The CAD Comfort ManualProven ways to reduce pain and strain while working in CAD

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Table of Contents

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The Challenges of CAD Comfort

CAD professionals face tons of daily challenges. Solving complex design problems under pressure. Hitting deadlines while handling unforeseen production, manufacturing or client-facing issues. These challenges are critically important to your projects, career and company. They’re also normal to face on the job.

But there is one challenge that CAD professionals often face that they don’t need to: pain and strain at the desktop.

After long hours of repetitive clicking, scrolling and dragging the mouse, you experience pain or discomfort in your hands, wrists and / or arms. It may even get so bad you need to step away from your workstation.

This isn’t normal, even though far too many people think it is. And even occasional symptoms can have serious, long-lasting effects by causing repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) that damage your health and limit your potential.

An uncomfortable working experience doesn’t just affect the individual CAD user. It can have a ripple effect, disrupting productivity and creativity across whole teams and companies.

This guide breaks down how seemingly innocent comfort issues can actually cause serious injuries, and how to make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s designed to help you beat pain and strain, regain your productivity and health, and start enjoying CAD work again.

Pain and strain shouldn’t come hand-in-hand with working in CAD. And they don’t have to.

Read on to find out how to eliminate them for good.

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The Biggest Threat to Your CAD Career

Pains and strains are annoying distractions during your work day. But they can turn into something far more sinister.

Stiffness. Swelling. Aches and pains.

These aren’t just run-of-the-mill consequences from a long work day. They’re also indicators of repetitive strain injuries. Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are a collection of ailments caused when too much stress and pressure are put on the body’s muscles, nerves and tendons.

Unfortunately, too many people believe these aches and pains are simply a by-product of everyday life. In reality, RSIs are serious health issues that often grow worse over time—leading to increased pain, lost productivity, even more serious conditions

(like carpal tunnel syndrome) and, in some cases, forced retirement.

This makes RSIs serious considerations for anyone who uses a computer—and CAD professionals in particular. We love designing and the freedom of creating physical objects using only our imaginations and some killer technology.

However, that takes time. A lot of time.

According to a survey conducted by Technology Assessment Group, 41% of CAD design engineers surveyed spend 5 to 8 hours a day using CAD-related applications. A full 17% use CAD for 9 to 12 hours per day.

Driving your workstation for that length of time can cause serious pain and discomfort issues for CAD professionals. According to a study by VSI Risk Management and Ergonomics, 46% of designers reported their pain was so impactful that it interfered with their job performance. 52% of survey respondents identified mild to moderate design-related pain.

Pain in CAD is all too common. And it has real effects on 3D professionals.

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Take Nolan Farmer as an example.

Nolan runs Farmer Plastics & Machining, which provides invention, product design and other production services out of Boulder, Colorado. Nolan spends a ton of time using CAD software, both for his job and his hobby of designing state-of-the-art scale-model motorcycles. But both his livelihood and his enjoyable side pursuit were under threat due to serious arm pain.

“My right arm was going out on me and running the mouse was getting to be excruciating,” he says. These turned out to be early symptoms of RSIs. Nolan quickly found out that the pain affected both his physical health and the health of his business by:

» Stunting productivity. When you’re in pain at work, performance suffers. And you may even miss days due to serious RSIs like carpal tunnel.

» Decreasing output quality. When you push through pain to work, errors and sloppy craftsmanship become more common.

» Stifling creativity. When CAD professionals consistently experience pain while designing, the less likely they are to unlock their full creative potential.

Many CAD professionals who experience RSIs or chronic pain and strain have identified the culprits to be:

» Input devices

» Office space peripherals (such as the type of desk or chair used).

» Posture, body position or arm position.

» The nature of professional CAD (where you click all day, every day).

Thankfully, Nolan prevented these issues from becoming the norm. Using some of the tips and tools in this guide, he alleviated and eliminated the arm pain—leading to design-filled, pain-free CAD sessions.

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Habits for Pain-Free Design Sessions

Reducing pain and strain in CAD starts with the habits you use every day. How your body moves, feels and is positioned during the day impacts your level of comfort.

That’s why adhering to these easy, fast and effective habits is the first step towards pain-free design sessions.

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Habit One: Stretch and Take Breaks Regularly03

Breaks are also key. While it’s easy to get into the zone when designing in CAD, set a timer periodically to step away from the

computer, perform a stretch or just

stop clicking and dragging your mouse for a few

seconds.

For a good list of easy-to-learn stretches, check out this website.

» Sideways stretches.

» Upper arm stretches.

» Head tilts.

» Arm swings.

