinking this through :D
Dude your 110% right. Just wish you had done this video last month. Big learning curve, If I put the work in and master the thing I bet I could save 10 hours in a 8 hour day. Just saying I have trouble with my Iphone and it only has 1 button.
I WORK with 2d manufacturing plant layouts in cad and with 8 speed transmission components 3d models and assembly with proE and other CAE software. I found that a pen tablet instead of a normal mouse was a huge upgrade with my workflow, I don't even keep a mouse plugged to my computer any more. For this applications the 3d mouse is just an overkill and agree with you, completely unnecessary. Now for FUN I like doing creature creation using maya, Zbrush and after effects, and OMG I just have my left hand on the 3d mouse and my right hand on the pen... and with all the extra buttons on both devices (pen tablet & 3d mouse) I don't even touch the keyboard. Its a pain in the ass configuring each buttons for each application the first time and at the begging its hard to remember what was each button for, but once you get the flow going over time... this thing is a HUGE upgrade, I can bet anything that the improvement on movie effects and speed of quality animation production was significantly upped by this 2 devices over the past few years.
dude, when you reach the level of JEDI, you can use space mouse with feet
god that is actually genius lol
Oh Man! Stop it please.
Please do not listen this guy.
When you use only mouse you can only "walk or use your hands"
When you have 3d mouse, you can use your hands while you're working.
It speeds up at least %30.
I use 3d connexion products for 4 years, i have almost all models of them.
At home, in office, traveler versions etc.
I do not start design if it's not with me.
He just wanted the youtube views. 81000 so far.
Depends a lot on the software. I never found much use for my old SpacePilot in CAD/CAM applications, or Photoshop for that matter, but when it came to organic modelling (in 3dsMax) back in the day, I couldn't live without it. When configured right, it feels like actually holding the model in one hand, and modifying it with the other.
I've wanted to get one for my personal projects for YEARS. I never could justify the money for even the small one, especially since I was only doing small, single part models for personal 3d printing projects. Once I graduated college and got a job using CAD 8+ hours a day, I'd say it is DEFINITELY worth trying. Not so much for productivity but for ergonomics! Clicking the middle mouse button a thousand times a week puts some crappy wear on the finger. I'm programming CNC lathes right now, which is almost exclusively 2D work. I have the rotation locked on my Connexion and use it for just panning and zooming for most of my work. Cutting out the need to hit control and M3 is really nice and I can't imagine going back now. In conclusion, the devices are likely not worth the money for personal use and they are not necessary. If you're full time CAD, definitely worth looking into and if you can get your company to pay for one, highly recommend testing it out for a month or two.
Look, i can explain.
If you are able to use our cursor independently from your model, you can do tasks and maneuvers impossible otherwise. For example selecting something while moving the model. Also, try to use the 3d Mouse on lager scale object, for example in architecture. The models are not small gadgets you can easily orbit around with your mouse. Its about the additional orbital points the mouse generates, for example in Rhino. The mouse is orbiting around the nearest surface, you can navigate your mouse inside of rooms working on details in almost closed spaces. Plus, like many pointed out, you need to use the additional keys on the mouse, which makes you basically never lift your hand from your 3d mouse and the standard mouse.
Reading through the comments, I see, for the most part, two factions: (1) Those who have never tried, or never got used to a 3D mouse, and call it useless, and (2) those who gave it due consideration, and now can't live without it. I'm in the second camp. Started with the $99 SpaceNavigator in 2006.
You don't need to iterate the $300+ models to all PCs, and you're free to stay on the keyboard as long you like; the extra controller will wait patiently for you while you're making your keystroke combinations great again. I've migrated quite a few of those as macros to the 20 buttons on my G600 mouse.
Thanks for this. I was looking into these, and wondering if it was going to be worth the investment. I kinda got the same impression that it couldn't fully replace the mouse, and now I'd have to be working with 2 separate peripherals. Thanks for settling the debate in my mind!
In 2005 it honor Robert A. Heinlein l wrote one of three articles for a cad magazine on cad and its future where it's been and where it's going in the next 75 years. The article was to celebrate and honor Heinlein's Door to Summer and Drafting Dan his idea of a cad system. It is clear to me, that your problem with a space mouse is atypical of people who are not high end high hour users of cad software and further a space mouse is most at home in moving through an Airbus plumbing system or other complex structures. If you look Drafting Dan it was a stand alone system. Then we went to the PC stage of cad and now we are using drafting systems again that are networked to each other and only draft engineering drawings not a military tasking system. We still have the PC base software but they serve small shops and cause problems every time there is a software update. What I'm saying is you good at using your mouse so your faster when you comfortable.
