to buy a Spacemouse pro or not to buy

[phodee6]

My question is should i buy the Spacemouse Pro?   Am a full time programmer, I mostly do 2d/3d programming ,  Once or twice a month i design nests and fixtures in Mastercam.   This would come out of my own money thinking this might be a nice investment for myself (eg. help relief wrist pain and spend up design and programing ).  i  did a bit of research on the net about mice for cad work and i have been leaning toward a device like this.  The problem is I don't know of anyone who uses one and would you guys buy this item with your own money? 

[crazy^millman]

I have a travel one and a desk top one I paid for out of my pocket so to speak. Contact Jay he can get you a quote on one.

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

I spent my own money on one. Wouldn't want to work without it.

[CADCAM3D5AXIS]

its another great tool in the tool box and once you get one you will kick yourself for not buying it sooner.

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

I feel hamstrung without one, and I only program occasionally.

[phodee6]

wow, dam that was some quick replies.  it looks like i will have to convince the wifey that i need to spend $400 on a tool for work.  

[Jayson Kramer]

If you are look at the Space Mouse Pro they are less then that even for the Wireless ones.

[civiceg]

I am in the same boat, just don't want to pony up with the cash. Last few weeks my wrist has been killing me. Any issues with wrist pain? 

[Jayson Kramer]

Civicegg, you will still need to use your mouse to pick chains and so on. but to move around will be lees clicks and movement of the mouse. I would look at the one with writ support being the pro series. and for your mouse I would get a mouse pad with a gel wrist support. I use them really helpful.

[soymilk]

Had to pay for mines out of pocket so i got the spacenavigator desktop.  I cant say I use it much in mastercam.  It's awesome in solidworks/nx though for modeling.  The worst thing about it is, once you go 3d mouse.... you can never go back.  

[The Cathedral]

I bought a SpacePilot pro with my own cash. I would never want to go back to programming without one. When I'm on a computer that doesn't have one, I feel like I have one arm tied behind my back... and I programmed for years without one. Pony up, you'll be satisfied once you get used to it.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I'm using a SpacePilot at work.  Occasionally I work from home on my laptop with no SpacePilot.  It takes me much longer to program without the SpacePilot.  It's a great investment that will increase productivity.  I would try to get the company your work for to spring for it.

[robk]

I use a Spacepilot. I have used Spaceball for years... It's just natural for my left hand to be on it. I have a very difficult time when I have to use a pc that doesn't have one. LOL

[gcode]

I bought my first SpaceBall in 2001

By 2004 I had worn it out and called 3D Connexion about getting it repaired.

They sent me a brand new one .. for free.. didn't even charge me shipping

They earned a customer for life with that deal.

Today I'm running a Space Pilot Pro at work and a Space Mouse Pro at home, both purchased personally.

If I needed another device, I'd by the Space Mouse Pro..

The added buttons and the LCD in the Space Pilot aren't worth the extra $100 IMO. 

 

After 15 years, I simply cannot work without one.

If you're having pain in your mouse hand you should get one immediately, it will cut your mouse hand

work load in half.

 

If you have a student ID you can buy one direct from 3D Connexion for almost half price.

Jay Kramer here on the forums sell them at a good price and you can also buy them from Amazon.

or New Egg.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

I got a Space Pilot (pre-Pro) for $110 of my own money on eBay several years ago, shortly after the Pro came out.  On the few occasions I program without it I feel like a one armed drummer.  I talked my designer coworker into getting one and he's hooked now too.

 

Just checked, there are plenty of both Space Pilot and Space Pilot Pro on eBay for much less than $400.

[Thee Cutterman]

I Used a space pilot for a few years but it disappeared from my desk over a weekend.

 

i ended up buying a Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball Mouse. I really like using this mouse and have had no wrist pain since i started using it.

[Jayson Kramer]

Gcode, i forgt .I sell to EDU to. you are correct there is a student discount.

[BenK]

I have been using a Spacepilot for so long I wouldn't program without it. I have the pro version and I would buy it again without hesitation. I use a lot of the buttons so to me it is worth every cent. Honestly I wish there new mouse used the same sensor technology instead of being like a regular mouse. That way you would barely have to move your hand. I would have ordered one for sure. 

[Thee Cutterman]

 That way you would barely have to move your hand. I would have ordered one for sure. 

Thats the main reason i went over to the trackball mouse. have no problem at all with my hand anymore.

 

[Edward court]

Phodee6,

I program in all dimensions and think those spacemice are no good gimmicks (I owned The SpaceNavigator 3D once). I am not looking to impress people, instead, I'm looking for accuracy and speed, employers love that.

 

Here is what I use; Razer Naga (mouse) and Razor Tartarus (keypad). These tools allow me to have my most used Mastercam combination functions executed with just one button. I have all these functions programmed as macros; it makes me very quick and efficient. I use the scroll wheel to rotate and the mouse and keypad to fly through bunches of macro I have programmed that work exclusively with Mastercam. The picture below are of the mouse and keypad I use.

 

Razor Tartarus and Razer Naga

 

 

Below is my desk at work; it’s a stand up desk because I hate sitting all day. I have the exact setup at home too.

 

Yes, those are love notes on my monitors and wall. My girlfriend puts them in my lunch box to make me smile, so I hang them up :-)

[Jayson Kramer]

edward nice setup,

But sorry there is a but you can use the space mosue Pro to do the same thing and have more control and speed.you have 31 programable keys and if you use the latest drivers you cna actully more.

 

And another note. I do think it is cool your lady gives you notes in your lunch.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

 

 

Thats the main reason i went over to the trackball mouse. have no problem at all with my hand anymore

I've been using the Logitech thumb trackballs exclusively since the mid-90's.

[civiceg]

I switched over to the exact trackball pictured, roughly a year ago. Constant panning and zooming have really highlighted my issue. I am on a computer  a good 12 hours everyday, most days more. That compounded with lifting and spinning wrenches, hand surgery in my 30's is looking promising. 

[BM150]

Space navigator pro for movement and Logitech g700s mouse for selecting and macros (11 buttons of the top of my head). Love them both. Wife brought me my mouse for b-day. Love her lots too.

 

[The Cathedral]

I Used a space pilot for a few years but it disappeared from my desk over a weekend.

 

i ended up buying a Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball Mouse. I really like using this mouse and have had no wrist pain since i started using it.

 

That's the same mouse I use--mouse on the right, space pilot on the left.

 

I have that mouse at home too--I have my tower PC hooked up to my TV so I can chill out on the couch. I've been using trackballs for as long as I've been playing RTS games. Can't stand not having one now.