Marianne Martinez
Cura is a 3D printing software that offers various features for controlling and manipulating 3D models. While Cura provides options for zooming and rotating, users often seek ways to pan the view to gain a different perspective. This is especially relevant when dealing with multiple objects and the desire to centre a specific object in the window. Although keyboard and mouse controls are available for panning in Cura, some users have expressed interest in customising these settings for improved navigation. This includes requests for a panning system similar to Preform, which includes rotating spheres or rings, as well as bars for panning and zooming. Understanding how to pan effectively in Cura is an important aspect of utilising the software for 3D printing tasks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Panning with a mouse and keyboard | Use the right-click to rotate and shift+right-click to pan. On a Mac, use a two-finger scroll to zoom and press-hold two fingers on the bed to rotate the view. To pan, do a shift-two-finger hold on the bed. |
| Panning with a 3D mouse | Users can control models in Cura using a 3D SpaceMouse. |
| Panning with a joystick | Some software supports joysticks for panning. |
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What You'll Learn
Panning with a mouse and keyboard
Windows:
If you are using Windows, you can use the mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in and out. To move the stage left, right, up, or down, press the middle button (by pressing down on the scroll wheel) and drag in the desired direction. To orbit around the stage, use the right-click button and drag.
Mac:
On a Mac, you can use the Shift key with the trackpad to move the view up and down. Additionally, you can use two fingers on the trackpad or an Apple Magic Mouse to zoom in and out. To orbit around the stage, use the right-click button and drag.
GNU/Linux:
For GNU/Linux users, the right-click performs a normal rotation, while Shift+right-click allows you to pan.
Customizing Settings:
You can further customize your mouse and keyboard settings in Cura. In the preferences, you can select "freecad trackpad" as your navigation style, though some users have reported issues with this option.
Additionally, you can use software like AutoHotkey to remap the mouse and mouse+key interactions to your preferred setup.
It's worth noting that Cura now offers support for controlling your models using a 3D SpaceMouse, providing more options for navigation and manipulation.
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Using a 3D SpaceMouse
To use the 3D SpaceMouse with Cura, you will need to download the latest plugin from the link provided by Ultimaker: https://github.com/smartavionics/RawMouse/releases. This plugin will enable the use of the SpaceMouse with Cura.
Additionally, you can try setting up the SpaceMouse as a KMJ (Keyboard Mouse Joystick) emulator. This involves modifying the CameraTool.py file to assign specific keys for tilting and panning. For example, U, H, Left, and Right can be used for tilting, while I, J, K, and L can be used for panning.
- Cura.xml is the configuration file for 3Dconnexion software and should be placed in "C:\Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg".
- CameraTool.py should be placed in "C:\Program Files\Ultimaker Cura 3.2\plugins\Tools\CameraTool".
- Restart the 3Dconnexion software and open Cura.
- To check if the Cura.xml configuration file is loaded correctly, hover over the 3Dconnexion system tray icon while Cura is in focus.
It is worth noting that some users have reported performance issues with the KMJ emulator setup and have expressed a preference for using other slicing software, such as Prusaslicer, that offers better native support for SpaceMouse. However, with the recent Cura 5.10 beta release, there is now official support for using a 3D SpaceMouse with Cura, which should improve the user experience.
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Panning on a Mac
Using a Trackpad
If you are using a Mac laptop with a trackpad, you can typically perform a two-finger scroll up and down to zoom in and out. To pan the view, try performing a shift-two-finger hold on the trackpad and moving your fingers in the direction you want to pan. This method may not work for all software, but it is worth trying as it does not require any additional hardware.
Using a Magic Mouse
If you are using a Magic Mouse (a mouse with a trackpad on top), you can hold the Shift key and slide your finger on the mouse in the direction you want to pan. To zoom in and out, hold the Control key and slide your finger on the mouse. Alternatively, you can try clicking Shift + Option (Alt) + Click to pan.
Utilizing Zoom Settings
If you are having trouble panning while zoomed in, you can try adjusting your zoom settings. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom and select the option to keep the mouse pointer in the center of the screen when zoomed in. This will allow you to reposition your view by quickly zooming out, moving your mouse, and then zooming back in.
Using a Three-Button Mouse
If the above methods do not work for your specific software or hardware configuration, you may need to use a three-button mouse. With a three-button mouse, you can typically hold the middle button and move the mouse to pan the view. This method may be more reliable but requires additional hardware.
It is worth noting that the specific keyboard shortcuts and gestures for panning may vary depending on the software you are using. If none of these methods work, you may need to consult the documentation or support resources for your specific software application.
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Panning with a trackpad
First, make sure you have the latest version of Cura installed. The developers are constantly working on improving the software, and newer versions may have better trackpad support. For example, the Cura 5.10 release brought support for the new Ultimaker S8 and new materials and profiles for older Ultimaker printers.
If you're using a Mac, try using the Shift key in combination with your trackpad gestures. One user reported that doing a "shift-two-finger hold" on the bed allowed them to pan around the model. This may be similar to the GNU/Linux method of panning, which involves using a shift+right-click to pan.
Another option is to use the CTRL or ALT key in combination with your trackpad. Some users have reported that the CTRL button does not work as expected with the touchpad, but using the ALT key may help. For example, holding down the ALT key while moving the mouse may allow you to pan without accidentally selecting the model.
You can also try adjusting your mouse rotation and panning settings. By default, Cura uses a right-click hold and drag to rotate and a right-click hold, shift, and drag to pan. However, you may be able to change these settings to something that works better for you and your trackpad.
Finally, if you're having issues with the trackpad in Cura, you may want to consider attaching a mouse. While it may not be ideal, some users have found that a mouse provides better control and precision when working in Cura.
By trying out these different methods and adjusting your settings, you should be able to pan with a trackpad in Cura more effectively.
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Panning with a joystick
While Cura does not currently support panning with a joystick, there are a few alternative methods for panning in the software.
On GNU/Linux, a right-click performs a normal rotation, while shift+right-click pans. If you are using a Mac, the right-click menu may pop up when attempting to pan, which can be frustrating. However, one user on Reddit suggested that the shortcut for panning on a Mac might be similar to that of GNU/Linux.
Additionally, Cura does offer plugins for all the main CAD platforms, but the lack of a consistent spin-zoom-pan setup across different platforms can be frustrating for users.
For users who prefer a joystick for panning and other functions, some software does support this input method. For example, FreeCAD supports joysticks, providing users with additional axes to work with.
While Cura does not yet support joysticks, the software has released plugins and updates to support other input methods, such as the 3D SpaceMouse. It is possible that future updates may include support for joysticks as well.
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Frequently asked questions
On GNU/Linux, use the right-click to rotate and shift+right-click to pan. For Mac, use a two-finger scroll to zoom and press-hold two fingers on the bed to rotate; then, use shift+two-finger hold on the bed to pan.
Yes, Cura supports 3D SpaceMouse and 3D trackpads. However, users have expressed a desire for improved customization options and more intuitive controls.
Click and drag to create a selecting rectangle, allowing you to pan and select different parts at the same time.
Yes, you can customize the settings. The default settings are right-click hold and drag for mouse rotation and right-click hold + shift + drag for panning.
While you can zoom and move around 3D objects, panning and centering multiple objects simultaneously is a feature that users have requested, but it doesn't appear to be available as of 2024.
