I recently got into 3D design because i wanted to get better at making specifications for parts and plans. It was so overwhelming to try and use these softwares on my own. This little gem takes one stress away which is navigation. It does take some work to understand the feel, there are options to change the direction preferences. Once you get it though it allows you to focus more on designing and learning. It's well built, and connects flawlessly to multiple softwares. Currently using it on FreeCAD, Blender and Fusion 360, all I have to do is turn it on and it instantly works.
Peter Henningsen Viale
★★★★★
Can`t live designing 3D without it. Connects also without the bluetooth dongle.
This 3D mouse is excellent. It connects as soon as you turn it on. If your computer’s Bluetooth is on, it recognizes the device immediately. You can start using it without any issues. It works perfectly with SketchUp and other programs. I used to have the wired version, which always worked very well. I finally bought the Bluetooth version. You can even use it without the included connector. Thank you, 3Dconnexion—you always make great products and highly functional.
E
Eric Tischer
★★★★★
A bit buggy
Constantly having to reconfigure what is up and down, CW and CCW...
If you want the axes of motion of the space mouse to be the same as a normal mouse, my configuration screenshot is attached.
Often times I have to delete the device from my Bluetooth list, and re-add, sometimes it shows up twice.
When Im not doing 3D stuff, I wanted to have the knob adjust volume, or zoom, or move the timeline in Final Cut Pro. These features are settable in the configuration, but only work half the time. Tech support told me they are still working on getting this working properly. For now I can only CCW twist for Volume down, Volume up turning the other direction doesn't work. Pretty much the same for all other functions, only one direction works
L
Lake
★★★★★
"bluetooth" is misleading
You need their proprietary USB dongle for it to fully function. Supposedly it can do some limited functionality with only bluetooth but the setup software doesn't even try unless it finds the dongle.
This is especially appalling as they sell/sold a non-bluetooth-branded version, which strongly implies there's anything of value to be had from getting the bluetooth version (there isn't).
(atleast on MacOS): Their config/setup software and especially its UI is... whoever hired the person who made it should be fired:
* It's bad about naming your radial menus and sometimes just forgets them all. See "bogus string" screenshot.
* It has the dumbest scrollbar ever in the Axes remapping panel (it doesn't expand or shrink with the window size, it just always mostly hides either the top or bottom item). See video.
* There's no way to multi-select items in that list so if you want to tweak some-but-not-all Speed sensitivity you have to move the slider for each. And only one is visible at a time. Don't bother trying to get them to match.
* There's no way to invert more than one Axes at a time (in fact inversion requires you swap both left movement and right movement individually).
* It is completely oblivious to dark mode, so black on dark grey text is a joy (and doesn't even render properly in the first place)
* It struggles to properly manage & communicate the security permissions it requires.
* It requires more permissions than I think is reasonable.
* It requires a full reboot to start working (there's zero excuse for this with modern MacOS; sure it's only a modest hassle once but it is further indicative of bad practices).
Its core functionality has been great. The hardware is really quite impressive. Still want to give it zero stars for the other issues, but I'll settle for one star.
Lorenzo
★★★★★
Frustrating Software Experience on Mac Making This Device Useless.
I had high hopes for the 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Bluetooth Edition, but my experience has been extremely frustrating. I use a MacBook Pro M3 (2024 model) running Sonoma 14.6 (23G80), and the driver installation process has been a nightmare.
The installation requires a reboot, which is standard for many drivers. However, after rebooting, the system should prompt you to "Allow" the driver in the Security & Privacy settings. This option never appeared for me, despite numerous attempts. Typically, this permission option is available for 30 minutes post-installation, but it simply didn’t show up.
The complexity of the setup process is a significant issue. I spent hours searching online, scouring forums, and reading about similar issues others have faced since the beta versions of Sonoma. This problem seems widespread yet unresolved. When I reached out to customer support, their responses only added to the complexity. They provided increasingly cumbersome instructions that involved entering Mac Recovery Mode, using Terminal to disable crucial security features, and more. As a software engineer, these steps didn’t intimidate me, but I can’t imagine the average user going through such a convoluted process.
The hardware itself feels innovative. The 6-degree-of-freedom sensor allows for smooth and intuitive manipulation of 3D models. I appreciated the ability to push, pull, twist, or tilt the controller cap to pan, zoom, and rotate models effortlessly. The programmable buttons and 3DxWare®10 software offer extensive customization, allowing users to assign commands, create radial menus, and map custom macros tailored to specific applications.
However, these features are moot if the device isn’t compatible with your system. Despite its potential, the SpaceMouse Wireless falls short because the software support for Mac, especially with the latest OS, is severely lacking. It’s clear from the forum discussions and my personal experience that the company has struggled to create a reliable driver for Mac users. This potential, unfortunately, remains untapped due to the software issues.
In theory, the device should offer a dependable wireless experience with options for Bluetooth or using the 3Dconnexion Universal Receiver. The high-capacity rechargeable battery is supposed to last up to a month on a single charge, and the included USB cable charges the device while offering a wired connection. The carry case is a nice touch, providing a compact and durable way to transport the SpaceMouse Wireless.
Yet, all these positives are overshadowed by the software issues. If you’re using a Mac with Sonoma, be prepared for a complicated setup process that might not even succeed. The potential benefits of the SpaceMouse Wireless are irrelevant if you can't get it to work with your system. It’s a disappointing outcome for what could have been, probably, a solid product.
