First off, I loathe mouse pads. PERIOD!! I cant stand the way they look and I really cant stand the way that they feel - makes my skin crawl.
However, I use a stand-up desk with a pull-out tray for the keyboard and mouse area. Given my above statement(s), I have not used a mouse pad in about 20 years. I use the Logitech G602 mouse and, up until recently, it has performed flawlessly on the surface of the keyboard tray.
However, the area that I use the mouse in has either gotten dirty from the time of use or the surface has been wearing down from use (my guess is the latter). The area where I normally use the mouse the most is discolored and a lot slicker than the surrounding areas.
So, my question is: does anyone know of an alternative to a mouse "pad" that I could put down on my tray and not have to worry with this issue any longer?
Try self-adhesive mouse pad.
You can use hard plastic. Like cutting board which also come in wood and bamboo.
Stainless steel sheet? Alum, Copper?
I like the gaming mouse pad with smooth cloth.
My arm can slide easily even on a hot day.
Track ball. No mouse pad. I use the Kensington Slim Blade. Doesn't move around. Doesn't wear the desk. Only takes up the space of its footprint. Easier to get an ergonomic benefit because your arm is in a fixed position. I don't miss mice at all.
I just came across the metal mouse pads...I think I will look in to those. I just don't like the cloth feel of a standard mouse pad.
Logitech also offers a gaming style hard-surface mouse pad that I may check in to as well...
Thanks for the input
I use and love this one. Big enough for large movements, and never slides:
3Dconnexion - CadMouse Pad Compact (not the compact one.....the larger one that is shown there)
I tried a track ball back a long time ago - when I first switched to Solidworks. I did not like it and had a real hard time getting used to it. Ended up giving it to my coworker who used it as a paper weight.
Hi ,
Did you look into the gaming companies such as SteelSeries or Razer ?
They have some Hard Surface Pads.
Have you tried cleaning the desk?
I also use the CadMouse Pad - the larger (14"w x 10"h) of the 2 available, and would say it is most preferable to me from any I have used.
For my seutp, I wish it was even bigger (like 16" x 16") because I keep running off the edge and it is about .075" thick and I catch the mouse, my fingers or when I am working on my desk with some objects, tools or products, I run into the edge.
I have my desk surface topped with a pad designed for toolbox drawers (thin, stiff but rubber like material) .
I do a lot of work where I cut things with razors and want the surface to be slightly cushioned but not spongy. This pad works well under my keyboard (doesn't let it slide easily) and is hard enough for working but soft enough when I want.
But because it has a slight texture the Cad Mouse (or any mouse) will not move or register the movement accurately or easily enough.
I have been using a piece of conveyor belt sample material turned upside down for the last 8 years or so....
I really like my Wow!Pad . . . https://www.amazon.com/WOW-PAD-LFR48-Graphite-Format/dp/B000F3IS8I
Hey Matt,
Do you also use this to work with SolidWorks..? Seems like something that could lack the precision that I desire to have and that a mouse brings when working with SolidWorks.
Is it hard to adapt to it?
Back to the topic:
Most people here use a 3D Mouse with a wireless mouse. The mouse pad is up to the user so I'd say about 50% of the people have one, including me.
I work with a brand new wireless Logitech M510 and a mousepad, no 3D mouse.Until last week, I was using the cheap wired mouse that came with my HP Workstation.
Like Matt Lombard I have used Trackballs since around 2008 with SOLIDWORKS and would never go back to using a mouse.
Currently I have the Logitech MX Ergo Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Designed for Comfort and Precision
before that the Logitech M570.
I can move across a Ultra Wide screen two 15mm (5/8") movements of my thumb. The Ergo also has a button to ultra slow the movement of the cursor for precision selection.
15-30min is all it takes to adapt to it, if you like it. If you don't, then never!
Kevin, we had a gentleman here years ago who swore by custom vinyl. Used to buy different patterns (whatever suited his needs for the year) from the local shop up the road that made signs and such with a sticky backing similar to a car bumper sticker.
Occasionally he would even show up with something similar to this ... Same kind of idea but he would get them in complementary patterns/grains for the desk he had ... Wood Grain - Shelf Adhesive ... Slate Gray - Shelf Adhesive
They have darker colors and gray too if you need it to match/blend your stand up desk ...
Alex, yeah, I use it with SW. The Slim Blade has a big ball, so it's more precise than one with a marble. It only took me a couple of days to get used to it. You twist the ball to scroll, and it has 4 programmable buttons. There is another version that has a physical ring around the ball that you use to scroll.
I use it with a space mouse. I did find manipulating the view awkward with the trackball, but because I've always had a space mouse, I never put much effort into it. Moving back to a regular mouse just feels clumsy now.
Moving a mouse around, you either have to deal with charging it up, or a cord while trying to move it. Plus, stuff on your desk limits the range of motion and you play bumper cars with your mouse. Trackball stands still, stays where you put it. Way better for desk space and ergonomics. Your hand isn't always bunched up around the mouse.
Thanks for the feedback Matt Lombard and Michael Lord.
If I need to switch mouse again or get carpian tunnel I'll think about this. The ''ergonomic'' mouses we have here for people with carpain tunnel syndrome are just horrible
This is it:
Oh I thought it works.
Well, I guess they work for people with carpian tunnel as people who I work with that use them do suffer from carpian tunnel with other mouses on the long run. I just really don't like the feel when working with it.
Logitech G440 Hard Gaming Mouse Pad for High DPI Gaming
I use this at home and at work with my Logitech G502 Gaming Mouse. It's a hard surface vs soft cloth, and has a rubber backing so it doesn't slide around the desk. The only problem I've noticed with it is that since it's got a large surface area, it doesn't necessarily fit on a stand-up desk. But I guess that depends on the desk. Either way, 11/10 would recommend.
I have the same mouse. I bought it for home to get some variation in the repetitive stress on my wrist. I ended up buying one for work that sits along side my normal mouse. If my wrist gets sore, I can switch to the other orientation.
Very happy with it. Only $15 (for the wired version, my preference) too.
Well...duh
Yes, I have cleaned it several times: bleach water, scrubbing bubbles, 409, etc....
BINGO!!! This is what I will be doing!!!
I have a vinyl cutter and a piece of 12x12 diamond plate pattern vinyl that I have been trying to find a place to use. I will just put this down on my desk and try it out!!!
Test the mouse on the vinyl.
Not all optical sensor work on all surface.