» Back stretches.

And many more.

Working long hours in front of a computer makes it easy to fall into a sedentary life-style, which is dangerous to your health. Sitting all day doesn’t just cause pain and strain in CAD; it can even lead to an early death.

Pain and muscle tightness are early indicators that you’re sitting too long and your body is responding poorly—so stretch out the afflicted areas as soon as you can.

There are a number of stretches you can even do right in your office, including:

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Habit Two: Turn Your Office Into A Gym

There’s plenty of low-key exercises you can do right in your office to help keep your blood pumping. Try taking a lap around the office, doing bicep curls with a stapler (don’t count on getting big guns) or tightening your abs in increments of 15 seconds.

Also try:

» Taking the stairs, not the elevator.

» Tricep dips (all you need is a chair).

» Shoulder shrugs (just raise your shoulders towards your ears, hold, and repeat).

The list of desk exercises you can do is nearly endless.

Here’s a full list of 33 work exercises to keep you on your toes.

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Habit Three: Correct Your Posture

Poor posture runs rampant in offices—whether you’re slouching during a meeting or hunched over a computer screen. And studies have shown that it wreaks havoc on your health. Bad posture has been linked to depression and reduced energy levels. With side effects like fatigue and muscle pain, fixing your posture is a no brainer.

You can improve it instantly by:

» Uncrossing your legs.

» Pulling your shoulder blades together.

» Aligning your ears with your shoulders.

» And squaring your shoulders.

In addition to poor posture, your body position at your desk causes muscle cramps and aches.

For optimal positioning, ensure your arms meet the desk at a 90-degree angle, the top of your computer screen is at eye level, and your feet are planted firmly and flat on the ground.

Habits are just one piece of the puzzle. There are also specific tools that enhance comfort and reduce pain.

Read on to learn exactly which ones can be combined with healthy habits to create a truly pain-free experience in CAD.

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Tools for Improved Design Comfort

If you work in CAD, chances are you’re an expert at using advanced tools to solve painful problems. Why not do the same when it comes to your CAD-related pain and strain?

With just a few key tools, you can optimize your workspace with ergonomic comfort in mind and reinforce the good habits you’ve already learned.

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Chair & Desk Tools

For many CAD professionals, most of the working day is spent at a desk. These tools are built to improve posture, increase productivity and reduce design-related pain.

Once you have the tools, use this workstation planner to find the right position for your workstation components.

Lumbar Cushion »

Bad posture is often to blame for back and neck pain. A lumbar cushion aligns your spine while sitting and improves your posture. You’ll still need to maintain good posture, but it’s much easier to do using a lumbar cushion. Pro tip: Don’t want to buy a lumbar cushion? Try rolling up a blanket or sweatshirt and placing it between the small of your back and your chair.

Exercise Ball Chair »

Don’t be fooled by this chair’s quirky appearance. The exercise ball chair strengthens your back muscles and your abs as you sit. The result is better posture over time as your core muscles grow stronger.

Adjustable Desk »

Sitting all day can be terrible for your health. However, standing all day can be exhausting. The adjustable desk offers a happy medium. It’s a workstation that adjusts to sitting or standing preferences quickly—all without interrupting your work.

Wrist Support Pads »

Continuous typing and keyboard use put stress on your hands and wrist joints. Even basic wrist support pads help mitigate this pain, and are a cost-effective way to stop recurring wrist issues.

Laptop Stand »

This handy little device props your computer up so you can view the screen at eye level. Keeping the screen at eye level is one critical way to maintain good posture and body positioning at your desk.

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The Ultimate Pain Reduction Tool: The Two-Handed WorkflowNow that you’ve optimized your workspace, it’s time to optimize your design sessions.

Good news: There’s one easy change you can make to your CAD workflow that dramatically reduces pain and strain. It’s called a two-handed workflow, and using it is scientifically proven to eliminate major RSIs and CAD discomfort issues.

RSIs are most common in professionals who only use a regular mouse to click, drag and select items in their CAD software.

The repetitive motions and tedious clicks quickly add up as almost all the input commands are being channelled through this single device.

A two-handed workflow solves this problem. It’s the most sensible way to work in CAD and you can adopt it immediately.

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What Is A Two-Handed Workflow?

The most notable addition when adopting a two-handed workflow is the use of a dedicated 3D input device, most commonly referred to as a 3D mouse.

With a 3D mouse you have the extraordinary ability to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate models while the regular mouse stays in its regular place. More advanced models also provide a built-in wrist rest for even higher levels of comfort and arrays of useful buttons for fingertip access to your favorite application commands.

