Constrained orbit is not working with Spacemouse

[Anonymous]

Constrained orbit works just fine when you are using the regular mouse but Spacemouse is always in free orbit mode - regardless of the settings.

[Anonymous]

Win10 64Bit

Fusion360: Version 2.0.8624

SpaceMouse Compact: Driver 3DxWare 10.6.9.3230 3DxWinCore 17.6.9.17612

I am horrified how simple, intuitive manipulation is just not possible with the current versions of the driver and Fusion 360 settings.

I think what most people want (including people on this thread) is to manipulate the model with the SpaceMouse in the same way clicking and dragging the top-right ViewCube works (with Constrained orbit enabled), whilst replacing the laborious mouse wheel zoom with one axis (of the users choice) of the SpaceMouse. The cherry on top would be to auto-disable all rotation axes upon entering Sketch mode, enabling the SpaceMouse to zoom and pan the sketch without tilt ruining the plane view.

I don't want to be fighting to correct which way is 'up' the whole time I'm rotating the model. I also can't believe there is no way to assign the 'Go To Home View' button to the SpaceMouse side buttons...

For me, Preferences>Default Orbit Type>Constrained Orbit is totally ignored when rotating the model with the SpaceMouse. Rotate one left/right TILT axis with the SpaceMouse and the view is tilted (like tilting your head to one side) not just orbited around the model as one would expect. It is has lost which way is 'up' just by trying to rotate the model (like on a turn table). You can easily isolate this issue by switching off everything but the left/right TILT axis on the SpaceMouse settings, and swapping between mouse drag ViewCube mode (where Constrained Orbit snaps on) and SpaceMouse mode (where constrained orbit snaps to off).

This simple solution unfortunately requires work from the Fusion 360 team and 3D Connexion.

[Anonymous]

Win10 64Bit

Fusion360 Version 2.0.8624

SpaceMouse Compact

I am horrified how simple, intuitive manipulation is just not possible with the current versions of the driver and Fusion 360 settings.

I think what most people want (including people on this thread) is to manipulate the model with the SpaceMouse in the same way clicking and dragging the top-right ViewCube works (with Constrained orbit enabled), whilst replacing the laborious mouse wheel zoom with one axis (of the users choice) of the SpaceMouse. The cherry on top would be to auto-disable all rotation axes upon entering Sketch mode, enabling the SpaceMouse to zoom and pan the sketch without tilt ruining the plane view.

I don't want to be fighting to correct which way is 'up' the whole time I'm rotating the model. I also can't believe there is no way to assign the 'Go To Home View' button to the SpaceMouse side buttons...

For me, Preferences>Default Orbit Type>Constrained Orbit is totally ignored when rotating the model with the SpaceMouse. Rotate one left/right TILT axis with the SpaceMouse and the view is tilted (like tilting your head to one side) not just orbited around the model as one would expect. It is has lost which way is 'up' just by trying to rotate the model (like on a turn table). You can easily isolate this issue by switching off everything but the left/right TILT axis on the SpaceMouse settings, and swapping between mouse drag ViewCube mode (where Constrained Orbit snaps on) and SpaceMouse mode (where constrained orbit snaps to off).

This simple solution unfortunately requires work from the Fusion 360 team and 3D Connexion.

[Phil.E]

Thanks for the feedback.

It might help to provide a little background.

3D connexion is the designer if the space mouse experience in Fusion 360. The drivers are their own, and the navigation is their own. If spacemouse is to follow constrained orbit settings in Fusion, they would have to change their drivers to allow it. There isn't anything Fusion developers can do to inform 3D connexion drivers (as they currently exist) that Fusion is in a constrained orbit mode.

In the driver settings, you can use the side buttons for:

1. Turntable rotations (rotate cw/ccw)

2. Home view (Isometric 1)

Have you tried asking 3D connexion these questions? They have been great at supporting Fusion for years, perhaps they might want to hear this feedback too.

[Anonymous]

Hi Phil.E, thanks very much for the response!

Sadly Isometric 1 and Isometric 2 do not replicate the Home view. They appear to be strange unhelpful rotated views and do not return the ViewCube to the Home rotation, at least on my vanilla Win10 64Bit Fusion 360 install.

Are 3D Connexion patching in to an existing AutoDesk Fusion360 API? Just how much integration can 3DConnexion create their end? Do you have a contact that would be useful to talk to rather than a generic support ticket?