For me, it's an excellent left-handed navigation/camera tool, while my right hand controls the selecting and manipulating of the object. When I'm using the keyboard, my hands are on the keyboard. So I move with the left, select with the right, and enter dimensions, etc. with my keyboard.
I love using it in creo/pro engineer.
I have both the big one with screen and the small portable one.
I found the best way to get max use was to add a numerical pad between the keyboard and my left hand on the 3d mouse. That way all dimensions could be entered with my left hand.
All model movement was done with the 3d mouse, all application/tab selection was done with right hand on trackball mouse and data entered with left hand or both if typing.
Took me many months to perfect the use but made modeling much faster.
Found it great in creo with most used functions added as short cuts on the 3d mouse buttons.
3d mouse also could be programmed for short cuts on many other programs.
I agree with the issue of using multiple machines though. Its a hassle to go from work machine to home laptop without the same 3d mouse.
I agree with you John. But I will say this: "You get used to what you do". In other words, whatever you use 8-16 hours a day for a year and longer, you get used to using. 25 years ago, I was using a digitizing puck on a digitizer tablet in my left hand, and keying thru numeric menus on the 10 key numeric keypad with my right hand (architectural CAD). I became VERY proficient to the point where I didn't even think about the numbers, and the keypad was just an extension of my thoughts. Everyone finds what they like, what they are forced to use, or what works for them.
+NYC CNC Ask they guys with blue tooth headsets.... I bet ya they can't live without them. The reason they say so much more freedom its because its an undefined evaluation and better than saying. I wasted my cash, I don't want to look like I got hussled. I am a chump and can't admit it. Perhaps that was a bit harsh but you get my point. Sorry now I am on a rant like you....
+gus bisbal I use a Bluetooth headset, and can't live without it ;-)
+NYC CNC
Like I said John, I agree with you. I would think the 3d Mouse is a waste, for all the reasons you mentioned. I wouldn't spend the money on one.
Try to rotate the component, zoom and move at the same time , very helpful in big assemblies
in addition, the buttons of the spacemouse can still be programmed ...
the rotation can also be locked by button and is then helpful in sketches where you sketch at the same time and move the sketch
Greetings from Germany
BETTER AND FASTER!!! I >SO< AGREE! I have done SolidWorks for years and I tried a SpaceMouse and FAIL!!! I can draw a space mouse under the table, using a regular mouse with a middle button wheel; The SM is SUCH a gimmick, and I draw 3-D airfoils and VERY complicated designs. Thanks John for calling the Emporer's new clothes what they are.
EXCELLENT RANT-John, you are NOT missing anything. Give me a wheel mouse and a keyboard (with my shortcuts) any day!
AND DON"T get me started on trackballs! The Devil's sidekick :-)
BTW if you're using Blender + a gaming mouse or keyboard with macro function (basically every Razer and Logitech Product)
you can just map a button to a macro for {f3}walk navigation{enter} for an easy game like wasd style of navigation.
If your sculptin with a drawing tablet and prefer to use a standalone device for your macros you can get a used razer nostromo for cheap nowadays,
which unlike their newer crap doesn't even require an account.
I really like mine. It does take a little bit to get speedy on it, but once you do it's more comfortable and faster than the shift click middle mouse draggy droppy garbage you have to do with a regular mouse. Also, fusion 360 has turbo poop for orbit and pan controls regardless of the mouse, so it's not the best piece of software to judge in anyway.
You can also play flight simulator with keyboard, but that doesn't mean joysticks are pointless. I get your point, you can be similarly fast with mouse too depending on situation, but in many situations I found the Spacemouse making it faster, easier, smoother, more comfortable. I find it incredibly helpful e.g. for 3D sketches or inspecting/taking a closer look at what I've constructed (or messed up)--especially when it's tiny details.
What's great is that you can do everything at once. With the mouse, I have to rotate--often having to set a new pivot point along the way--then pan, then slightly re-rotate, zoom in, then pan a bit again to get where I wanted to go, and then do whatever I wanted to do. It's a sequence of actions that I can do all at the same time with the spacemouse, and that does make my work noticeably faster/easier (I'm working on two different computers btw, one with spacemouse and one with key+mouse).