More recently, 3Dconnexion introduced a replacement for the “regular” mouse in direct response to requests from CAD users. Designed specifically for CAD professionals, CadMouse features an intelligent ergonomic design, high-precision laser sensor and selection of smart software features that make working in CAD a much more enjoyable and rewarding experience.

The 3D mouse and CadMouse work together in a balanced, cooperative workflow. Muscle movements are distributed evenly across

both hands, resulting in less clicks, reduced mouse travel and crucially, reduced strain on key body parts.

The two-handed workflow is proven to provide serious benefits:

» 97% of users say using a 3D mouse in tandem with a regular mouse reduces pain.

» 61% say a 3D mouse increases comfort and reduces pain within the first month of use.

» A 3D mouse reduces right- and left-hand motions by 66%, meaning you deal with dramatically less muscle fatigue.

For more information on the 3D mice and CAD-specific mice that reduce pain as part of a two-handed workflow, visit the 3Dconnexion website.

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Command

Command

Command

Command

Command

Command

+ Switch Time

Bandwidth Increase

+ Switch Time

+ Switch Time

CadMouse

SpaceMouse Enterprise

CadMouse Pad

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05Improve your CAD work with the 3Dconnexion Family of Devices

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The 3Dconnexion Family

SpaceNavigatorThe 3D Mouse for Everyone

Perfect for you if you want a more natural way to interact with your CAD content at an affordable cost.

The SpaceNavigator is the entry-level 3D mouse, but it still packs a punch thanks to the patented six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) controller cap, the central feature of all 3Dconnexion 3D mice.

SpaceNavigator for NotebooksThe Traveler’s Best Friend

Perfect for you if you use 3D applications in lots of different places.

The SpaceNavigator for Notebooks offers the same 6DoF navigation and two buttons of the SpaceNavigator, but in a travel-sized package that’s half the weight of its cousin and two-thirds the size.

SpaceMouse WirelessFor Fans of Clean Lines and Clutter-Free Desktops

Perfect for you if you’re looking for a sleek, stylish and intuitive way to interact with digital 3D content.

The SpaceMouse Wireless is the world’s first wireless 3D mouse. Its 2.4 GHz wireless technology, cord-free design, one-month battery life and two buttons make this mouse a 3D designer’s best friend.

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The 3Dconnexion Family (cont.)

SpaceMouse ProThe 3D Mouse for the Professional

Perfect for you if you’re a busy professional who spends more than a few hours per day working with 3D content.

The SpaceMouse Pro offers 15 completely customizable buttons including four intelligent function keys and QuickView navigation keys so you’re always in control of your designs.

SpaceMouse Pro WirelessThe Wireless 3D Mouse for the Professional

Perfect for you if you’re a busy professional who spends much of the day working with 3D content and appreciates the finer things in life (like a cord-free desktop).

The SpaceMouse Pro Wireless offers the same professional features as its wired sibling with the added convenience of a cord-free workspace. Its 2.4 GHz wireless technology and two-month battery life offer a real-time, reliable and precise connection between you and your design.

SpaceMouse EnterpriseBuilt for Top Engineering Performance

Perfect for you if you want to get your job done as easily as possible.

At the top, there is no room for second best. The world’s premier firms demand the highest level of performance from their engineering teams. Enter the 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Enterprise.

Recognize your true creative ability with the right tools at your fingertips.

Equip yourself with a 3D mouse »

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3Dconnexion Product Comparison Chart

Professional Series Personal Series

SpaceMouse® Enterprise

SpaceMouse® Pro Wireless

SpaceMouse® Pro SpaceMouse® Wireless

SpaceNavigator® SpaceNavigator® for Notebooks

Navigation3Dconnexion® 6DoF Technology • • • • • •

Standard QuickViews Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Front, Back, ISO1, ISO2, 90° Rotation Clockwise /

Counter Clockwise

Top, Right, Front, 90° Rotation Clockwise

Top, Right, Front, 90° Rotation Clockwise

Custom QuickViews Save / View 3 custom views

Rotation Lock • • •

PerformanceIntelligent Function Keys Access to 12

application commandsAccess to 4

application commandsAccess to 4

application commands

Color LCD Intuitive icon and text visualization of

commands assigned to Function Keys

Total Programmable Keys 31 15 15 2 2 2

ComfortAdvanced Hand Rest • • •

Keyboard Modifiers Complete Set of Keyboard Modifiers:

Enter, Delete, Esc, Tab, Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Space

