3D Mice Enhance Motorcycle Design Process

If you're racing some of the fastest, most aerodynamic motorcycles in the world, you want a machine that's comfortable, easy to operate, and gets you to the finish line first. The same holds true for the engineers and designers behind the finished product.

The motorsports engineering team that creates the award-winning motorcycles at Portland, Ore.-based MotoCzysz often faces tight deadlines, meaning long hours and high expectations from management, both of which can be mentally and physically demanding. To help boost productivity and relieve discomfort, the team needs a tool that's ergonomic, easy to work with, and helps them go from concept to product quickly.

Nick Schoeps, lead motorsports engineer at MotoCzysz, first used a 3Dconnexion 3D mouse at the University of Michigan while working with a solar car team. There, he grew accustomed to the benefits of a 3D mouse, which became an essential part of extensive CAD design, especially during busy seasons.

Throughout the years, MotoCzysz experienced a steady influx of design projects that included complex elements and tight deadlines. The 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro played a significant role here. Schoeps says that by combining the 3D mouse and SolidWorks, he reduces design time by about 20 percent to 30 percent.

Alternatives to the 3D mouse approach include using traditional input devices on their own, the most popular of which is coupling a standard or trackball mouse with a keyboard. This is typically the option for users who began working on CAD using a standard mouse only, and thus are familiar with that work style. However, 3D mouse users, after getting familiar with using the devices along with their standard mouse, see boosts in productivity and performance, resulting in a faster, more comfortable design process.

Other benefits of the mouse include:

John Moseley is the director of global marketing for 3Dconnexion, the creator of 3D mice for design and visualization professionals.

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