As a little side effect, I've assigned some actions that I often use, like delete or measure, to the buttons. I'm used to quickly reaching for the keyboard hotkeys, but ever so often I miss them, starting an action that I didn't want to.
Necessary? No. Helpful? In my opinion, very.
I use it at work everyday, i totally recommend it if you wanna speed up some tasks and i kinda prefer the compact version over the pro versions, what i like using it mostly for is when inspecting or showing a project, or if you do a lot of contraints
Absolutely spot on for cad. I work with cad for mechanical design (creo ptc) more than 25 years. I never found that thing useful. And i have it. The only time it did something different was when i wanted to do a sort of fly through or inspection of an architectural model in creo and in blender. Basically allows to precisely make decoupled or coupled motions along specific axes to simulate walking and turning your head while being inside of a building model. A normal mouse cannot do that. By the way for both software behaviour was at best lousy...
I'm happy to hear your thoughts on this.. I've used laptops for a primary workstation since the mid-90's, so It's rare that I have a mouse plugged in to the computer at all. I started out with F360 and a mouse, but got lazy and went back to the track-pad for all of my navigation. For the most part, it works well. Moving around in the workspace is painful though, and is a constant source of irritation. This may have something to do with Apple's 'Natural' scroll direction changes, but I've started to think about what might make that less cumbersome. A standard mouse still isn't very intuitive and still takes my dominant hand off the keyboard. Like you say, everyone seems to love these, so I appreciate hearing a contrary opinion. Though in this case at least, this seems like it'd answer the navigation problem so I can see a use for it here.. Again though, as you point out, it may just be another thing to dump my coffee cup over.. :(
I just ordered one but it seems clear it will help tremendously. Its kind of like the difference between serial vs parallel. When you use the mouse as both the selection/movement tool you are stuck doing one then the other you can't do them together. With this setup the mouse is just your selection or sculpting tool while the puck is just movement and you can do them at the same time.
In my opinion there are serious medical benefits to using a second device for interacting with 3D cad software. It literally cuts in half the number of operations performed with your right hand. I am a professional solidworks user and spend upwards of 8 hours a day modeling. That is a lot of wear and tear on one hand if only using a mouse. Within a couple months after begging my career I started to get wrist pains. I purchased a vertical mouse to change my hand orientation, got a mouse pad with a jell like wrist cushion, and trained myself to become consciously aware of how firm I was gripping the mouse. All of this helped greatly. Shortly after i added a 3D connection space mouse (the basic one) which took and amazing amount of work off my right hand when manipulating the model orientation. This alone dramatically helped my wrist. I soon want to purchase their flagship model "Enterprise" to further reduce the amount of movement needed to go to the keyboard when performing certain tasks which will undoubtedly boost my work flow as well. Is their a learning curve? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Again in my opinion 100%. If you only do cad on occasion or say for an hour or two a day these devices may not be justifiable. But if your job has you modeling for 5+ hours a day these devices will save you wrist from the dreaded carpal tunnel. This has been my experience. Everyone is different.
It allows to manimulate the view not in a consequence manner but in all degrees of freedom at once. It also doesn't need as much clicks and keys pressigs. Some precise moves take a few times more time with conventional inputs. Also have some additional keybindings at the palm of your hand.
I hate when I get home from work and don't have my 3d mouse, Never used one till two years ago but would not trade it for anything now. unless I'm typing a number into CAD I never touch my keyboard when designing and its awesome. So much faster than when I used keyboard shortcuts. Its especially useful in assemblies or more complicated parts where I need to flip around a lot.
But since designing is my full time job, it's a slightly different set of demands and level of use going on.
Being able to move the view around with the spacemouse whilst simultaneously selecting mesh objects saves a lot of time.
I use the normal mouse to select mesh faces while moving, so as I'm panning, turning, etc. click, click, click, selecting items.
If I were to just use a mouse, I'd have to move the view, stop, select, move, stop, select, move, stop, select, repeat.
I guess it all comes down to what you use it for.
I'd avoid condemning products just because they don't fit your usage model. For some it's a time saving miracle of technology.
"It makes you look like you know what you are doing" - The most accurate assessment of them all. 😂 😂