Esc, Shift, Ctrl, Alt Esc, Shift, Ctrl, Alt

3Dconnexion Wireless Technology • •

Dimensions (LxWxH) 249 x 154 x 58 mm 9.8 x 6.1 x 2.3 ”

204 x 142 x 58 mm 8 x 5.6 x 2.3 ”

204 x 142 x 58 mm 8 x 5.6 x 2.3 ”

78 x 78 x 54 mm 3.1 x 3.1 x 2.1 ”

78 x 78 x 53 mm 3.1 x 3.1 x 2.1 ”

68 x 68 x 46 mm 2.7 x 2.7 x 1.8 ”

Weight 800g / 1.76 lbs 563g / 1.24 lbs 665g / 1.47 lbs 424g / 0.93 lbs 479g / 1.06 lbs 250g / 0.58 lbs

Warranty 3+1* years 3 years 3 years 2 years 2 years 2 years

* Additional one year warranty requires product registration within 90 days of purchase date.

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05The two-handed workflow enabled by a 3D mouse delivers the best results when you use a CadMouse. CadMouse is a high-performance device used in your dominant hand to click, select and create in your software, while your 3D mouse in your non-dominant hand does the rest.

Take a look at some of the extraordinary features that put CadMouse above and beyond any other mouse on the market. 

» Dedicated, Full-Size Middle Mouse Button: Every CAD user knows how much they rely on the middle mouse button, but ordinary mice bury it under the scroll wheel. The CadMouse has a dedicated, full-size middle mouse button, so it’s no longer necessary to click the uncomfortable scroll wheel thousands of times per day.

» QuickZoom: Effortlessly zoom in and out of your models or drawings with a single click of a thumb button. Combine this feature

with the 6-degrees-of-freedom navigation enabled by a 3Dconnexion 3D mouse for previously unseen levels of Two-Handed Power.

» Smart Scroll Wheel: Automatic scroll wheel performance depending on the active application. Precise “click-to-click” zooming in CAD applications or speedy scrolling in browsers and documents. It’s a seamless experience that ordinary mice just can’t provide.

» Advanced Laser Sensor: With 8200dpi and a poll rate of up to 1000Hz (responsiveness of 1 millisecond) you’ll click exactly where you need to, when you need to. The CadMouse has the level of precision CAD professionals demand—and deserve.

» Optimally Shaped PTFE Feet: Because 3Dconnexion specializes in CAD, we pay acute attention to details like how materials and geometry affect friction. It’s especially important when you consider that serious CAD users can be moving their mouse up to 1km per week. CadMouse has optimally shaped feet made from PTFE, a material with one of the lowest coefficients of friction against any solid, resulting in a near perfect equilibrium. The result? CadMouse moves exactly how you mean it to—every time.

» Gesture / Radial Menu Button: The CadMouse’s gesture button opens a context sensitive on-screen radial menu. Simply move the cursor left, right, up or down to activate the command.

Learn more about CadMouse here »

Perfect for you if: You want the best possible

experience out of your CAD software.

CadMouse The Perfect Match For Your 3D Mouse

CadMouse

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About 3Dconnexion

3Dconnexion designs powerful, ergonomic hardware and smart, easy-to-use software that combine seamlessly to make working in the world’s most popular CAD applications fast, comfortable and fun. From our SpaceMouse 3D mice to the CadMouse, 3Dconnexion products provide a superior way for CAD professionals to interact with and experience the digital world.

The 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse product line delivers natural, precise positioning of digital models or views that just isn’t possible using any other input device. With a SpaceMouse you have the extraordinary ability to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate models while the regular mouse stays in its regular place. It’s a comfortable and efficient two-handed workflow that feels good and enables you to achieve more in less time.

We pioneered this two-handed workflow, and then we perfected it with the release of the CadMouse. The CadMouse is the first mouse used in your regular mouse hand that is built specifically for CAD professionals. With a unique dedicated middle mouse button, Smart Scroll wheel and useful set of CAD-specific tools including the incredibly convenient QuickZoom, the CadMouse makes working in (and out) of design and CAD applications more comfortable, efficient and fun.

When you pair a 3Dconnexion CadMouse with a SpaceMouse, the results are extraordinary. The SpaceMouse smoothly positions your object or view, while the CadMouse selects and creates with ease. It’s a natural and comfortable work style that can’t be matched.

3Dconnexion provides peace of mind to 3D professionals who design the buildings, machines and products that power our world. They take their work seriously, and so do we. Technology and build quality combine to deliver the performance that CAD professional demand – and deserve.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest company and industry news via:

3Dconnexion Blog »

05Learn more about how to reduce pain with 3Dconnexion products on our website »

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