# Feature Request: Rotatrix 3D Trackball Support

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-rotatrix-3d-trackball-support/42524>\
**Category:** Feature requests\
**Created:** [November 2, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-rotatrix-3d-trackball-support/42524 "2026-11-02T10:15:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![david4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@david4](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/david4)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/feature-request-rotatrix-3d-trackball-support/42524/1 "2026-11-02T10:15:16Z")

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Hi Shapr3D team,

I’m the developer of [Rotatrix](https://rotatrix.com), a 3-axis trackball controller for navigating and manipulating 3D models. I’d love to add support for Shapr3D.

**The problem that this feature will solve:**

Navigating and manipulating 3D models are fundamental to CAD workflows. Users adjust their viewpoint hundreds of times during a modeling session, while moving & rotating objects often involves manipulating gizmos or individual axes. Rotatrix makes these interactions more direct by allowing users to rotate a physical ball to control the view or selected objects in all three axes simultaneously. It also doubles as a conventional 2D mouse.

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/2/c/2c89ab82951f68308c63a2346a34a2da0b5d3d10.jpeg "Hundreds Tried My 3D Controller at Open Sauce") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsQnolOKyKk)

**Brief description of the outcomes that you expect from this feature:**

Allow Shapr3D users to use Rotatrix for direct 3D navigation and object manipulation, with the same controls available in other supported CAD applications.

**What can’t you achieve without this feature?**

Rotatrix users currently cannot navigate or manipulate models in Shapr3D using their 3D controller.

**Integration**

Rotatrix already supports a range of CAD and 3D applications, including Fusion 360, Onshape, Rhino, FreeCAD, Inventor, Blender, and OpenSCAD, as well as Unity, KiCad, MeshLab, and popular 3D printing slicers.

I’ve developed the [OpenAxis SDK](https://openaxis.rotatrix.com/), which handles 3D navigation calculations. It can be integrated directly into Shapr3D or through an external adapter if suitable camera, geometry, and object transformation APIs are exposed.

I’m happy to contribute the implementation work and provide hardware for testing.

Thanks,  
David