The reason I ask is that, in order to implement auto rotation lock in SKETCH and DRAWING workspace, the Device driver must be able to tell which workspace Fusion360 is working in.

I feel the hardware has tremendous potential, but the current software implementation seems needlessly awkward to the point that I return to Shift-MiddleMouse Dragging the view in frustration.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Hi @Phil.E 

Just out of interest I took a look at how a third party guy programmed a SpaceMouse plugin for Unity3D (the game development platform), and even he had enabled an UP hint when flying the camera around. This is how it should be done in Fusion360. I am mystified why it has not be implemented. He stops the camera from rotating about it's own Z (into the screen) axis (like tilting your head to one side). Probably with an UP Vector3 hint parameter to the lookAt / PointAt call... or whatever the method name is on the API.

Please PM me a contact at 3DConnexion if you have one, as I've heard a cold email support ticket can often fall on deaf ears. Many thanks!

Richard

[Anonymous]

Hi @Phil.E 

I worked out the bug with Isometric View 1 and Isometric View 2.

They ONLY work if Preferences>Default Modelling Orientation is set to 'Y up'. If Fusion 360 is set to default preferences (Z up) the SpaceMouse button View Commands do not work correctly.

I'll let you know when I've narrowed the camera rotation problems down further.

Richard

[Phil.E]

Sorry I don't have any contacts at 3D connexion at this time.

[Anonymous]

Hi @Phil.E 

Do you have a contact within Autodesk that could deal directly with 3DConnexion to resolve this critical ConstrainOrbit/Lock Horizon flaw? It seems to have been ignored by both companies for three years, and I would like to try and find a contact at each company and bring them together so they can to fix it.

Lock Horizon (Known as Constrain Orbit in Fusion360) is working on the free Demo that comes with the SpaceMouse, but incredibly, this critical feature is removed from the SpaceMouse settings window when using Fusion 360!

I am considering developing a 'Mockup' of Fusion360 using Unity3D as a demo of exactly how SpaceMouse 'could' work in Fusion 360 if the driver/Fusion 360 worked together correctly, but don't want to waste my time if no-one who matters will see it.

Many thanks!

[Phil.E]

I currently do not know who that contact would be.

The problem you are so clearly spelling out lies in the 3Dconnexion drivers. Those options are controlled by the spacemouse drivers that 3Dconnexion has crafted for their support of Fusion 360. Have you posted this question on the 3Dconnexion forum?

[Anonymous]

Hi @Phil.E

Sorry, I don't mean to irritate. 😄

Let me explain why I think a contact in both companies will probably be required to finally get these issues addressed. I have a c# demo working in Unity3D that has what I would consider the perfect CAD controls for Fusion 360. I will approach 3Dconnexion Support with these fixes and feature suggestions very soon (happy to supply my method, maths, code), but before I approach them I would like to understand how the driver communicates with Fusion 360 in order to fend off 'potential' 3Dconnexion statements (for example)...

'We can't auto turn off all rotation axes (leaving pan and zoom) in Sketch Mode because the Fusion 360 API does not expose that information to the driver.'

'We can't fix the camera transform.Rotate about local-space rather than world-space issue because Fusion 360 API does not allow us direct control of the camera transform.'

'We can't get SpaceMouse working AT ALL in the Drawing workspace because it uses a different viewport manager system to the design workspace.'

And so on...

It would be very helpful to have someone within Autodesk who can refute or help iron out such claims before I push for a fix at 3Dconnexion.

When I have added sketch mode to my 'How it could be done' demo, I'll post a ScreenCast on this, and 3Dconnexion's, forum.

Many thanks for talking to me so far!

[EricY_Design]

Note: This is not a solution to the thread topic.

Hi C.Nicks, I've posted about the weird tilt (in Free Orbit) you experienced on my other post.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-support/free-orbit-bug-closer-to-a-fix/m-p/10168742/highli...

I found that it'll temporarily return to normal by one of these:

1. Use the Constrained Orbit tool to orbit for any amount ("shake it loose") and return to Free Orbit
2. Choose a face on the View Cube (e.g. Top/Bottom/Left/Right/Front/Rear)
3. Choosing a Named View from the browser

Apparently it's a more general problem that happens on regular mouse and touch screen too, really irritating...

Hope this helps.

Eric