topic Re: Best Programmable Mice in AutoCAD Forum

Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 03:07:03 GMT

New to this group so I don't know if this subject has been beaten to deth yet but the last "Programmable Mice" topic I found was 2018. I am researching what programmable wireless mice people are using for AutoCad and any other design applications. I had a wired mouse with programmable buttons that died and I have been using a standard Logitech wireless for way too long and I need a new programmable wireless for cad work in both Autocad and SolidWorks and I like as many programmable buttons as possible especially for ACAD. I would like a great mouse for several applications with custom profiles for each - ACAD, SolidWorks, Photoshop, MS Word/Excel etc... I am seeing the Logitech MX Master 3s recommended a lot for CAD but it really doesn't have as many programmable buttons as I would like. I also came across the CORSAIR - IRONCLAW RGB Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse which has a boatload of programmable buttons which looks interesting except for the button layout. Has anybody used a gaming mouse with lots of programmable buttons for CAD? I absolutely hate those spaceball things and the funky vertical standing type of mice. 😉 So I am kind of interested in these so far:
1. Logitech MX Master 3s
2. 3DConnexion CADmouse Pro Wireless
3. Logitech-G502 X Plus Lightspeed Wireless. - 13 programmable controls!!!
4. CORSAIR - IRONCLAW RGB Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse
5. Corsair DARKSTAR RGB Wireless Gaming Mouse

Re: Best Programmable Mice

Brock_Olly — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:53:48 GMT

It's a gaming brand, but the razer naga series has 12 buttons and are solid quality mice.

Re: Best Programmable Mice

ВeekeeCZ — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:16:23 GMT

I use Roccat Kone AIMO. This one is wired.

When it comes to additional buttons, a tilting wheel is absolutely essential. It's definitely the most preferred additional buttons — ergonomic and natural movement for bidirectional functions such as trim—extend, forward-backward. A few more can be useful, but definitely not the more, the better. Using the other hand to call commands is more efficient.

The overall lifespan of Roccat mice is probably not the best (the question is which brand is better), but they are very comfortable. The tilting wheel mechanism and design are better on Roccat mice than on Logitech.

Re: Best Programmable Mice

jskalaXDDX5 — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:26:58 GMT

Recently got a Logitech G502 HERO wired for work...still have Logitech G700 (12+ years) and a G700S (10+ years) at home, which I think are slightly better...discontinued...

The G502 for me is a pretty close replacement...it works with the new software but also with the old, which I think is a bit less futsy but has fewer features, mainly I think the ability to program press/release macros...and at under $40 it's less than half of what I paid for the others (they are wireless, but I eventually just took the batteries out and used them as wired anyway) 11 buttons is OK, the others have 13...seems pretty solid so far, has weights one can add which I think helps...

Re: Best Programmable Mice

pendean — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:49:45 GMT

This one is popular with some of our power-users in the office https://a.co/d/1d1PzkH

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 07:56:04 GMT

UPDATE: After a ton of research I ended up getting a Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed.

What it boiled down to:

1. The Logitech brand has unrivaled reliability compared to just about everything else I looked at.

2. I liked the G502 X button layout the best.

3. The amount of programmable buttons - 13 of them, and I learned that you can program more than 1 function to each programmable button, like 2 or 3. BUT some of the buttons that are programmable I don't want to change in any program and this mouse has 6 other programmable buttons besides the standard default mouse buttons. I want them to remain as default such as the standard rh & lh mouse buttons, the scroll wheel and the scroll button. The scroll has lh & rh toggle though which can be programmed and may come in handy to customize. You can also program more than 1 function into each button so a double click and/or a gesture can be programmed into the lh/rh mouse buttons which might come in handy for ACAD like different line commands(Line. spline, construction, etc...) Multiline Text, Leader Notes and I am always toggling ORTHO mode etc. etc. etc...

4. Since it's a gaming mouse you can program 5 different programs/apps each with its own custom programmed functions.

5. The mouse knows what app you open and automatically switches between the onboard memory profiles. For me that would be AutoCad, Solidworks, MS Office/Desktop commands and Photoshop.

6. Its rechargeable battery life is quite long compared to some of the others and I bought a Soarking wireless charging station for it which makes recharging as easy as sticking the mouse on the magnetic charging block and it charges really fast.

So that's it and we'll see how it goes. The Logitech G-Hub programming/control software is NOT intuitive and seems like kind of a PITA and it will take some time to master but AutoCad and SolidWorks weren't all that easy to master and become an expert on either! 😉

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 07:59:25 GMT

Thanks for your comment and Just an update after a few weeks: After a ton of research I ended up getting a Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed. You can read my reasons and justifications in my UPDATE reply below. I am not sure how this forum works - like if someone comments does everybody else who commented on the subject get a update notice automatically?

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:01:25 GMT

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:06:43 GMT

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:07:35 GMT

Re: Best Programmable Mice

pendean — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:50:15 GMT

Thanks for sharing in detail. Congrats.

Re: Best Programmable Mice

CAD-Monster — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 07:57:21 GMT

Neither my friend, use the razer naga with 12 buttons programmable macros. And if you want to take a step even further, you can buy the Azeron Cyborg II for even more macros! I am currently using both and it's scary how fast i work now. Join the club!

Re: Best Programmable Mice

rickvj77 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:51:45 GMT

I was looking at those and like all the buttons on the side although they are right where your thumb is and I felt I would be accidentally hitting a button when moving or grabbing the mouse. I liked the interchangeable button plate and I don't think I would use the 12 button plate because trying to remember what every single button is and its location in the matrix would be a PITA and trying to hit each button individually without contacting the one next to it on the fly might be an issue with fat thumbs but the 6 button plate would be perfect. I was also reading that there were complaints about the contacts for the side buttons either not working or making double entries but my biggest concern was hitting buttons with my thumb by accident because of their location.

Re: Best Programmable Mice

dsechlerLXAXD — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:21:05 GMT

I have been thinking about adding a Azeron Cyborg into my naga build as the 3d space mouse is nice, but thinking about wanting more natural hand position as my left wrist is starting to ache a bit. Any particular suggested layouts for the or ways for starting to learn both layouts together or just try things and see what sticks?

Re: Best Programmable Mice

bhavani_sankuratri — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:20:19 GMT

Hi @rickvj77

I wanted to check in and see if you still needed assistance, or if you found a solution to your question already? Let us know if you need further assistance by providing an update or if you have found a solution, please share it with the community so other members who may have the same question could learn from your experience.

All the best,

Bhavani Sankuratri | Community Manager