Fusion 360 support for older 3dconnexion SpaceMouse

[mickey.wakefield]

Hello Everyone -

In the most recent update to Fusion 360 (November 30, 2021 - Fusion Build Number 2.0.11685) we added official support for the 3dconnexion SpaceMouse products. Note that this support is for Windows only - MacOS is expected in the future.

Unfortunately - this change affects older SpaceMouse products. Many people where already using a SpaceMouse and are finding that it no longer works, post-update.

Fusion 360 did not officially support using a SpaceMouse but it was possible to position the models on screen and some shortcuts did work. Many users likely did not notice that their SpaceMouse buttons could not be mapped to most Fusion 360 commands, and did not function properly in Fusion 360's various environments.

To remedy this loss of functionality - we plan to include a preference in the next minor update of Fusion 360 (scheduled for Dec 2021) which will allow users to select legacy support for their older 3dconnexion SpaceMouse products. (see attached mockup) This will allow for functionality as before. The SpaceMouse should be able to position models properly, but not all mappings will be available and these will not change depending on the active Fusion 360 environment.

To be able to take advantage of full support for the 3dconnexion SpaceMouse - users will need to upgrade their SpaceMouse to a newer model which can support 3dconnexion's SDK 4 or higher.

2021-12-06 11_18_57-Preferences (1).png

[Phil.E]

• For everyone who wants sketch locking to go away
• For everyone who has an older device
• See message 15:
  • https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/problem-auto-lock-rotation-in-sketch-mode/...

[Anonymous]

This is pretty rad and I'd just like to say thank you.

I'm using a SpacePilot and plan to keep using it until the hardware crumbles, and I'm delighted that the Fusion team realized a recent update killed it. Y'all could've easily said "Tough nuggets, 3DConnexion doesn't support it anymore, buy something newer ya cheapskate", and told me to kick rocks.

But you listened to users and did extra work to build in two versions of the API, for those of us using older hardware, and the folks using newer. I was away from Fusion for a few weeks on another project, and when I came back to find that my SpacePilot didn't work, all I had to do was search some (initially very concerning!) forum threads, discover the fix was already implemented, and go toggle one setting in Preferences to activate it. 

And just like that, I'm back to flying around my models like sci-fi foretold. Thanks for not breaking the future. 

[zyglog]

Thank you for adding support and including option for legacy mice. Mouse would only pan in sketch. When set to legacy it works again.

[CameronN393M]

I commented a few weeks ago about how much I dislike the new rotation lock while sketching feature, but I didn’t say why and should have mentioned it in the first comment.  It’s fine for the first sketch in a new part, but as the part grows in complexity, with lots of angles and undercut areas, being able to rotate is necessary.  Rotating while sketching makes it fast and simple to see what you're doing and constraining to.  It’s easy to say just click home, or grab the cube, but that unnecessarily interrupts the flow of drawing.  I’ve switched to legacy, and I’m looking forward to the fix. 

[hunterstabler]

Hi, I am looking at getting a 3Dconnexion Cadmouse and since you have some longstanding experience with their products, maybe you can answer a question for me. Can I use the Cadmouse and their software to change the pan, orbit, zoom, marking menu mouse buttons? I would like to configure them to work the same as Rhino3D default and it seems that will never be an option to do in the preferences of Fusion360 software, no matter how many people ask. 

[Phil.E]

3dconnexion has released their latest driver for windows with full support for Sketch Lock on/off. The version is now 10.8.5

Steps:

1. After installing the latest drivers, open the 3dconnexion settings, Advanced, Other:

PhilE_0-1644361071672.png

This will enable supported devices to take advantage of full Fusion 360 command integration/customization, as well has have control to turn on/off the Sketch Lock feature.

[CameronN393M]

Being able to turn off “sketch lock” is a big relief. Thank you to everyone involved in getting this fixed so quickly.

[stringwringler]

I have investigated this to some extent some time ago in this thread.
Just for info. It could be of some relevance to some of you.

Best regards

[jrcromwellYLLRA]

After updating to 2.0.13618 my 3dconnexion SpaceTraveler has stopped working in Fusion 360. This device still works in other apps. The driver version is 6.7.13 the release version is 3.7.22 this is the newest 3dconnexion software I can run with this product. Spacemouse setting in Fusion is set to Legacy. OS is Windows 10 Pro Version 21H2 OS build 19044.1826. I have tried to using several newer versions of the 3dconnexion releases and none of them are compatible with my device. The only other version 2.8.2 does work but alas not with 360. Any ideas or do I need to look at other options? Seems a shame to have to purchase a new one when it works fine in other apps. 

[Phil.E]

Did you confirm after installing 2.0.13618, in Fusion preferences, that the setting on Legacy?

[jrcromwellYLLRA]

You might have missed that in my OP but yes I absolutely did. I have tried both latest and legacy. I have also tried the option on the 3dconnexion forum where you install the older driver software and manually install the msi for a newer driver. However the latest package from 3dconnexion 10.8.8 does not include a 360 specific msi and I do not believe it would matter since the older packages are using the xml's and not the msi's. I did attempt though just out of sheer hope.

[waynevanrooyen]

Has this now been removed in the latest version

[Phil.E]

The option is now found in this part of the preferences dialog.

New location for 3Dconnexion preferences

[waynevanrooyen]

Thank you